The Normal Heart and the Destiny of Me

Book Description

The Normal Heart, set during the early years of the AIDS epidemic, is the impassioned indictment of a society that allowed the plague to happen, a moving denunciation of the ignorance and fear that helped kill an entire generation. It has been produced and taught all over the world. Its companion play, The Destiny of Me, is the stirring story of an AIDS activist forced to put his life in the hands of the very doctor he has been denouncing.

Customer Reviews:

Most Important Gay Play of the 80s.......2007-10-10

There is no better insight about the treatment of homosexuals in the mid-eighties. People may not know how swept under the rug homosexuals were. Families didn't want anything to do with their gay relatives, and governments didn't want to show the gay community any sympathy. Read this play and maybe you'll learn something. The AIDS epidemic in New York was a crucial part of the gay community's development, and the details are charted truthfully here.

Normal Heart, Magnificent Play.......2004-06-22

While I consider myself a regular theatre-goer, I've always been aware of Kramer's plays and opinions, yet I haven't seen nor read either of these two plays. That changed this past weekend when I saw the revival of Normal Heart currently playing off-Broadway. This is a viscerally emotional piece of theatre and it makes one feel impassioned about what was going on in the world then and sheds a new light as to what's going on now in regards to the HIV/AIDS crisis. It's a must red if you don't have a chance to see it.

The first important AIDS plays.......2002-08-05

These two plays, linked by the central character (author Larry Kramer's alter-ego), are among the most important documents related to AIDS and gay life in America in the 1980s. Although some found Kramer's activism too shrill in the 80s, he has been proven right about almost everything he foresaw in regards to AIDS. THE NORMAL HEART is a docu-drama in which Kramer sends his angry central character through all facets of American life where he discovers only apathy, failure, and cover-ups regarding the AIDS epidemic. THE DESTINY OF ME continues the story of the central character, taking a more personal approach to the AIDS epidemic and, particularly, provides a portrait of a man whose activism is driven as much by the epidemic as by his family and his personal life. THE NORMAL HEART is frequently produced and deserves to be, it appropriately raises the issues that continue to hamper the defeat of AIDS and the equality of gays and lesbians in American society. Playwright Tony Kushner's introduction is a valuable response to Kramer's significance.

A Remorseless Slide.......2001-11-23

The Normal Heart was a brave attempt to confront the public with the AIDS epidemic at a time when it was decimating America's gay population and was still seen as a 'Gay Plague.' Unfortunately it was not well written enough to do more than mildly shock and disgust.

I used to think I didn't sympathize with the characters because they are gay and I'm not, but this is not the case. It is because the characters are not developed as interesting and worthwhile personalities beyond their sexuality and disease.

A mysterious killer disease like AIDS is hard to write about because good play writing needs to be about the interplay of factors, whereas AIDS is just a remorseless slide into disease and death. It is very difficult for those affected to respond in a coherent or meaningful way. There can be no powerful dialogue between man and disease. Instead of powerful action-reaction sequences to stimulate our emotions and intellect, the play is broken into confused monologues that rail against fate and fail to develop any real insight.

As the play is supposed to be about AIDS, it avoids being about much else, but it doesn't effectively connect with it's subject matter either. AIDS is merely a gloomy backdrop for the self-absorbed writhings and torment of the diseased characters. I am supposed to sympathize with them, but I only find this spectacle disgusting and devoid of noble or inspiring emotions.

Are You Normal?: Do You Behave Like Everyone Else?
Average customer rating:

Funny Conversation Starter

hilarious!

Are You Normal?: Do You Behave Like Everyone Else?
Bernice Kanner
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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Useless Sexual Trivia: Tastefully Prurient Facts About Everyone's Favorite Subject

ASIN: 0312955928

Book Description

Find out how you fit into the American norm....From sea to shining sea, Americans are remarkably alike, incredibly different, and just plain strange. In this clever, fun and fascinating peek into the private lives of real Americans, columnist Bernice Kanner shares a delicious slice of American pie with humorous facts like:Of the half of us who have pets at home, 45.5% allow them in the room during sexOne out of every four ice cream orders is vanilla; only one in nine is for chocolateFour out of ten of us admit we've been so mad we've hurled footwear at another person60% of men spit in publicOne in ten people say they have seen a ghostAlmost one quarter of us regularly check ourselves out in store windows and mirrors7 out of 100 Americans have flossed their teeth with their hairOver 27% of people skip ahead to find out what will happen in a book before they finish itNow you can join the fun!

