54 pages • 1 hour read
Charles W. MillsThe Racial Contract
Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1997A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
The Racial Contract by Charles W. Mills argues that the original social contract is actually a Racial Contract, an agreement among European/white men to establish and maintain white supremacy, subordinating and exploiting non-European/nonwhite people globally and locally. Mills engages mainstream contract theorists, providing historical evidence of how white supremacy structures society, and emphasizes the accurate perceptions of nonwhite people about these injustices.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Charles W. Mills' The Racial Contract is praised for its incisive critique of Western philosophy and its emphasis on race as a fundamental element of social contract theory. Critics commend its insightful analysis and accessible prose. However, some find its arguments repetitive and its focus narrow. Overall, it is a significant contribution to discussions on race and social justice.
Who Should Read The Racial Contract?
Readers fascinated by sociopolitical theories, racial dynamics, and critical race studies would appreciate The Racial Contract by Charles W. Mills. Those who engaged with Michelle Alexander's The New Jim Crow or Ta-Nehisi Coates' Between the World and Me will find Mills' work thought-provoking and compelling in its critique of systemic racism.