Decline of Black Politics : From Malcolm X to Barack Obama

by Gray, Kevin Alexander

• ISBN13: 9781844672844
• ISBN10: 1844672840
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2013-09-30
• Publisher: Random House Inc

Summary

Impassioned account of black politics from the civil rights era to the present day. Who are black politicians more loyal to: the Democratic Party or their black constituents? Have African Americans gained anything from years of participation in the US political system? Formerly one of Jesse Jackson's key organizers, and still an engaged activist and writer, Kevin Alexander Gray provides a unique, insider's account of two generations of struggle: from King, X and the civil rights era through to the Rainbow Coalition.The Decline of Black Politicsthen builds on this authoritative historical account to map a way through our current, impoverished political landscape. The ethnic cleansing of New Orleans, the Supreme Court decision on education, the war on drugs and an increasingly polarized economy have all taken their toll--yet Obama and the Democratic Party offer no real solution. Gray tackles the key questions for African Americans today: how can those who struggle for freedom and equality explain and counteract this decline in leadership, and how could a revitalized movement hold a new generation of leaders to account?