Customer Reviews:

Funny Conversation Starter.......2001-05-13

Me and a bunch of my friends sat outside and laughed at this book. We would answer the questions and see how we compared. We learned alot about each other and had a great time. We would get funny looks we were laughing so hard but hey we had a great time with this one. It is a good book and recommended as a party book. Don't worry too much if your answers don't match the books though, some of mine didn't.

hilarious!.......1998-07-09

I laughed the whole way through this treasure trove...and picked up lots of useful information along the rioutous way.

Average customer rating:

Way above normal!!
Kept me up way past my bedtime
Wise and warm, funny and true
A tasty read
My new best friends

A Piece of Normal: A Novel
Sandi Kahn Shelton
Manufacturer: Three Rivers Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1400097320
Release Date: 2007-03-27

Book Description

Dear Lily . . .

At age thirty-four, Lily Brown has her life just the way she likes it. And what’s not to like? She’s got a great job as an advice columnist for the local newspaper, an adorable four-year-old son, and an ex-husband, Teddy, who still thinks she’s wonderful. She even lives in the same beach house where she grew up, with a great view of Long Island Sound and plenty of beach roses to smell.

So what if she won’t let herself date anyone until she finds a new girlfriend for Teddy, who happens to still be hung up on her? So what if she hasn’t changed a thing in her parents’ house, even twelve years after their tragic deaths? So what if it’s been ten years since she’s heard from her younger sister, Dana, who stormed out of the house in a rage when she was a teenager? Lily is fine.

But it’s funny how life has a way of upsetting even the most perfectly laid-out plans, and when one night Lily finds herself painting ghastly orange highlights into her lovely auburn hair, even she suspects that she’s been in something of a rut. And then, when her long-lost little sister shows up, bringing with her the fun and drama and hell-raising spontaneity Lily has missed, her life suddenly takes a turn for the unexpected.

To Lily’s chagrin, Dana’s energy seems to enthrall everyone, especially Teddy. As the tension between the sisters escalates, Dana reveals decades-old family secrets that she’s been burdened with all these years, and Dear Lily must heed her own advice about accepting life’s messiness and chaos.

With her trademark blend of sparkling wit and characters you can’t forget, Sandi Kahn Shelton tells a compelling and universal story of two sisters who learn what they need to let go of, and what they have to hold on to as tightly as they can.

From the Hardcover edition.

Customer Reviews:

Way above normal!!.......2007-06-07

Not the average summer read, this is way above normal. Sandi Shelton's descriptions of people, places and relationships are all delightfully real, the plotline has many surprising twists.

Kept me up way past my bedtime.......2007-04-20

I love Sandi Shelton's insight and humor, which put me in mind of a less-flippant Nora Ephron. And I love how she fleshes out characters that other writers would leave as cartoons, until they start to seem as real as my neighbors and twice as interesting. Now, having devoured A PIECE OF NORMAL and her first novel, WHAT COMES AFTER CRAZY, I'm waiting impatiently for book #3. (My husband probably hopes it's a long wait, since Shelton's books keep me up so late with the reading light on.)

Wise and warm, funny and true.......2006-08-31

I loved Shelton's first book, What Comes After Crazy, but this one is even better, a great book about getting unstuck when life threatens to freeze-frame you. The characters are fully realized, and it was a joy to have them in my life while I read this book. I found myself slowing down toward the end because I didn't want the book to be over. The only thing I wish were different is the cover--the publishers have made it look rather too chick-litty, when it's so much more than that.

A tasty read.......2006-06-21

This book made me late for everything...I couldn't put it down to attend to my regular life! The author is a deft storyteller with a rich emotional clarity: She absolutely pinpoints every nuance of feeling in scene after scene. Plus she's extremely funny. Her lead character, Lily, is strong and smart (and clueless), and for some reason I love how she describes herself at one point: "slightly off-kilter, motor running full blast, but basically okay." I had a lot of fun with this book; I'd go anywhere the author takes me.

My new best friends.......2006-06-14

This is the kind of book that sucks you in so completely, that you are so sad when it ends, because you are not going to be able to visit with your "friends" anymore.

Educating the Disfranchised and Disinherited: Samuel Chapman Armstrong and Hampton Institute, 1839-1893

Average customer rating:

Educating the Disfranchised and Disinherited: Samuel Chapman Armstrong and Hampton Institute, 1839-1893
Robert Francis Engs
Manufacturer: University of Tennessee Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Normal Is Just a Setting On the Dryer: And Other Lessons from the Real, Real World

Average customer rating:

Life is always teaching you another lesson
Endearing, Flippant and Often humerous
Funny on a higher level
Unbelievable! The Best Gift book I've received!
Fun, Quick Read

Normal Is Just a Setting On the Dryer: And Other Lessons from the Real, Real World
Adair Lara
Manufacturer: Chronicle Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0811838242

Book Description

We could all use some advice now and then. When the self-help books just aren't helping, it's time to call in the experts: real people. San Francisco Chronicle columnist Adair Lara polled her readers for life lessons learned through experience, receiving thousands of heartfelt and irreverent responses. The best are compiled here in over 200 bits of priceless counsel. With witty illustrations by Roxanna Bikadoroff, this handy little volume is filled with humor, unconventional insights, and the kind of common wisdom that will always bear repeating.

Customer Reviews:

Life is always teaching you another lesson.......2005-05-07

This book has almost only 1 sentence per page, sometimes 1 sentence per 2 pages, so it is a quick read. It is a compedium of advice about getting through life from people who have "been there, done that". Some of it is profound, some obvious and simple, but every reader can relate. If none of it makes you smile with recognition then you have been living under a rock or something. "Live, Learn and Pass It On" by H. Jackson Brown, Jr. is similar, but is more comprehensive and gives the ages of the people quoted so you have a better idea of the extent to which they speak from experience, from age 5 to 95. The Brown book is a better value.

Endearing, Flippant and Often humerous.......2005-01-05

This little book is packed with the advice we wish someone had told us about before we experienced it for ourselves. In the introduction Adair states she asked the people she knew "who live in the real real world what they wished they'd known."

To say this book was an easy read is an understatement. I whizzed through the 191 pages in two sittings but it could easily have been done in one. The lines are relatable and believable.

Adair Lara has five books under her belt, three of which are collections from her columns at the San Francisco Chronicle. Lara is not alone on this voyage into the real world. There are over 100 black and white illustrations by Roxanna Bikadoroff to help drive home the importance, realism and humour of each tidbit of advice. The images and quotes work well together.

My absolute favourite: A woman lounging in a chair with her feet up, nursing a bag of potato chips in front of the TV. Her husband/boyfriend stands in the doorway of the kitchen dumbfounded. The attacted statement reads: Sometimes a woman wants to do nothing about dinner. A man has no concept of that-doing nothing about dinner. -- I thought I was the only one!

The last page is a list of the real contributors. I would have liked to see their names with the corresponding advice. A note or two about each person would also have been a nice touch.

Lara has organized a book of sage advice ranging from endearing to flippant and often humorous. In a society that is becoming increasingly solitary, Lara's book pinpoints our simple connection: experience. This would be a handy little book for travelling and discussion groups. Imagine the stories it could evoke.

"It's ok," I said when `Da Boss' asked me about Adair Lara's new book, "Normal is Just a Setting on the Dryer." This little book is packed with the advice we wish someone had told us about before we experienced it for ourselves. In the introduction Adair states she asked the people she knew "who live in the real real world what they wished they'd known."

To say this book was an "easy read" is an understatement. I whizzed through the 191 pages in two sittings but it could easily have been done in one. The lines are relatable and believable.

Adair Lara has five books under her belt, three of which are collections from her columns at the San Francisco Chronicle. Lara is not alone on this voyage into the real world. There are over 100 black and white illustrations by Roxanna Bikadoroff to help drive home the importance, realism and humour of each tidbit of advice.

The images and quotes work well together. "Forgive yourself the big mistake. It isn't the end of your life. It will not define who you are, unless you stay stuck on it," is an informative reminder but displayed with Bikadoroff's visual of a man contemplating the empty plaque on his wall labelled "The One That Got Away," adds so much more.

My absolute favourite: A woman lounging in a chair with her feet up, nursing a bag of potato chips in front of the TV. Her husband/boyfriend stands in the doorway of the kitchen dumbfounded. "Sometimes a woman wants to do nothing about dinner. A man has no concept of that-doing nothing about dinner." I thought I was the only one!

The last page is a list of the real contributors. I would have liked to see their names with the corresponding advice. A note or two about each person would also have been a nice touch.

After talking with `Da Boss' I put normal out of my mind. Bits and pieces of the Lessons kept coming back to me throughout the day, eventually altering my view from being "ok" to leaving a lasting impression. Lara has organized a book of sage advice ranging from endearing to flippant and often humorous.

In a society that is becoming increasingly solitary, Lara's book pinpoints our simple connection: experience. This would be a handy little book for travelling and discussion groups.

Review Originally Posted at http://www.linearreflection.com

Funny on a higher level.......2004-04-06

You will read right away in the forward that this book was inspired by that Maria Shriver who wrote a book offering lessons on living a normal life! Ha! THis book is hilarious and I'm pretty jaded about 'cute little books', how can anyone not enjoy advice of this calibar: Never fry bacon in the nude"? Good stuff.

Unbelievable! The Best Gift book I've received!.......2004-01-20

I rcvd this as a gift and my gosh, it's been the greatest little book! I am ordering several copies to give out as gifts myself! whimsical illustrations and poignant quotes...absolutely fantastic!

Fun, Quick Read.......2003-09-09

This is a great little book to read to lift your spirits and make you smile. There is nothing profound about it, but it does make you think, makes you realize that there are things you have yet to discover about yourself and the world around you and there are things you have already discovered (to which you are thankful for having already discovered them). My favorite quip from this book was that "If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging." It's so simple, yet so true. It made me take a step back and realize that there is a brighter side to things, but that it does not necessarily mean that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. There are many more fun, humorous, deep, and handy 'lessons' in this compact book, and don't overlook the intro. It's a great read for a quiet afternoon or a fantastic gift for an old friend. Enjoy!!!

Average customer rating:

Very well written, but...
A wonderful love story.
Wonderful
Excellent mid-life romance
A warm fuzzy

Leaving Normal (Mira Romance)
Stef Ann Holm
Manufacturer: Mira
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

General | Romance | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 077832222X

Book Description

Shake it up a little!

At long last Natalie Goodwin's life is running just the way she wants it. Her new florist shop is all set for a grand opening, and her daughter is enjoying her first semester in college. The house is clean, the bills are paid and cooking dinner every night is now an option. Natalie admits she's just a teeny bit lonely, but recent dating experiences have left her convinced that Mr. Right does not live in Boise, Idaho.

But life has a big surprise for Natalie and he lives right across the street! Never in her wildest dreams did she think she could fall for a man nine years her junior, but then she has never met a man like firefighter Tony Cruz. He turns her well-ordered life upside down, and pretty soon things go from simmering to scalding. Just when the sparks begin to turn into a three-alarm blaze Natalie is caught unawares again -- Tony wants her and a child of his own.

A baby? At forty-three? Natalie is definitely all shook up.

Customer Reviews:

Very well written, but..........2007-01-29

From the back cover:

Shake it up a little!

With the ink dry on her divorce papers, Natalie Goodwin feels life is running just the way she wants it. Her new flower shop is set for its grand opening, and her daughter is enjoying her first semester in college. The house is clean, the bills are paid, and cooking dinner every night is now an option. Natalie admist she just a teeny bit lonely, but recent dating experiences have left her convinced that Mr. Right does not live in Boise, Idaho.

But life has a big surprise for Natalie and he lives right across the street! Never in her wildest dreams did she think she could fall for a man nine years her junior, but then she has never met a man like firefighter Tony Cruz. Now the sparks are flying, but will they light Natalie's fire...or land her newfound independence in hot water?

And my review:

This was my first try of this author, and I found that I really liked her writing style. It was flowing and easy to follow, and really drew the reader into the story. Her writing seems so effortless...that's when you know someone is really good at their craft, when they make it look so easy, even though you know it's not.

I was a little worried when the hero starts out as married at the beginning of the book, but not to worry. This isn't a "cheating lovers" novel. In fact, his wife is quickly out of the picture, and rightly villified, for having an affair.

One thing I really liked about this book was how the author built the friendship between the hero and heroine. There wasn't that instant overwhelming lust you find so often in romance. There were sparks, all right, but there was more pulling these two together than just the physical chemistry. That's a rare treat in romance. The author did a really good job of developing the characters. I felt like I really knew who they were, and that these were people I'd like and be proud to call friends.

I also liked that this wasn't a "series of stupid misunderstandings" novel. The relationship issues were real and down-to-earth. And these two actually communicated like adults (again, a rare find in romance writing).

So why only three stars? I felt like the story was progressing so well, when suddenly the characters decide that since there can be no real future, as he wants children, and she's already in premenopause and unable to have any more (and at a stage in her life when she doesn't really want to raise another family), that they will just be friends with "benefits". In other words, they won't be a real romantic couple, they'll just be good friends who have sex.

Ugh. I felt so cheated by this, especially considering how mature the characters had been up until that point. I find the whole concept of "no-strings-attached" sex repulsive. I was raised to believe that sex is for marriage. And while I recognize that not everybody feels the same way, I do think that a commitment and a belief that there will be a future for the relationship is necessary before a couple hops into bed together. Sex isn't something you can do with a friend, as if it were just a fun activity, like going dancing or playing racquetball. It's an intimate giving of oneself--that's why it's called LOVEmaking, not "pleasuremaking", "funmaking" or "no-big-dealmaking".

I was really disappointed by this, as I felt this author could do so much better, and that this plot turn really didn't do her characters (or her writing talent) justice. I would definitely be interested in trying her work again, as I can see how much talent she has. I just wish she hadn't wasted it here.

A wonderful love story........2006-06-24

I came across this book at work. I just finished reading another book, and was desperate to start a new one. I read the back cover thinking it was not my kind of book, and started it reluctantly. From the first chapter, the book caught my attention. It was an easy read. I could hardly put the book down. The characters are so likable. The story is wonderful. I would definately recommend this book to anyone. Truely a magnificent love story.

Wonderful.......2006-04-10

After forty plus years, Natalie Goodwin is finally ready to begin her own life. Two years after her divorce, she is busy opening her dream floral shop while her daughter is off attending her first year of college. Her home, family, and work are all in order. Although a little lonely, Natalie is happy doing what she wants for the first time.

Gun shy after her recent dating adventures, Natalie isn't looking for a man. Of course, that doesn't mean she can't enjoy looking at her hunky neighbor. Firefighter, Tony Cruz, is delicious eye candy and completely safe. He is nine years her junior and married - definitely not available! When Tony's cheating wife leaves him, Natalie offers him friendly comfort and understanding. What begins as friendship grows into much more. Will the duo be able to work through their age difference and its inherent problems? Can they discover what truly matters?

Leaving Normal is a realistic and emotional love story. I appreciated its authenticity and the completely believable firefighter elements. Tony and Natalie are genuinely real; they could be the people that you might know and like. While Tony might not be the perfect man, he is still to die for! He is a sweet hunk and a humble hero. Their relationship evolves gradually, and although this pace works with their storyline, the flow becomes sluggish with the additional side plots. I must admit that I wanted their physical relationship to progress more quickly. The heat is a gentle simmer that builds slowly, and if you don't mind this pace, it's a wonderful book. Sweet and inspirational, Leaving Normal gracefully explores the complexities of life and love.

Cheryl
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Excellent mid-life romance.......2006-02-23

After nearly 20 years of marriage, Natalie realized that the love had left the relationship, and she and hubby Greg split amicably. Two years later, after already struggling through her transitional relationship, she is finding herself attracted to the very married and much younger sexy fireman who lives across the street.

When fireman Tony suddenly finds himself single, he realizes that he is not mourning the loss of his unfaithful wife, but the loss of a relationship, and vows that his next marriage will be to someone who can also be a best friend. While nursing his wounds, he often turns to the advice of his sexy "been there, done that" neighbor, and develops feelings for her. She is reticent - the age gap is too much of a cross for her to bear, and since he has expressed an interest in having a family, she feels she is beyond that stage. He soon melts her resolve and the two embark on a deep friendship that soon turns more serious, and a tragic series of events makes them question their motivations and choices.

