The Politics of Whiteness

For a large part of this country, and I would argue to some extent now, whiteness is a prerequisite for both human and civil rights. And it was offered explicitly to lower class Europeans in America. But even if you had really strong arguments like then did, whiteness could use this idea to say, actually, no, we don't think you should have rights, and it doesn't really matter why. We just don't see you as white, plain and simple.