This collection investigates the social, political, and philosophical construction of whiteness through the critical lens of African American thinkers. Editor George Yancy compiles a series of essays that challenge the invisibility of whiteness as a normative standard in Western thought. By centering Black intellectual perspectives, the text interrogates how racial identity is maintained, performed, and institutionalized within contemporary society.

Scholars and students of critical race theory frequently cite this work as a foundational text for understanding the philosophical dimensions of racial identity. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which requires a strong background in social theory to fully engage with the arguments presented.