African Americans and the Politics of Congressional Redistricting (Race and Politics)

This book provides a detailed analysis of the politics of racial redistricting, a topic of particular concern in light of recent federal court cases. The book is divided into two parts. Part one examines the historical exclusion of blacks from the American political process and the politics behind congressional redistricting. The text focuses on partisan manoeuvering and assesses whose interests were being served. In particular, the book chronicles the legislative action (creation of majority black districts) in North Carolina and around the South. Part two shifts the focus to the myriad of legal battles that ensued as a result of the newly-created districts in North Carolina and around the South. Majority black districts have been dismantled in the Supreme Court. This has been due to the criticism of their "arbitrary" shape, and the notion that race was considered a predominant fact or in their design. Yet, irregularly-shaped majority white districts have not been accused of violating districting principles. This book purports that blacks were not elected to national office in large numbers prior to the creation of majority black districts, indicating the continuing need for race-conscious districting as a temporary solution to a complex problem. Book Cover......Page 1 Half-Title......Page 2 Title......Page 4 Copyright......Page 5 Dedication......Page 6 Contents......Page 7 Preface......Page 10 Acknowledgments......Page 12 Tables and Figures......Page 13 NEWLY ACQUIRED BLACK POLITICAL POWER......Page 16 OVERVIEW OF THE BOOK......Page 20 PART I Politics of Exclusion and Politics of Congressional Redistricting......Page 23 THE RACIAL GAP: A CONTRAST IN BLACK AND WHITE......Page 24 HISTORY OF THE BLACK STRUGGLE FOR EQUALITY......Page 27 RADICAL RECONSTRUCTION......Page 28 SECOND RECONSTRUCTION......Page 32 THE CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS......Page 33 REPRESENTATION THEORY......Page 37 THE URBAN UNDERCLASS......Page 38 CONSERVATIVE OPPOSITION TO RACE-BASED DISTRICTING......Page 40 CONCLUSION......Page 42 NOTES......Page 43 CHAPTER 3 Pander, Slander, Gerrymander......Page 46 THE CENSUS AND REAPPORTIONMENT......Page 47 FEDERAL AND STATE REDISTRICTING REQUIREMENTS......Page 49 VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965......Page 51 NORTH CAROLINA REDISTRICTING IN THE 1990s......Page 53 REPUBLICAN STRATEGY......Page 55 BLACK POLITICAL EMPOWERMENT IN NORTH CAROLINA......Page 56 ADOPTION OF THE FIRST CONGRESSIONAL PLAN......Page 59 NOTES......Page 68 CHAPTER 4 Redistricting, Round Two: North Carolina Legislators Are Required to Create a Second Majority-Minority District......Page 71 THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE’S RESPONSE TO THE ENACTED PLAN......Page 73 PUBLIC REACTION TO THE ADOPTED PLAN......Page 74 DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE’S REJECTION OF THE ENACTED PLAN......Page 75 STATE LEGISLATORS GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD......Page 77 TWO MAJORITY BLACK DISTRICT ALTERNATIVES PRESENTED TO THE LEGISLATURE......Page 78 ORIGIN OF THE 1–85 DISTRICT......Page 80 SUBMISSION OF PLAN TO U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE......Page 84 CONCLUSION......Page 87 Redistricting and Democracy......Page 88 NOTES......Page 92 PART II Court Litigation Surrounding Redistricting and Standards of Congressional Redistricting......Page 105 U.S. SUPREME COURT DECISIONS IN THE 1980s......Page 106 VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1982 AND ADMINISTRATIVE REGULATIONS ISSUED......Page 107 BACKGROUND TO REDISTRICTING LAWSUITS IN NORTH CAROLINA IN THE 1990s......Page 108 LAWSUITS ARISING OUT OF THE INITIALLY ADOPTED PLAN......Page 109 NOTES......Page 123 SOUTHERN STATES THAT HAVE CREATED MAJORITY-MINORITY DISTRICTS FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS CENTURY......Page 126 RECENT COURT CHALLENGES TO MAJORITY-MINORITY DISTRICTS AROUND THE COUNTRY......Page 134 U.S. SUPREME COURT RULINGS ON MAJORITY-MINORITY DISTRICTS THROUGHOUT THE SOUTH......Page 135 CONCLUSION......Page 142 NOTES......Page 144 POPULATION EQUALITY, COMPACTNESS, AND CONTIGUITY......Page 146 EQUAL POPULATION......Page 147 RESPECT FOR POLITICAL BOUNDARIES......Page 148 CONTIGUITY AND COMPACTNESS......Page 149 COMPACTNESS......Page 150 COMMUNITIES OF INTEREST......Page 154 ALTERNATIVE PLANS PRESENTED TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY......Page 157 NOTES......Page 159 CHAPTER 8 Calculating Compactness in North Carolina Plans......Page 162 MEASURES OF COMPACTNESS......Page 163 Comparison of Urban Districts......Page 167 Comparison of Rural Districts......Page 172 CONCLUSION......Page 177 NOTES......Page 179 CHAPTER 9 Conclusion: The Case for Majority Black Districts Remains Compelling......Page 180 INCUMBENCY EFFECT AND RACIALLY POLARIZED VOTING......Page 185 THE MYTH OF CONTIGUITY AND COMPACTNESS......Page 187 THE UNFINISHED BUSINESS OF RACIAL EQUALITY......Page 191 NOTES......Page 192 BOOKS......Page 193 ARTICLES......Page 195 NEWSPAPER ARTICLES......Page 196 COURT CASES AND OTHER GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS......Page 197 OTHER SOURCES......Page 199 Index......Page 201

