Gasps From A Dying Art Form
GFADAF EP 16 - An Origin of Whiteness / Books From A Dying Art Form: David Roediger and “Wages of Whiteness”
Oct 8, 2023
David Roediger discusses white stereotypes, language of white supremacy, blackface, formation of white stereotypes, misinterpretation of book, open conversations about race and history, connection between racism and deception, empathy towards racists
01:19:33
Episode guests
AI Summary
AI Chapters
Episode notes
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- The construction of whiteness in the 19th century was a deliberate means for white working-class people to distinguish themselves from non-white people and maintain social status.
- The experience of Irish immigrants in the 19th century reveals the complex dynamics between different white ethnic groups and their relationship to whiteness, as they adopted and embraced it to rise above black people in the racial hierarchy.
Deep dives
Origins of Whiteness
The podcast episode explores the origins of whiteness and how it was constructed by white working-class people in the 19th century as a means to distinguish themselves from non-white people and to maintain a higher social status. Through an analysis of blackface minstrelsy, the episode shows how white people projected their own desired qualities onto black people, creating racial stereotypes that served to reinforce their own sense of whiteness. The episode highlights the role of dance, particularly tap dance, as a unifying force that could bring together people of different backgrounds, despite the appropriation and limited experiences of white performers with black dance, speech, and music.
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
