The Republican Party once enjoyed nearly unanimous support among African American voters; today, it can hardly maintain a foothold in the black community. Exploring how and why this shift occurred--as well as recent efforts to reverse it--Michael Fauntroy meticulously navigates the policy choices and political strategies that have driven a wedge between the GOP and its formerly stalwart constituents.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Booklist
Fauntroy assesses the Republican Party and its relationship with African Americans in context of the party's conservative ideological shift. He traces the origin of the Republican Party's antislavery, expansionist perspective and support of Reconstruction to the current southern strategy that has sought to secure white southern votes with what is perceived as significantly antiblack views. Fauntroy examines demographic changes in America that conflict with that strategy. But he sees Republican outreach to black voters to be more form than substance, with too many of the issues, policies, and even symbols of the party perceptibly antiblack. Fauntroy, who spoke with prominent Republican policy makers and its few black party members, including former Oklahoma representative J.C. Watts, gives an overview of policies and strategies that have failed to attract blacks, and suggests some areas of overlapping interest can be more effectively highlighted. In addition to the relationship between blacks and the Republican Party, this work provides an excellent overview of domestic political issues of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Vernon Ford
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Review
An illuminating analysis of how the Republican Party has strayed from African American voters and how much ground there is to make up. --Keith Reeves, Political Science Quarterly
A balanced and nuanced discussion of race-party intersections.... I recommend this book highly.... Consider [it] for undergraduate courses on political parties, race and ethnicity, and electoral politics; for graduate courses and reading lists it dovetails nicely with books like James Reichley s (1992) The Life of the Parties. --Peter W. Wielhouwer, Perspectives on Politics
A useful, coherent picture of recent Republican activities regarding race. --Choice --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
A balanced and nuanced discussion of race-party intersections.... I recommend this book highly.... Consider [it] for undergraduate courses on political parties, race and ethnicity, and electoral politics; for graduate courses and reading lists it dovetails nicely with books like James Reichley s (1992) The Life of the Parties. --Peter W. Wielhouwer, Perspectives on Politics
A useful, coherent picture of recent Republican activities regarding race. --Choice --This text refers to the Paperback edition.
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More About the Author
Michael K. Fauntroy is associate professor of public policy at George Mason University, where he teaches courses in urban policy, civil rights policy, and American government and specializes in race and American politics. Prior to joining the faculty at GMU, he was an analyst in American national government at the Congressional Research Service, where he provided research and consultations for members and committees of Congress. From 1993 to 1996, he was a civil rights analyst at the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, where he monitored and conducted research on major civil rights issues.
Fauntroy is the author of "Republicans and the Black Vote," was published in 2008 and was a Foreword Magazine 2007 Book of the Year Award Finalist. The book analyzes the historical relationship between African Americans and the Grand Old Party. He is also the author of "Home Rule or House Rule? Congress and the Erosion of Local Governance in the District of Columbia." The book, published in 2003, details the evolution of District of Columbia governance. His next book, Mission Accomplished? Reflections on a Post-Racial America a collection of essays commenting on contemporary racial politics and culture.
Fauntroy is a regular contributor to The Huffington Post and has been published in The Washington Times, TomPaine.com, The Black Commentator, The Chicago Defender, and The Root. He has been quoted widely in print publications such as The New York Times Magazine, The Washington Post, USA Today, Newsday, Black Enterprise, The Washington Times, the New York Daily News, and the Boston Globe.
Fauntroy is a continuing media presence commenting and analyzing national issues. He has been heard or seen on national radio and television networks such as ABC (World News Tonight), CBS (Evening News and Saturday Early Show), CNN (American Morning), MSNBC (Hardball), Fox News (Hannity and Colmes), NBC (Nightly News and Today), Comcast (Your Morning), NPR (Talk of the Nation, Tell Me More, and News and Notes), PBS (The NewsHour and Tavis Smiley), Radio One, the British Broadcasting Corporation, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Pacifica Radio, and XM Satellite Radio (POTUS '08). He is also a regular commentator on the Cliff Kelley Show on WVON in Chicago. He was a featured analyst on NPR's November 2010 election coverage.
Fauntroy is a graduate of Hampton University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science. He earned a Master's Degree in Public Affairs and a Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Political Science from Howard University.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book-on point and on time!,
This review is from: Republicans and the Black Vote (Hardcover)
I heard Prof. Fauntroy speak at a Kwanzaa festival in Chicago where I bought his book. I'm a Black Republican and I think this book is just what the GOP needs. Blacks didn't desert the GOP, it was the GOP that deserted Blacks. Prof. Fauntroy did a great job of showing how the GOP quickly began abadoning Blacks after Reconstruction in its attempt to win White votes. The book has copious footnotes and references for those interested in further study. The book makes 2 great points: 1)it's time for the GOP to realize that it will never attract more Black votes unless it becomes less conservative on racial matters, 2)Black voters need to consider the political consequences of refusing to vote for Republican candidates, because if the GOP is able to retain any power without Black support, then the GOP will owe Blacks nothing, and that's what they'll give us in return-nothing.
The book covers the relationship between Blacks and the GOP from the GOP's inception in 1854, up to events in 2005. The book is very timely in light of the beating that Republicans took in the last election cycle-November 2006, losing several close races. As the book points out, America's demographics are changing-we're gettinng Blacker and Browner. The GOP's inability to gain support from racial minorities will put it at a great political disadvantage. Not only will the GOP benefit from being more racially sensitive and inclusive, but the nation will benefit as well. The GOP can attract more Blacks without alienating too many Whites. Are great example of this was the noble campaign of Michael Steele for US Senate in Maryland in Nov 2006. Steele is a Black Republican who openly took the GOP to task on certain issues, most interestingly on affirmative action. Steele made it clear in his campaign that he favored affirmative action though most Republicans oppose it. Steele lost the race to a White Democrat (Ben Cardin), but the demographics are quite interesting: Steele got 25% of the Black vote, but 55% of the White vote. Cardin got 75% of the Black vote, and 45% of the White vote. Steele's candidacy is proof that Republicans can run on a pro civil rights agenda without alienating too many Whites. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in politics generally, and especially to White Republicans who want to diversify the GOP.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent work!,
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This review is from: Republicans and the Black Vote (Hardcover)
This is a poignant and penetrating historical analysis and I recommend it to anyone investigating the relationship of race and the GOP in America. Although I loved the book, I had to give it a four star rating because of grammatical errors. Other than that, I was blown away by the political accuracy of this book.
5.0 out of 5 stars
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This review is from: Republicans and the Black Vote (Paperback)
This is the most truthful and forthright book I've ever read. Everything written is right on point, it is one that every American needs to read.
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