Product Description

This text explores two forms of hate and prejudice - racism in contemporary American society and the historical occurrence of anti-Semitism - under a single conceptual framework. Jack Levin, author of The Violence of Hate, is a well-known scholar, author, and lecturer on the subject of hate crimes. In this book he shows how support for both racism and anti-Semitism can be conceptualized as occurring among four groups: hatemongers, dabblers, sympathizers, and spectators. Levin argues that hate and prejudice continue at a very dangerous level in our society, and that hate typically emanates not from the ranting and raving of a few people at the margins of society, but from ordinary people in the mainstream.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1058709 in Books
• Published on: 2001-10-24
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 160 pages

From the Back Cover

The Violence of Hate: Confronting Racism, Anti-Semitism, and Other Forms of Bigotry, 2/E

Jack  Levin

ISBN: 0205460879

This text explores two forms of hate and prejudice — racism in contemporary American society and the historical occurrence of anti-Semitism — under a single conceptual framework.

Jack Levin is a well-known scholar, author, and lecturer on the subject of hate crimes. In this book, he shows how support for both racism and anti-Semitism can be conceptualized as occurring among four groups: hatemongers, dabblers, sympathizers, and spectators. Levin argues that hate and prejudice continue at a very dangerous level in our society, and that hate typically emanates not from the ranting and raving of a few people at the margins of society, but from ordinary people in the mainstream.

As with every new edition, Levin updates this text to reflect current research and changes in the world. Examples include: an examination of the treatment of American Muslims in the aftermath of September 11^th, 2001 and discussion on the "new anti-Semitism," in which Jews around the world are held responsible for Israeli government policies.

About the Author

JACK LEVIN, Ph.D. is the Irving and Betty Brudnick Professor of Sociology and Criminology and director of the Brudnick Center on Conflict and Violence at Northeastern University, where he teaches courses in prejudice and violence. He has authored or co-authored 24 books and more than 150 articles in professional journals and newspapers, such as The New York Times, Boston Globe, Dallas Morning News, Philadelphia Inquirer, Christian Science Monitor, Chicago Tribune, and USA Today. He appears frequently on national television programs, including 48 Hours, 20/20, Dateline NBC, The Today Show, Good Morning America, Oprah, Rivera Live, Larry King Live, and all network newscasts. Dr. Levin was honored by the Massachusetts Council for Advancement and Support of Education as its “Professor of the Year.” He has spoken to a wide variety of community, academic, and professional groups, including the White House Conference on Hate Crimes, the Department of Justice, the Department of Education, and the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

Customer Reviews

I had to read this in a diversity class
I am taking a diversity class at my local community college called "Racial and Cultural Minorities".

"The Violence of Hate" is a mandatory book assignment and the teacher said he was going to give us extra credit if we'd write up a little critique about it. Since there's not much on the net about this, I figured I'd share it with the rest of you, too.

The book is written by Dr. Jack Levin, a professor of Sociology and Criminology. He's also director of the Brudnick Center on Conflict and Violence at Northeastern University in Boston.

Although boring at times, the book was educational. It gives the reader an overview of hate terminology and clarifies their meanings. It made me realize that even though I am not prejudiced, I was a "spectator"- much like the Germans who failed to act during the Nazi regime, I have also witnessed bigotry and failed to speak up against it.

It explains the psychological and economic advantages of bigotry with lots of statistics and book references. This was the part that I found most tedious.

There were some interesting parts to this book such as his personal recollections about appearing on the Jerry Springer show with three racist skinheads. Another story of a white woman who, several years before, was being treated for cancer in South Africa was fascinating. She had a reaction to chemotherapy which turned her skin dark, and she got a first hand experience of the cruelness of Apartheid.

I wish he had elaborated on his personal experiences a bit more.

At the end of the book is a list of Anti-Hate Websites.
I'm an Internet geek, so I found these to be helpful; especially since another extra credit assignment involved visiting one and writing a paper about it. It would have been more complete had he included a list of Hate websites as well. (I also visited a few of these as well and they were horrifying but ultimately more interesting.)

If history interests you, you might enjoy it a little bit more than I did. I did learn a little so I guess that's worth something. Ultimately, if it wasn't for the class, I don't think I would have ever read this.