White Man's Work: Race and Middle-Class Mobility into the Progressive Era

Increasing wealth inequality and the browning of the nation's middle class have led to new anxieties and backlash among white populations. Joseph O. Jewell's book explores how evidence of middle-class mobility among Black, Mexican American, and Chinese men generated both new anxieties and varieties of backlash among white populations. He chronicles the evolving narratives that linked whiteness with middle-class mobility and middle-class manhood, addressing a key issue in the historical sociology of race.

Format: Hardback
Length: 210 pages
Publication date: 05 December 2023
Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press

In the tumultuous financial landscape of recent decades, the growing disparity in wealth has stirred unsettling expectations about the stability of the middle class. Simultaneously, demographers have projected a gradual "browning" of the nation's middle class, once considered a predominantly white domain, over the next twenty years as the country becomes increasingly racially diverse. In this insightful book, Joseph O. Jewell takes us on a journey back to the turn of the twentieth century, illuminating how evidence of middle-class mobility among Black, Mexican American, and Chinese men sparked both new anxieties and diverse reactions among white populations.

By seamlessly blending cultural history and historical sociology, Jewell meticulously chronicles the evolving narratives that intertwined whiteness with middle-class mobility and middle-class manhood. Through this comprehensive exploration, Jewell addresses a fundamental concern in the historical sociology of race: how racialized groups establish, defend, and transform social positions within the complex hierarchies of race, class, and gender.

As the century turned, a wave of new racist narratives emerged across cities nationwide, propagating the belief that non-white men were encroaching upon middle-class occupations. These narratives served as a powerful tool to reinforce white supremacy in the face of profound transformations to the nation's racialized economic landscape.

Through his meticulous research and compelling storytelling, Joseph O. Jewell offers a profound examination of the complex interplay between race, class, and mobility, shedding light on the historical forces that have shaped our understanding of social hierarchies and the ongoing struggle for equality. This book is a valuable contribution to the field of historical sociology and provides valuable insights into the ongoing challenges facing marginalized communities.

Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781469673486