The radical black left that played a crucial role in twentieth-century struggles for equality and justice has largely disappeared. Michael Dawson investigates the causes and consequences of the decline of black radicalism as a force in American politics and argues hat the conventional left has failed to take race sufficiently seriously as a historical force in reshaping American institutions, politics, and civil society. Are Tea Party supporters merely a group of conservative citizens concerned about government spending? Or are they racists who refuse to accept Barack Obama as their president because hes not white? Change They Cant Believe In offers an alternative argument--that the Tea Party is driven by the reemergence of a reactionary movement in American politics which is fueled by a fear that America has changed for the worse. Providing a range of original evidence and rich portraits of party sympathizers as well as activists, Christopher Parker and Matt Barreto show that what actually pushes Tea Party supporters is not simple ideology or racism, but fear that the country is being stolen from real Americans--a belief triggered by Obamas election. From civil liberties and policy issues, to participation in the political process, the perception that America is in danger directly informs how Tea Party supporters think and act. The authors argue that this isnt the first time a segment of American society has perceived the American way of life as under siege. In fact, movements of this kind often appear when some individuals believe that American values are under threat by rapid social changes. Drawing connections between the Tea Party and right-wing reactionary movements of the past, including the Know-Nothing Party, the Ku Klux Klan of the 1920s, and the John Birch Society, Parker and Barreto develop a framework that transcends the Tea Party to shed light on its current and future consequences. Linking past and present reactionary movements, Change They Cant Believe In rigorously examines the motivations and political implications associated with todays Tea Party. __________________ Christopher S. Parker is the Stuart A. Scheingold Professor of Social Justice and Political Science at the University of Washington, Seattle. He is the author of Fighting for Democracy (Princeton). __________________ Friday, October 25th at 6 p.m. Seminary Co-op Bookstore, 5751 S. Woodlawn Ave. Chicago, IL 60637 773.752.4381 events@semcoop _________________
Posted on: Wed, 23 Oct 2013 18:02:41 +0000
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