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Chapter 4 - White Nationalism

from Part I - Whiteness and National Identity

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 June 2025

Jolene Hubbs
Affiliation:
University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa
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Summary

In the United States, white nationalism forms one part of an originary contradiction, dialectically entwined with an aspiration toward egalitarian openness that can, but often doesn’t, include people considered to be outside the boundaries of Americanness. The resulting tension animates struggles to define national identity in the past and present and both the contradiction and struggles loom over its future. Drawing on work in multiple disciplines, the chapter traces the persistence of this structuring antinomy by highlighting instructive literary examples at particular historical moments. What is now called “white nationalism” has long been part of mainstream – not just marginal or extremist – literary and intellectual discourse; thus, consideration of white nationalism takes precedence. However, the discussion also notes the equally tenacious hopes for a society open to those who are excluded based on conceptions of race. Lastly, the chapter identifies the utopian genre as an especially useful arena showcasing the contradiction.

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2025

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  • White Nationalism
  • Edited by Jolene Hubbs, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa
  • Book: Whiteness and American Literature
  • Online publication: 19 June 2025
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009522748.006
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  • White Nationalism
  • Edited by Jolene Hubbs, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa
  • Book: Whiteness and American Literature
  • Online publication: 19 June 2025
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009522748.006
Available formats
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Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • White Nationalism
  • Edited by Jolene Hubbs, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa
  • Book: Whiteness and American Literature
  • Online publication: 19 June 2025
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009522748.006
Available formats
×