In a convincing narrative, he illustrates an apparent paradox: the fact that the increase of rights and privileges on the side of poor Whites usually went hand in hand with the disenfranchisement of African Americans. Whenever law or custom failed to provide the rationale for unequal or derogatory treatment, racist notions provided it. Litwack’s exploration of a subject that was largely removed from both traditional historical accounts and the nation’s public memory addressed not only common misconceptions of the past, but also those of the present. He effectively reminded the people who lived “North of Slavery” that they and the national government were deeply implicated in the Southern racial system. In addition, and of no less importance, the nation needed to take care of the outgrowths of its own racial sins – past and
In a convincing narrative, he illustrates an apparent paradox: the fact that the increase of rights and privileges on the side of poor Whites usually went hand in hand with the disenfranchisement of African Americans. Whenever law or custom failed to provide the rationale for unequal or derogatory treatment, racist notions provided it. Litwack’s exploration of a subject that was largely removed from both traditional historical accounts and the nation’s public memory addressed not only common misconceptions of the past, but also those of the present. He effectively reminded the people who lived “North of Slavery” that they and the national government were deeply implicated in the Southern racial system. In addition, and of no less importance, the nation needed to take care of the outgrowths of its own racial sins – past and