White Over Black: American Attitudes Toward the Negro, 1550-1812

In 1968, historian Winthrop D. Jordan produced a comprehensive examination of how white Englishmen and Anglo-Americans historically viewed blacks. This seminal work outlined how these perceptions laid the foundation for race-based slavery, as well as unequal liberty and justice for whites. The second edition of this landmark text comes with new forewords by historians Christopher Leslie Brown and Peter H. Wood, affirming its lasting significance.

Jordan’s work remains the authoritative text on the history of racial perspectives in America during the colonial period. Subsequent books on slavery and racism are compared to his work, as it serves as the standard by which all other works on the subject are judged. To date, none have been able to surpass the insights and depth of analysis provided in Jordan’s groundbreaking study.