Chapter 10: White Poverty: The Politics of Invisibility Summary and Analysis

Southern blacks were the victims of classism that existed within the white race. Poor whites who were rejected by wealthy whites, took their anger out on the only group to whom they felt superior. Black children feared poor whites more than other whites because they were blatant and cruel about their hatred for them. While rich whites found the actions of the poor whites despicable, they were reluctant to speak out fearing they would be viewed as favoring blacks over their own race. Such support would threaten white supremacy.

Desegregation closed all the black schools in the south and Bell had her first opportunity to witness classism among the white community during high school. She saw how the poor whites were shunned by the upper and middle class whites...