Despite the abundant evidence from Obama's victories proving that the US population has fundamentally changed, many progressives and Democrats continue to waste millions of dollars chasing white swing voters. Explosive population growth of people of color in America over the past 50 years has laid the foundation for a new American majority consisting of progressive people of color and progressive whites. These two groups make up 51 percent of all eligible voters in America right now, and that majority is growing larger every day. Failing to properly appreciate this reality, progressives are at risk of missing this moment in history - and losing.

A leader in national politics for 30 years, Steve Phillips has had a front-row seat to these extraordinary political changes. A civil rights lawyer and a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, Phillips draws on his extensive political experience to unveil exactly how people of color and progressive whites add up to a new majority - and what this means for US politics and policy.

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Listening Length	6 hours and 30 minutes
Author	Steven Phillips
Narrator	Sean Crisden
Audible.com Release Date	May 24, 2016
Publisher	Tantor Audio
Program Type	Audiobook
Version	Unabridged
Language	English
ASIN	B01F7T2QLY
Best Sellers Rank	#185,915 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals) #409 in Demography Studies #483 in Conservatism & Liberalism #996 in Political Parties (Books)

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remadrid17

Phenomenal

Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2017

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A page Turner at every second. Extensive research and empirical data that makes this book a must read (even if you're not drawn to these types of books). You will come away with a wealth of knowledge and questions as to why the political landscape for Democrats remains so complex when you have guidebooks like the one Steve writes. Don't miss out on this book

7 people found this helpful

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George Fulmore

Exceptional Insights and Vision

Reviewed in the United States on August 5, 2017

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This is one heck of a book. It covers a lot of ground, but, in the end, to me, it all fits together and makes sense.
The thesis that is repeated throughout the book is that there is a political majority in the U.S., if White liberals/progressives and the progressive people of color, mainly Blacks, Latinos and Asians, band together in elections.
This New American Majority, primarily under the Democratic Party, controls at least 51 percent of the American voters, and growing. Progressive whites make up about 28% of the electorate; progressive people of color make up another 23%. And, their numbers and percentages are growing. (Other whites are at 43%; other people of color are the remaining 6%.)
The author points out that Democrats have not won the majority of white voters in a Presidential election since the days of Lyndon Johnson. And trying to win national and other elections by pouring money into TV and other ad campaigns is generally not effective in wooing white independent voters. It is better to spend that money courting progressive minority voters, even to the extent of driving them to the polls.
The famous quote by Andrew Young about the “smart-ass white boys who think they know everything” is noted as important in all this by the author, as is the fact that Barack Obama won the primary over Hillary Clinton in 2008, not primarily because of smart white boys running his campaign, but because of the huge minority vote Obama brought out.
The trouble with the smart-ass white boys, per the author, is that they “don’t reflect the composition of the New American Majority and (they) lack the cultural competence to communicate with its members.”
In short, for Democrats, trying to win elections with white voters is a losing strategy. A winning strategy is to turn out the New American Majority, which “cannot win going forward without large and enthusiastic support from people of color.”
But, even with the demographic projections of more and more voters who are of color, no one should think that forming this coalition of progressives is going to be easy. Says the author, “this country has been obsessed with white people for 409 years.” And, “The White superiority mind set is now so deeply embedded in the cultural fabric of the nation that it infects – and devalues -- nearly every facet of modern life.”
Whites run most of the businesses in the country. They make up most of the reporters and those in government positions. And, they have most of the money, which supports a continuation of privilege and advantage. And, to make things worse, they, in general, lack the “cultural competence” to understand or relate to minority communities.
What we have here, for the most part understandably, is the lack of trust and communication between these progressive groups. But, if these two groups do not unify to find unifying candidates and/or to get out to vote, they are not going to win elections. Furthermore, for the New American Majority to be successful, it must be led by people who understand and appreciate the dreams of people of color. And, per the author, “To win, one needs a rich message that resonates and inspires those who have experienced and still battle discrimination and injustice.”
The author explains that white people started to accumulate most of the money after World War II, as the G.I. Bill and federal housing programs kicked in, primarily to the benefit of whites. This left people of color way behind, and, per the author, “It is nearly impossible for the people of color (today) to catch up.” Today, white households, on average, have about 12 times more money than Blacks, and 10 times more money than Latinos.
But here is where issues can bring all progressives together. Such issues would include:
• Demands and implementations of equality in public schools
• Immigration Reform that includes a path to citizenship for the approximately 11 million undocumented U.S. residents
• The agreement to combat climate change
• Tax reform and government programs to reduce inequality in income, the wide gaps in total wealth, and the advantages of inherited wealth
• Programs dedicated to helping people of color buy homes
• More control over the rising costs of health care, and the guarantees of access and affordability to quality health care for all
• A dedication to encourage and aid progressive people of color to enter politics and government service
These are the kinds of issues that can bring progressives, both white and of color, together to form the New American Majority in American politics.
But the author also makes the point that the conservatives and Republicans are lying in the weeds waiting to upset this applecart. As the author says, “Conservatives can count.” They will try to suppress the votes of people of color. They will try to entice them to think that charter schools and such will be to their benefit. They will spend tons of money to lure people of color to reject the offerings of the New American Majority.
And, of course, fear of change can affect white progressives. It is not always easy to give up political power, e.g., all-white city councils or school boards. Or to see neighborhoods “change.”
And on the other side, says the author, “People of color also need to learn about groups other than their own, including progressive whites, and they need to prepare themselves for the responsibility of leadership, by learning the skills and developing the habits required to bring about meaningful social change.”
The author ends the book with some compelling works from Martin Luther King, who in accepting the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964 said, “I have the audacity to believe in a world where peoples everywhere can have three meals a day for their bodies, education and culture for their minds, and dignity, equality and freedom for their spirits.”
To get there, says the author, “will require profound political change, considerable personal courage, and tireless organizing and advocacy….We have a moment where we can make history and make a better world for those who come after us.”
Can I get an “Amen” for that?
In conclusion, I recommend the book highly, if any of the above interests you. As I said in the beginning, to me, this is an important book. There is much more in it than I have been able to put in this review.
Finally, I think that this is far from the last that we will be hearing from the author, Steve Phillips.

