The Price of the Ticket: Barack Obama and the Rise and Decline of Black Politics (Transgressing Boundaries: Studies in Black Politics and Black Communities) 1st Edition

by Fredrick Harris (Author)

18 customer reviews

ISBN-13: 978-0199739677

ISBN-10: 0199739676

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The Price of the Ticket: Barack Obama and the Rise and Decline of Black Politics (Transgressing Boundaries: Studies in Black Politics and Black Communities)

The Price of the Ticket: Barack Obama and the Rise and Decline of Black Politics (Transgressing Boundaries: Studies in Black Politics and Black Communities)
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The historical significance of Barack Obama's triumph in the presidential election of 2008 scarcely requires comment. Yet it contains an irony: he won a victory as an African American only by denying that he should discuss issues that target the concerns of African Americans. Obama's very success, writes Fredrick Harris, exacted a heavy cost on black politics.

In The Price of the Ticket, Harris puts Obama's career in the context of decades of black activism, showing how his election undermined the very movement that made it possible. The path to his presidency began just before passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act, when black leaders began to discuss strategies to make the most of their new access to the ballot. Some argued that black voters should organize into a cohesive, independent bloc to promote both targeted and universal polices; others urged a more race-neutral approach, working together with other racial minorities as well as like-minded whites. This has been the fundamental divide within black politics ever since. At first, the gap did not seem serious. But the post-civil-rights era has accelerated a shift towards race-neutral politics. Obama made a point of distancing himself from older race-conscious black leaders, such as Jesse Jackson- and leaders of the Congressional Black Caucus-even though, as Harris shows, he owes much to Jackson's earlier campaigns for the White House. Unquestionably Obama's approach won support among whites, but Harris finds the results troublesome. The social problems targeted by an earlier generation of black politicians--racial disparities in income and education, stratospheric incarceration and unemployment rates--all persist, yet Obama's election, ironically, marginalized those issues, keeping them off the political agenda. Meanwhile, the civil-rights movement's militancy to attack the vestiges of racial inequality is fading.

Written by one of America's leading scholars of race and politics, The Price of the Ticket will reshape our understanding of the rise of Barack Obama and the decline of a politics dedicated to challenging racial inequality head on.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"...timely, uncompromising, and insightful..."--Transition

Winner of the 2013 Hurston/Wright Legacy Award for Nonfiction.

About the Author

Fredrick C. Harris is Professor of Political Science and the Director of the Institute for Research in African-American Studies at Columbia University. He is the triple award winner of the book Something Within: Religion in African-American Political Activism and the co-author of Countervailing Forces in African-American Civic Activism, 1973-1994, which received the 2006 W.E.B. DuBois Award from the National Conference of Black Political Scientists and the 2007 Ralph Bunche Award from the American Political Science Association. He has been a visiting scholar at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, D.C. and is a 2012 recipient of the Lenfest Distinguished Faculty Award at Columbia University.

Product details

Series: Transgressing Boundaries: Studies in Black Politics and Black Communities
Hardcover: 232 pages
Publisher: Oxford University Press; 1 edition (June 15, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0199739676
ISBN-13: 978-0199739677
Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 0.9 x 6.2 inches
Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 18 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,271,804 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #881 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Politics & Government > Elections & Political Process > Political Advocacy
- #2116 in Books > Textbooks > Social Sciences > Political Science > Political History
- #2270 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Politics & Government > Elections & Political Process > General

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What price silence as regards the symbol with no clothes?

April 1, 2014

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I thought this book served an especially worthwhile purpose.

It serves, I think to awaken and or further remind those on the left why we should have been wary of Barack Obama.

Of all the Demographic groups, Black People have been the most loyal to this President.

Unfortunately, this loyalty has not been reciprocated.

Black people have been consistently either ignored, insulted or pandered to by this President.

Every other faction of the Democratic base has demanded and received a sympathetic ear for their grievances but Blacks.

Is Barack Obama in the White House the culmination of black protest and activism since Slavery?

Is it so important to have a symbol as your representative? Even if that symbol only acknowledges you and yours only when it is politically expedient for him to do so?

What becomes of the struggle for human rights and dignity after Obama has left the White House?

This is a Question particularly for those so-called Black Leaders like Al Sharpton and more broadly those on the Progressive Left who have been so awed by this man that until recently they would offer no critique of him or his policies. Even though he has only transformed or expanded the Bush-Era policies.

3 people found this helpful

Some Thoughts about Obama

December 10, 2013

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

This is an incredible book that really starts a person thinking. It points out the apparent promises that either were not kept of something is going on behind the scenes that prohibits the President from delivering on those promises. Then again, as you read this you are reminded of the those of us who have not been affected by, and therefore would receive no direct benefit from changes to the justice system, immigration reform,, lowering in the poverty level, should consider ourselves very lucky. Excellent book - a real eye opener.

One person found this helpful

The "Ticket Price" too costly for Black voters.

December 8, 2012

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

At what cost to the Black community was Obama elected? And was the ticket fairly priced, or way too high? This book does an outstanding job of answering these questions. As political analysis, I think the book is first rate. Frederick C. Harris does a great job of dissecting the Obama phenomenon. He uses the history of race-neutral politics and the politics of respectability to brilliant effect. That history is very instrumental for understanding the new Black politician and clearly illuminates how Obama got elected, and why Black people soundly supported him, even to their own detriment. The one shortcoming, that is somewhat glaring to me, is the inability, or perhaps, the unwillingness of the author to indicate to the readers, where as a political science expert the author stands in all of this. The explanations from his perspective of what happened is great and appreciated, but, are these strategies, in his opinion, helpful or hurtful to the black community and why?

I think his opinion in these things would have made for a more engaging read, and could have drawn the readers into a silent debate. Instead, we are left with, essentially the story of what happened, the historical framework of why it was able to happen and how it will continue to happen, if "The price of the ticket" is not thoroughly scrutinized. Some may suggest, his explanations are his opinions, but a careful read will suggest otherwise. Yes, obviously when one explains anything, the explanation contains one's own opinions, but I' m talking about an explicit condemning or condoning certain political strategies, especially because you are a political science professor. So, to me that is important, because we all can have an explanation, but the professorial explanation tends to hold more weight and by extension his declaration of judgement.

Having said that, I find the effort worthy of 4 enthusiastic stars, and would have gone 5, if the author shared a bit more of his thinking and his personal persuasion.

3 people found this helpful

A detailed and intelligent analysis of how Mr

March 2, 2016

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

A detailed and intelligent analysis of how Mr. Obama's elevation to the presidency cost African Americans substantive progress in terms income for the mere symbolism of him being the first half Kenyan/white President.

2 people found this helpful

Great Read, lousy kindle edition

February 3, 2013

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

I am giving 3 stars to the kindle edition because of a lack of table of contents. I've never encountered that on any e book that wasn't either free or only $2. I think this is a well-written, factual book that most readers will find informative and unbiased. Having an e book with no table of contents almost completely eliminates the convenience of purchasing.

One person found this helpful

Got it for class, easy read, lead to an A.

December 9, 2013

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Very good perspective on the political environment that lead to President Obama being elected president. I got if for a comparison essay with "Dreams of my Father." It was a short and easy read that lead to me getting a good grade on my paper and understanding the history of Black politics.

One person found this helpful

Awesome Book. Educationally enhancing and an important book towards ...

November 16, 2015

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Awesome Book. Educationally enhancing and an important book towards the great canons of literature.

November 25, 2014

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

A satisfied customer.

Most recent customer reviews

Amazon Customer

Published 1 year ago

Published on February 28, 2015

In my personal opinion, the world really didn't need this book. The author puts forth his thesis at the beginning and then repeats it throughout the book.Read more

Published on November 6, 2013

An Important book about Black Electoral Politics

With three full years of an Obama administration to observe, a number of political thinkers are assessing what this presidency has accomplished.Read more

Published on April 18, 2013

Hannah & Associates

I found this book to be quite thought provoking. While I have the utmost respect for the brilliant work of this African American scholar, this book is taking a pass on reality...Read more

Published on April 18, 2013

Good History on Racial Politics but Muddled Policy Prescriptions

Fredrick C. Harris is a Professor of Political Science and the Director of Columbia University's Center on African-American Politics and Society.Read more

Published on January 15, 2013

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