A comprehensive overview to introduce students to a consolidating sub-field of study-Black Politics-focused on evolving patterns of participation in black America. It covers a variety of forms of politics, both protest and conventional. Special attention will be devoted to black leadership-its character, functions and changing influence-and sociopolitical organizations. Texts analyzed in the course will draw from the work of Dubois, Myrdal, Jones, Carmichael and Hamilton, and Barnette. We review theories of black participation: the political context variable, deracialized electoral campaigns, cooptation and political incorporation, critical elections theory, linkage theory, and the black utility heuristic. Among the cases to be examined in the course are Jesse Jackson's 1984 and 1988 presidential campaigns, black mayoralties, the Million Man March, and the emergence and growth of the Black Caucus activity in congress and legislatures. Format: discussion/lecture. Requirements: several short critical response papers, and one 12-15 page final paper. This is an introductory course, open to all students, including first-year students. Enrollment limit: 25 (expected: 15). American Politics Subfield

Hour: FRANKLIN