The Obama phenomenon : toward a multiracial democracy / edited by Charles P. Henry, Robert L. Allen, and Robert Chrisman.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Henry, Charles P., 1947-

Allen, Robert L., 1942-2024.

Chrisman, Robert.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Obama, Barack--Influence.

Obama, Barack.

Democracy--United States.

Democracy.

Race relations.

United States.

United States--Race relations--21st century.

Presidents--United States--Election--2008.

Presidents.

United States--Politics and government--2009-.

Politics and government.

Physical Description:

326 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Urbana : University of Illinois Press, [2011]

Summary:

The editors (two professors of African American studies at the U. of California at Berkeley and the editor-in-chief of The Black Scholar) bring together an interdisciplinary group of scholars of African American politics and culture in order to probe the significance of Barack Obama's election to the presidency. Opening papers seek to explain the causal factors behind Obama's victory--which the introduction somewhat dubiously (considering the amount of Wall Street and other corporate money being poured into his campaign coffers at very early stages) claims that "no social scientist could have predicted"--looking at past strategies of Black electoral success; African American bloc voting; the roles of age, race, and gender in voting behavior; the roles of the Black and Latino press; and the role of Bill Clinton. The next seven essays address Obama in relation to cultural aspects of race in the United States and include an exhortation by novelist Alice Walker for white women to recognize Obama's worth and support him, exploration of the significance of the controversy over Obama's association with the Reverend Jeremiah Wright, representations of Michelle Obama as potential first lady, and Obama's relationship to the hip hop community. Somewhat more critical perspectives begin to intrude once attention turns to policy in the volume's final three essays, which focus on domestic socioeconomic issues, foreign policy, and affirmative action. Annotation ©2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Contents:

Part I The Election

1 Toward a Multiracial Democracy: The Jackson and Obama Contributions / Charles P. Henry Henry, Charles P. 15

2 Analysis of Black American Voters in Barack Obama's Victory / Martin Kilson Kilson, Martin 34

3 Dead Certain: The Election of Barack Obama and Its Implications for Racial Politics / Hanes Walton Jr. Walton, Hanes, Jr., Josephine A. V. Allen Allen, Josephine A. V., Sherman C. Puckett Puckett, Sherman C., Donald R. Deskins Jr. Deskins, Donald R., Jr. 60

4 What Trumped? Race, Class, Gender, Generation, the Economy, and the 2008 Elections / Julianne Malveaux Malveaux, Julianne 82

5 Race, the Presidency, and Obama's First Year / Dianne M. Pinderhughes Pinderhughes, Dianne M. 92

6 Under Press-ure: Overcoming the Media and Its Mavens? / Herb Boyd Boyd, Herb 111

7 Opportunity Costs: The Impact of the 2008 Campaign on the Legacy of William Jefferson Clinton / Scharn Robinson Robinson, Scharn 126

Part II Culture

8 Lest We Forget: An open letter to my sisters who are brave / Alice Walker Walker, Alice 143

9 The Ambivalent Embrace of Barack Obama: The Ethical Significance and Social Apprehension of Blackness / Maulana Karenga Karenga, Maulana 148

10 Obama, Black Religion, and the Reverend Wright Controversy / John L. Jackson Jackson, John L. 165

11 Race, Religion, and the Race for the White House / Dwight N. Hopkins Hopkins, Dwight N. 181

12 The New Negro in African American Politics: Barack Obama and the Politics of Racial Representation / Ronald Williams II Williams, Ronald II 200

13 Barack Obama's Anomalous Relationship with the Hip-Hop Community / Shaun Ossei-Owusu Ossei-Owusu, Shaun 218

14 Too Black and Too Strong: First Lady Michelle Obama / Ula Y. Taylor Taylor, Ula Y. 236

Part III Policy

15 President Obama: Freedom Democrat or Neoliberal? / Robin D. G. Kelley Kelley, Robin D. G. 253

16 Multicultural Hegemony: Globalization and the Obama Doctrine / Clarence Lusane Lusane, Clarence 262

17 An Affirmative Act? Barack Obama and the Past, Present, and Future of Race-Conscious Remedies / Cheryl I. Harris Harris, Cheryl I. 277.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

0252078225

9780252036453

025203645X

9780252078224

OCLC:

719427894

Publisher Number:

99946407155