A post-racial change is gonna come : Newark elections, Cory Booker, and the transformation of urban America

An investigation of post-racial politics and the future of coalition politics in an American city. This work offers a political and historical analysis of Newark's modern politics since 1950, culminating with Mayor Cory Booker's rise to power and prominence both in the city and in American political consciousness. Newark's recent political history offers an interesting case study in mayoral elections, community development, and coalition building politics. While Newark is the quintessential post-industrial city, Booker has received critical attention for his post-racial politics since he frequently bypasses racial and traditional urban politics. At the same time, relations between the mayor, the municipal council, and Newark's diverse communities were often so fractious that sustainable coalition building proved to be an elusive goal to resolve longstanding crime, education, and other social problems. Based on original interviews with Cory Booker, city council members, and other prominent Newark politicians, A Post Racial Change is Gonna Come is a powerful history of how Newark became the focal point for transformative politics in urban America Front Matter....Pages i-xi Introduction....Pages 1-10 Newark’s Sordid Past and Early Community Development Politics....Pages 11-36 The 2002 and 2006 Mayoral Elections....Pages 37-62 The Mayors’ Identity Politics and Their Political Shortcomings....Pages 63-95 Booker’s Community Development Initiatives....Pages 97-135 The 2010 Election and Booker’s Second-Term Honeymoon....Pages 137-172 Newark, Booker, and Post-Racial Reality....Pages 173-190 Back Matter....Pages 191-270