BOOKS
BIRACIAL IN AMERICA: FORMING AND PERFORMING RACIAL IDENTITY
(Lexington Books) "This is the book for which multiracial and racial identity scholars have been waiting. Nikki Khanna's Biracial in America: Forming and Performing Racial Identity moves us a giant leap forward in our understanding of racial identity among black-white biracial Americans. Through captivating interview excerpts, Khanna brilliantly and clearly describes the underlying social psychological processes through which biracial Americans shape and negotiate multidimensional racial identities. In the process, she reveals both the lingering impact of the one drop rule and the power of individual biracial Americans to activity 'perform race' in an era of increasing racial flexibility." --Kathleen Odell Korgen, William Patterson University, author of From Black to Biracial "Biracial in America expands on Rockquemore and Brunsma's pioneering foundation, taking the best that has been done previously and pushing the theoretical envelope several steps further. Rejecting the erroneous notion that identity is 'something easily ascertained through categories checked on a form,' Khanna usefully gets at biracial identity formation through skillful analysis of the processes and negotiations -- oftentimes seemingly contradictory -- that some biracial individuals go through in shaping their identities." --Rainier Spencer, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, author of Reproducing Race and Spurious Issues "Khanna brings conceptual subtlety, careful analysis, and empirical depth to the study of multiracial identity. Drawing on interviews that are striking for their frankness and poignancy, this book will engage not only scholars of race but also anyone who is curious about how biracial Americans make sense of who they are." --Ann Morning, New York University, author of The Nature of Race |
WHITER:
ASIAN AMERICAN WOMEN ON SKIN COLOR AND COLORISM (New York University Press) Named 1 of 17 books "feminists should read for 2020": An "eye-opening book" --Bitch Media "Whiter captures the many dimensions of colorism that shape Asian women's lives. Messages from mothers, others, and the surrounding cultures all coincide to constrain women's sense of beauty, family, identity, and worth. But Nikki Khanna and the distinguished contributors to this volume capture the many ways, both subtle and overt, that women negotiate, succumb to, and defy the dominant messages around skin color. This volume is a wonderful combination of sociology, cultural studies, memoir, history, media studies, and poetics bringing a diversity of voices and perspectives to this conversation."—Margaret Hunter, author of Race, Gender, and the Politics of Skin Tone "Colorism affects Asian American women of every background, whether it's due to Asian beauty standards, colonialism, or racism. Khanna taps into the cultural pressures to possess lighter skin color. By curating relatable and thought-provoking stories from a diverse group of Asian American women in their own voices, Whiter will appeal to a wide breadth of readers—from gender and race scholars to anyone interested in deconstructing beauty standards."—Nancy Wang Yuen, author of Reel Inequality: Hollywood Actors and Racism "Throughout Asia, women face immense cultural expectations to gain and maintain fair skin color...These poignant essays provide a fascinating look at the experiences of colorism by women in the Asian American community. Highly recommended." --Library Journal "Whiter is a refreshing, informative and moving collection. It sheds light (literally), shifts values, and shares pride in our natural selves. In the ongoing struggle for racial equality and justice in America—especially after the outbreak of COVID-19 escalating anti-Chinese and anti-Asian rhetoric, discrimination, and attacks; the persisting and devastating deaths of Black people like Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and George Floyd and the ongoing Black Lives Matter protests; and the recent 2020 election of America’s first multiracial, Black/South Asian American woman vice-president, Kamala Harris—it is important now more than ever to continue the conversation on race, skin color, and colorism, especially in the Asian American community." --International Examiner "This insightful, thought-provoking volume gives voice to the wide range of Asian American women's experiences of colorism." --Choice |
RACE RELATIONS IN AMERICA:
EXAMINING THE FACTS (ABC-CLIO) "A balanced and thorough look at the United States' most important contemporary race issues, with timely content and excellent supporting documentation." --Library Journal This work, co-authored with Noriko Matsumoto, is part of a series that uses evidence-based documentation to examine the veracity of claims and beliefs about high-profile issues in American culture and politics. This particular volume examines the true state of race relations and racial inequality in the United States, drawing on empirical research in the hard sciences and social sciences to answer frequently asked questions regarding race and inequality. The book refutes falsehoods, misunderstandings, and exaggerations surrounding these topics, and confirms the validity of other assertions. Some questions examined include: Is race biological? Does white privilege really exist? Is it true that whites will soon become a racial minority in the United States? Why do many Americans find blackface offensive? Is education the key to racial inequality in America? Do all races have equal opportunity in the American workplace today? Does racial bias negatively affect the health of Americans of color? Is the American criminal justice system racially biased? Are African Americans more likely than white Americans to be killed by police? Is the American media racially biased in its coverage of crime? Do African Americans suffer from "Black-on-Black" crime? Are immigrants today assimilating into American society as did earlier waves? Do undocumented immigrants drain America's welfare system? Can a person hold racial biases without even knowing it? . . . and many more (preview the TABLE OF CONTENTS). |