The Color of Freedom: Race and Contemporary American Liberalism (review)

Book Reviews 305 These essays are remarkably free of academic jargon. This is almost a necessity when contributors come from anthropology, biology, horticulture, social ecology, agronomy, linguistics, law, activism, and other areas. This makes the volume exceedingly accessible, but it may leave the reader wishing for theoretical elaborations of the rich descriptive material. Still, that may be an unavoidable tradeoff of interdisciplinary work. In the end, Ethnoecology serves as a rich resource, a snapshot of the state of the global commons at a moment of crisis for indigenous peoples (and aU of us) that should be of particular interest to rhetorical scholars interested in international and environmental politics. Kevin DeLuca University of Georgia The Color of Freedom: Race and Contemporary American Liberalism. By David Carroll Cochran. Albany: State University of New York Press, 1999; pp. viii + 207. $17.95. H. Ford Douglas once stated that, "There can be no union between slavery and freedom." Simply put, equality is impossible whüe enslaved. These coordinates of slavery and freedom might appear to be polar extremes, but in fact, their borders are not so distant. The boundary between inferiority and equality, servitude and autonomy is one that tests the elasticity of liberalism and the fairness of American civiï society, while caUing our constitutional foundation, ethical mandate, and identities into question. David Carroll Cochran takes on the bold task of deconstructing American liberalism in an effort to reveal its existing moral fabric. This is truly a work of recovery. It is a treatise that intends to restore hope for the "color blind liberalism " paradigm as a strategy toward pragmatically and theoreticaUy resolving racial conflict between blacks and whites in the United States. Rather than discard the concept of "color-blind liberalism" altogether, Cochran argues for its relevance and universality within the United States. His approach has several strengths and limitations. In chapter one, Cochran audaciously suggests that "what we call liberal and conservative positions today are generally different interpretations of the same broad liberal tradition" (7). He further contends, "they (left and right) have both embraced the paradigm of colorblind liberalism in the last several decades, though they have done so in very different ways with very different policy implications" (8). In chapter two, Cochran demonstrates the utility of color-blind liberalism as a strategy for race resolution by explaining how its ideological touchstones embrace individual autonomy as a core principle. His admission that color-blind liberalism is currently incomplete and inadequate is refreshing; he insists upon repairing it rather than replacing it with another paradigm. This is itself a commentary on liberalism —working within the confines of the existing structure to produce change. 306 Rhetoric & Public Affairs In chapter three, there is an insightful exploration of private spheres that serve to threaten freedom and sustain oppression. Cochran discusses strategic points of liberalist thinking—discourses on autonomy, freedom, and public policy reform. He is particularly poignant in his remarks concerning methods of confronting race discrimination. Chapter four is clearly a scholar's chapter. It literally chronicles the intellectual work of several political phUosophers. It is obvious he enjoyed writing this chapter and it seems to be the most fluid. As a political scientist, Cochran is able to "show off" his expert understanding of liberal autonomy without taking many chances. This is perhaps the most weU-written chapter. Chapter five offers too much in too little space. Cochran introduces a discussion of the black family and black church as institutions, a discussion which continues into chapter six. This was not his forte and it shows. He begins a conversation on race that is quite provocative as he explores whiteness studies. Unfortunately, his analysis of whiteness, like much of his discussion on race, is prematurely completed. Cochran uses race as a signpost or descriptor of a social condition rather than a constructed identity. This limits the race analysis and treats this central episteme as mere apparatus. Chapter six is dedicated to merging theory and practice. The Color of Freedom: Race and Contemporary American Liberalism is weU-organized and written in captivating, yet simple language so that even the advanced layman can understand. It is a volume in SUNY's book series in Afro-American studies...