Politics in the New South

Representation of African Americans in Southern State Legislatures

Charles E. Menifield, Stephen D. Shaffer, Charles E. Menifield, Stephen D. Shaffer

• Publisher: SUNY Press
• Year: 2012
• Print ISBN: 9780791465325, 9780791465318
• eBook ISBN: 9780791482896
• Topic: Social Sciences
• Subtopic: American Government
• Index: Social Sciences

Documents political advances made by African Americans in the South over the last twenty-five years.

Winner of the 2006 V.O. Key Award presented by the Southern Political Science Association

This authoritative study of contemporary state legislatures in the South provides a fascinating account of how African Americans have achieved noticeable political power since the Voting Rights Act was passed in 1965. A history of racial discrimination and one-party Democratic dominance is being supplanted by African American empowerment in a competitive two-party system. Contributors examine the evolution of the Black Caucus, the growing number of African American lawmakers, and the rise of black legislators to important leadership positions in the legislatures of each of the southern states. Roll call data on key votes from several legislative sessions in Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, and Texas are analyzed.

Table of contents

• Politics in the New South: Representation of African Americans in Southern State Legislatures
• Contents
• Tables
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• 1. An Introduction to Southern Legislative Coalitions
• 2. African Americans in the Arkansas General Assembly: 1972–1999*
• 3. African Americans in the Contemporary Florida Legislature
• 4. Black Representation in Georgia*
• 5. Representation of African Americans in the Contemporary Mississippi Legislature
• 6. Cohesiveness and Diversity among Black Members of the Texas State Legislature
• 7. An Overview of African American Representation in Other Southern States
• 8. Politics in the New South: Looking Ahead
• References
• About the Contributors
• Index