According to the authors, their purpose was to investigate bordered constructions of whiteness that young white men created. They conducted in depth interviews with young poor and working class people, some of whom are firefighters, of varying racial background, in Buffalo, New York, and New Jersey. They found that these white male form ideas about African Americans, although they try not to sound racist about it. They believe that minorities who may not be doing so well is because they are not working and abuse the welfare system. They also expressed opinions on affirmative actions. An example the authors provide about how white males believe minorities “are not working” is an interview with a man named Larry. Larry stated “we 're all equal, and I feel that what I 've done, I 've worked for myself to get to where I 'm at. If they(African-Americans and Hispanics) would just really try instead of just kind of hanging out on the street corners”. Larry assumes that minorities are not working while him and his racial group are doing all of the hard work. When they are speaking of welfare these white men believe that minorities exploit the welfare system by not working and receiving money from the government. However, some of these white men receive welfare themselves and say it is difficult process to obtain government assistance but when they need help it is something to fall back on. This is contradicting to their belief that only minorities use the welfare system. When discussing affirmative action they feel as if it is unfair and that they are becoming the “new minorities”. They believe that people who are qualified for the job are being put back because of the minority quota that needs to be
According to the authors, their purpose was to investigate bordered constructions of whiteness that young white men created. They conducted in depth interviews with young poor and working class people, some of whom are firefighters, of varying racial background, in Buffalo, New York, and New Jersey. They found that these white male form ideas about African Americans, although they try not to sound racist about it. They believe that minorities who may not be doing so well is because they are not working and abuse the welfare system. They also expressed opinions on affirmative actions. An example the authors provide about how white males believe minorities “are not working” is an interview with a man named Larry. Larry stated “we 're all equal, and I feel that what I 've done, I 've worked for myself to get to where I 'm at. If they(African-Americans and Hispanics) would just really try instead of just kind of hanging out on the street corners”. Larry assumes that minorities are not working while him and his racial group are doing all of the hard work. When they are speaking of welfare these white men believe that minorities exploit the welfare system by not working and receiving money from the government. However, some of these white men receive welfare themselves and say it is difficult process to obtain government assistance but when they need help it is something to fall back on. This is contradicting to their belief that only minorities use the welfare system. When discussing affirmative action they feel as if it is unfair and that they are becoming the “new minorities”. They believe that people who are qualified for the job are being put back because of the minority quota that needs to be