Humor abounds as Natalie's sister is constantly trying to get her sister out into the dating pool, and her widowed father embarks on a new relationship that takes him out of his comfort zone (and away from the white cherry slushies he is so fond of).

Unlike many romance novelists, where the main characters fall in love in the span of a week, this one takes its sweet time developing a believable relationship. Holm has created an emotional story about of a couples' journey into uncharted territory, and the lessons they learn along the way. It is thought provoking and touching and guaranteed to leave you satisfied.

A warm fuzzy.......2006-02-09

`Leaving Normal' by Stef Ann Holm has cheating, death, cancer, divorce, hot fireman, humor and most of all two characters that are real. This author is wonderful, I enjoyed 'Undressed' and this is another winner.

Average customer rating:

Adult Children of Normal Parents
Berman
Manufacturer: Pocket
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The American State Normal School: "An Instrument of Great Good"

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The American State Normal School: "An Instrument of Great Good"
Christine A. Ogren
Manufacturer: Palgrave Macmillan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1403968381
Release Date: 2005-04-21

Book Description

Nearly two-hundred state colleges and regional universities throughout the country began as "normal" schools, but the institutions themselves have buried their history, and scholars have largely overlooked them. Christine A. Ogren focuses on the lives of the first wave of "nontraditional" students in higher education. In her engaging and accessible narrative, Ogren presents a groundbreaking comprehensive history and much-needed reexamination of the state normal school for all courses on the history of education, foundations, and women's higher education.

Bloomington-Normal in Vintage Postcards (IL) (Postcard History Series)

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Bloomington-Normal in Vintage Postcards (IL) (Postcard History Series)
Elaine J. Taylor
Manufacturer: Arcadia Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Book Description

Bloomington and Normal have grown from small, pioneer settlements into the ìTwin Citiesî of central Illinois, linked by their proximity and shared history. Surviving and rebuilding after a devastating fire in 1900, the area has continued to grow and prosper. It is home to many businesses, including State Farm, the nationís largest auto and home-owners insurance company. The vintage postcards in this collection feature the delights and difficulties of Bloomington-Normal at the turn-of-the-century. ÝÝThese images capture historic events such as the Street Car Strike of 1917 in which workers took their demands to the streets. The businesses that closed-up shop years ago are opened again through these historic postcards, many of which were originally produced by Bloomington-based postcard publisher C.U. Williams. ÝÝ

The Heart of Whiteness: Normal Sexuality and Race in America, 1880-1940

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The Heart of Whiteness: Normal Sexuality and Race in America, 1880-1940
Julian B. Carter
Manufacturer: Duke University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

History | Gay & Lesbian | Subjects | Books

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Book Description

In this groundbreaking study, Julian Carter demonstrates that between 1880 and 1940, cultural discourses of whiteness and heterosexuality fused to form a new concept of the ânormalâ American. Gilded Age elites defined white civilization as the triumphant achievement of exceptional people hewing to a relational ethic of strict self-discipline for the common good. During the early twentieth century, that racial and relational ideal was reconceived in more inclusive terms as ânormality,â something toward which everyone should strive. The appearance of inclusiveness helped make ânormalityâ appear consistent with the self-image of a racially diverse republic; nonetheless, ânormalityâ was gauged largely in terms of adherence to erotic and emotional conventions that gained cultural significance through their association with arguments for the legitimacy of white political and social dominance. At the same time, the affectionate, reproductive heterosexuality of ânormalâ married couples became increasingly central to legitimate membership in the nation.

Carter builds her intricate argument from detailed readings of an array of popular texts, focusing on how sex education for children and marital advice for adults provided significant venues for the dissemination of the new ideal of normality. She concludes that because its overt concerns were love, marriage, and babies, normality discourse facilitated white evasiveness about racial inequality. The ostensible focus of ânormalityâ on matters of sexuality provided a superficially race-neutral conceptual structure that whites could and did use to evade engagement with the unequal relations of power that continue to shape American life today.

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