10 people found this helpful

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Roderick

Excellent! The racial makeup of America is changing.

Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2018

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This is a must read. This book help me to understand the present white American rage and desperation as both privilege and power is eroding before our eyes. Excellent! The color of America is changing and it’s hue will be drawn across every line in America. It’s a new day in America as the majority becomes the minority. Phillips captures its political impact. He raises the question as to what the political landscape will be now that it has browned.

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A. J. White

Grounded in Data!

Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2016

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Excellent read and factual data supports the underline premise that people of color along with white progressives hve the political power to transform the USA into a more equItable country for all! Must read if you believe in the founding principles of America!

6 people found this helpful

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Stephan Mahan

A "must" Political Read!!

Reviewed in the United States on April 4, 2016

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This was a very compelling "read." Steve Phillips does a great job of compiling and dispensing the change that is occurring in the country's electorate. He has an easy writing style that makes voting trends, stats and voting history easy to understand. He shows His bias as far as being a Progressive but He is still able to present this information in a fair & balanced way. This book could be used by Progressives or Conservatives to pretty much ensure successful elections in the future. A must read if You are interested in elections, policies, voting projections or politics in general.

8 people found this helpful

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Khalina

like me, who have always considered ourselves the minority

Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2016

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I thought this book was going to be just interesting, but in fact, it was eye-opening. Steve Phillips has taken the bits and pieces of history I learned from school (the Pilgrims, slavery, Native Americans, Chinese immigrants) and wove that history together with the results of the GI Bill, the Civil Rights Movement and the deference to white swing voters which still exists today. Ultimately, the message is clear. For those, like me, who have always considered ourselves the minority, we are now the voting majority and can influence millions of others American lives with votes on progressive issues such as health care, immigration and environmental justice. This isn't the time to ignore politics if you've previously thought politics doesn't matter. If you're a progressive (whatever your skin color), you have more power than ever to influence future generations of Americans now. I've never felt so optimistic about the future!

4 people found this helpful

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Ginny-Ginger

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United States on November 14, 2016

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Husband and I loved it.

2 people found this helpful

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M Brady

Four Stars

Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2016