He maintains the wages of whiteness actually helped contribute to capitalism and the class system in our own society, and so, they ultimately led to more feelings of racism and hatred, as well. The author asserts this early in the book, and then uses the remainder of the book to back up his theories with research and theory.
The author uses a vast array of sources, mostly in print, to come to and prove his theories. He includes vast sections of notes and sources at the end of each chapter indicating the depth of his research and knowledge. He also uses the four sections of this book to delve into his initial theories much more heavily, and again, he relies on numerous, varied sources to prove his theories and get his point across to the reader. For example, in one section of the book, he maintains that during and after the Civil War, there was "tendency to equate Blackness with servility" (Roediger 174), and he cites specific examples from his research where he formed these ideas and can prove them. The key to good research is being able to dissimulate the research into a convincing form that convinces others of the scope and depth of your research, and the author accomplishes this by using a vast array of sources and then citing them effectively to make his points.
It is clear that the author developed his ideas about race and racism early in his life, and...
He says in the first chapter of the book that he began to recognize racism early and did not understand it, and has worked to eradicate it from an early age. This context certainly shapes his text, because he attempts to show why racism exists, but also how to conquer it. In the Afterward, he notes there are several "mistakes" in his original text, including the assumption that only white males made up the initial working class of America. However, this reader feels he did make his points strongly and backed them up with outstanding research, and he simply may be a little too hard on himself in retrospect of his work. However, it is clear the author is against racism, and if anything, that bias or perspective may come through in the text, and even may have led to his assumptions about the American working class.
This book is an intriguing look into the racial history of America, and it looks at some things that other authors have overlooked. The author may think it is flawed, but this reader found it fascinating, if a bit too scholarly. It should be a part of any historian's bookshelf who is interested in class, race, and identity in America, and how it is formed.
References
Roediger, David R. The Wages of Whiteness: Race and the Making of the American Working Class. New York: Verso, 1999.
