"A strong and well-informed set of reviews of efforts and achievements of African Americans and their political allies across the broadest spectrum of arenas of government."
--Rufus P. Browning, San Francisco State University

"Useful for undergraduate courses in black politics and American politics."--Jennifer L. Hochschild, Princeton University

These essays offer a current and comprehensive analysis of black politics and its impact at the national level on the American political system. Whether analyzing the Supreme Court, interest groups, public policy, the Congressional Black Caucus, or political attitudes and behavior, these essays demonstrate that African Americans participate in national politics in a substantial way, and that they have done so in a manner consistent with pluralist theory. However, they have been less active in executive policy making, and this trend is also explored and analyzed.


Contents
INTRODUCTION
Black Politics in the United States, by Huey L. Perry and Wayne Parent
A Theoretical Analysis of National Black Politics in the United States, by Huey L. Perry
BLACK POLITICAL ATTITUDES, BEHAVIOR, AND PARTICIPATION
Black Political Attitudes and Behavior in the 1990s, by Wayne Parent and Paul Stekler
Jesse Jackson's Campaigns for the Presidency: A Comparison of the 1984 and 1988 Democratic Primaries, by Mfanya Donald Tryman
BLACKS AND NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
Blacks and Presidential Politics, by Henry B. Sirgo
Blacks and the National Executive Branch, by Huey L. Perry, Tracey Ambeau, and Frederick McBride
The Evolving Congressional Black Caucus: The Reagan-Bush Years, by Richard Champagne and Leroy N. Rieselbach
The Supreme Court, African Americans, and Public Policy: Changes and Transformations, by Michael W. Combs
BLACKS AND NATIONAL PUBLIC POLICY
Black Interest Groups and the 1982 Extension of the Voting Rights Act, by Dianne M. Pinderhughes
Budgets, Taxes, and Politics: Options for African-American Politics, by Lenneal J. Henderson, Jr.
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
The State of Black Politics in the United States and Implications for the Future, by Huey L. Perry and Wayne Parent

Huey L. Perry is dean of the School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs and professor of political science at Southern University, Baton Rouge.

Wayne Parent is associate professor of political science at Louisiana State University.

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"Scholarly, clearly written, and informative, this collection by leading African American social scientists takes the perspective of pluralist theory, the conventional notion that 'a diverse society in which many groups have access to many possible points of power is significantly closer to democracy than a society with a sole point of power that one group is able to control.'......Highly recommended..."
--Choice

"this is a worthwhile volume for undergraduate courses in black politics and American politics. It is sufficiently broad in coverage that those who teach either course can use it. It will give students a good summary of and introduction to the research in several fields."
--American Review of Politics

"a significant research book for anyone who is interested in black politics and the black political agenda.The contributors to this volume have indeed illuminated and sharpened the focus while encouraging the debate on many issues and concerns facing African Americans today."
--Southeastern Political Review