PDF The Mississippi Chinese : Between Black and White; Second Edition by James W. Loewen in History

Review

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Good study for those interested in past and current racial relationships and thought patterns that proliferate discrimination.By ElissaDidn't know there were chinese in Mississippi. We still live in a society that is one or two generations from segregation - we forget that don't we? I haven't read the whole thing yet; but it's opened up some interesting points about the way people view their world; and the problems that are still going on in our society that we aren't completely conscious of; but are still living by.The author made an interesting point (this book is about 50+- years old by now) that there were social "rules" that pose as etiquette that are actually an extension of a feudal-type societal thought pattern. To simplify it more; he says that basically the Delta's "world rules" stated that whites were "human" and Blacks "Sub human" and that both whites and blacks actually live according to this pre-supposition. Blacks live according to this presupposition! A bunch of weird paradoxes came up in society when the blacks started getting rights. Like: White people only do "white people jobs" and they don't do Labor-type jobs. And Black people do black people jobs (labor type jobs). If either tries to cross that line they get this weird societal pushback- from both blacks and whites! And because of the presuppositions; the black (and white) society's silly song and dance - that white people are superior to blacks - actually left a vacuum of jobs that "couldn't be held" (socially) by either race. And that's where the Chinese came in and actually took advantage of the situation.It's beautiful (in a sick and awful way) how he's highlighted the schemas that made such a world possible. I think I can even transpose a lot of the topics that he's talked about into my own society; and it will be interesting to see if we don't hold these ideas still in our current society - in my own city. GI Joe says "knowing is half the battle" and I think that this may be a useful tool to crack open the things of our world and examine our thoughts and actions and see them for what they are: whether it be a tradition founded on truth; or a tradition that steals life and prosperity from the society who founded it.Sorry this probably is an incomplete review. Since it's the first book that I have read of it's kind and topic; and I haven't finished it; I don't really have much to say about the validity of the arguments in the book; except that they echo eerily of some of the notions that I see subtly in my own society(I've not explored the thought; except that some of the "mild pushback" that is experienced when one tries to cross over into a "lower plane" is something that I've experienced; and was shocked at. Old world rules are still in effect after all this time...)We need this type of history book in our schools...0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy Q. HuangI've learned a great deal about early Chinese in South. Greatly appreciate the author for writing this book !17 of 18 people found the following review helpful. Chinese as both "black" and "white"By CustomerLoewen describes how the Chinese in Mississippi moved from "colored" to "white" by agreeing to the demands of the white elite that they cut all ties with part-black Chinese and those married to "colored" wives. This is a fascinating study of the porous racial caste boundaries (even if the "Deep South")that often characterize American "race relations" but are rarely discussed in the mainstream media.