Majority black districts are necessary to ensure the equitable representation of African Americans. These districts are under attack today by conservative scholars and a conservative United States Supreme Court. Critics of race-conscious congressional districting argue that blacks can win election from majority white districts. Factors such as continued racial segregation, the existence of racial bloc voting by whites, and lack of minority success absent race-conscious remedies, however, provide strong evidence that the case for majority black districts remains compelling.

The books provides a detailed analysis of the politics of racial redistricting, a topic of particular concern in light of recent federal court cases. The book is divided into two parts. Part one examines the historical exclusion of blacks from the American political process and the politics behind congressional redistricting. Investigation of the politics behind redistricting, focusing on partisan maneuvering, assesses whoseinterests were being served. In particular, the book chronicles the legislative action (creation of majority black districts) in North Carolina and around the South.

Part two shifts the focus to the myriad of legal battles that ensued as a result of the newly created districts in North Carolina and around the South. Majority black districts are being dismantled the Supreme Court because of criticism of their shape and because race was considered a predominant factor in their design. Irregularly shaped majority white districts have not been accused of violating districting principles. Furthermore, the fact that blacks were not elected to national office in large numbers prior tothe creation of majority black districts indicates the continuing need for race-conscious districting as a temporary solution to a complex problem.

Majority black districts are necessary to ensure the equitable representation of African Americans. These districts are under attack today by conservative scholars and a conservative United States Supreme Court. Critics of race-conscious congressional districting argue that blacks can win election from majority white districts. Factors such as continued racial segregation, the existence of racial bloc voting by whites, and lack of minority success absent race-conscious remedies, however, provide strong evidence that the case for majority black districts remains compelling.

The books provides a detailed analysis of the politics of racial redistricting, a topic of particular concern in light of recent federal court cases. The book is divided into two parts. Part one examines the historical exclusion of blacks from the American political process and the politics behind congressional redistricting. Investigation of the politics behind redistricting, focusing on partisan maneuvering, assesses whose interests were being served. In particular, the book chronicles the legislative action (creation of majority black districts) in North Carolina and around the South.

Part two shifts the focus to the myriad of legal battles that ensued as a result of the newly created districts in North Carolina and around the South. Majority black districts are being dismantled the Supreme Court because of criticism of their shape and because race was considered a predominant factor in their design. Irregularly shaped majority white districts have not been accused of violating districting principles. Furthermore, the fact that blacks were not elected to national office in large numbers prior to thecreation of majority black districts indicates the continuing need for race-conscious districting as a temporary solution to a complex problem.

"Are majority black districts necessary to ensure the equitable representation of African Americans? Can blacks win elections from majority white districts? Dewey M. Clayton tackles questions such as these in his book. African Americans and the Politics of Congressional Redistricting. Starting with a history of the exclusion of blacks from the American political process. Clayton moves on to discuss a broad range of topics, including the conservative opposition to race-based districting, the census and reapportionment. North Carolina's redistricting in the 1990s, and the effects of incumbency and racially polarized voting. Analytical and informative, African Americans and the Politics of Congressional Redistricting is a valuable contribution to the existing scholarship on ethnic politics and will be of interest to anyone who believes that representation is at the core of democracy."--Résumé de l'éditeur "Are majority black districts necessary to ensure the equitable representation of African Americans? Can blacks win elections from majority white districts? Dewey M. Clayton tackles questions such as these in his book. African Americans and the Politics of Congressional Redistricting. Starting with a history of the exclusion of blacks from the American political process. