Much ink has been spilled on the perils of race reductionism–the idea that racism is the primary cause of society’s problems–and class reductionism–the idea that racism can be understood simply through a lens of poverty or inequality.

Haney-Lopez offers a view of race that is neither race- nor class reductionist. From psychological research to politicians’ surprisingly frank admissions of their own strategies, Haney-Lopez shows how politicians–Republicans and Democrats alike–use dog whistling strategies to exacerbate existing racial resentments in order to win elections.

The phenomenon of dog whistling is difficult to summarize, but here is a good effort.

This book club met:

• Date: January 4, 2017
• Time: 7pm
• Location: Bay View Colectivo