Racial Subjection Theory in Higher Education: Re-envisioning Racial Identities, Interests, and Inequities

Racial subjection theory, developed by Jon Iftikar, explores how racial identity is an ongoing process shaped by experiences with White supremacy in higher education. It challenges the notion of racial identity as a fixed stage or essence and emphasizes the struggle for domination and empowerment. The theory provides insights into how racial identifications and interests are formed and offers conceptual tools for understanding and supporting activism based on racial identity.

Format: Hardback
Length: 150 pages
Publication date: 15 April 2023
Publisher: Lexington Books

Racial subjection theory, developed by Jon Iftikar, is a groundbreaking conceptual book that delves into the intricate dynamics of racial identity formation. Drawing upon insights from cultural studies, critical and postmodern theory, and Critical Race Theory, Iftikar offers a fresh perspective on the complex phenomenon of racial subjectivity. The theory challenges the notion of racial identity as a fixed stage, status, or internal essence, instead presenting it as an ongoing process that is shaped by experiences with White supremacy. Through racial subjection theory, Iftikar demonstrates how college students are positioned as racial subjects through racial ideologies and within the dominant framework of Whiteness.

Moreover, the theory sheds light on the formation of students' racial identifications and interests, exploring how these are shaped by societal norms, cultural influences, and personal experiences. It also examines how students embody and enact their racial identities, highlighting the struggles and complexities involved in this process.

Re-envisioned as racial subjection, racial identity formation becomes a site of struggle, where domination and empowerment coexist. It is a space where racial inequities are reproduced and challenged, providing opportunities for resistance and transformation. The book not only contributes to the theoretical discourse on race and racism but also aims to foster critical consciousness about these issues among policymakers and practitioners in higher education. By revealing alternative sites for struggling against White supremacy and offering conceptual tools for understanding, supporting, and re-envisioning important racial identity-based forms of activism, the book seeks to contribute to the ongoing efforts to create more inclusive and equitable educational environments.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781666905380