Lipsitz -Intro & Ch. 1

Inequality in America3/28/12

OWS and Foreclosures

What do we learn about OWS and banks/housing in that article? Why are foreclosures an important issue for OWS to be tackling?

Bill Moore's Body

What does Lipsitz use the story of Bill Moore to illustrate? What concerns does he raise about using this story?

Possessive Investment in Whiteness

What do you think this concept means?What does he mean by "whiteness has acash value"? (vii)

Why is Lipsitz using this concept, rather than just talking about racism or discrimination?

Key Examples

Housing loansSuburbanizationUrban renewalEnvironmental racismEducationEmployment

White Views vs Minority Experience

How does Lipsitz characterize white views of race in the United States? How does this match or contradict experiences of people of color in the US? How does this connect to progress narratives and the myth of meritocracy?

Liberal Individualism?● natural rights

○ freedom, liberty, independence

● social contract between individuals and government○ role of government is to protect and guarantee

individual freedoms

● group identification is contrary or a threat US property systems are a key example of, and force for sustaining, liberal individualism.