Chapter 1, I'm Black, You're White, Who's Innocent?, Race and Power in an Era of Blame Summary and Analysis

Today, race discussions stops conversation. When the topic comes up in Steele's classes, blacks immediately assume the authority to reprimand whites and are practically predisposed to badger them. Blacks often call upon the collective guilt of whites as a "power move" or to feel powerful in a world where they often feel powerless. Whites respond as a more powerful group often responds with tolerant silence and feigned deference. Both sides often act as if they are entitled to power.

Steele believes that the struggle for racial power is really a struggle for innocence. Whites act innocent when they ignore the racial struggles of blacks and get defensive when accused of racism. Blacks act...