American Politics and the African American Quest for Universal Freedom

This new tenth edition includes three core additions. The first is an assessment of the 2022 midterm and 2024 presidential and congressional midterm elections in relationship to the themes of the text. Second, we assess the presidency of Joseph R. Biden in the context of divided government, where the Republicans control the House of Representatives, and the Democrats control the Senate by a slim majority and the White House.

While we focus on the 2024 election in Chapter 9, given the significance of historical campaign of Vice President Kamala Harris for President and the way it unfolded. The third core addition in this new edition is an overall, general assessment of the record of the African American elected officials’ in advancing the “Black Agenda” given the changing electorate and its increased diversity in identities and ideologies, even within the Black community.

All chapters have been updated with new content and the latest data available, specifically:

• Revisions to Chapter 1“Universal Freedom Declared, Denied.” The language in this historical chapter—and all chapters in the text—have been updated with inclusive and affirming language that empowers based on valuable feedback from students.

• Revisions to Chapter 3“Political Culture and Socialization.” This chapter has been completely rewritten with more discussion on “Elements of Black Culture” and updated material on the political significance of African American music, including Hip Hop, and the African American Church.

• Revisions to Chapter 4“Public Opinion.” This chapter includes new data on Black American public opinion and the various strands of African American ideology have been updated.

• Revisions to Chapter 5“African Americans and the Media.” This chapter includes an updated section on the CROWN Act and the politics of black hair, and revision to the African American celebrity impact on politics.

• Revisions to Chapter 6“Social Movements and a Theory of African American Coalition Politics.” This chapter includes a discussion of the political significance of the increasing ethnic diversity of Black communities because of immigration from Africa and the Caribbean. Also, the discussion on “Black Lives Matter” movement has been updated.

• Revisions to Chapter 7“Interest Groups.” This chapter includes a discussion on African American women interest group activities from an intersectional approach, including the first Black sorority political action committee, the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority PAC, Inc., established in the U.S....read more...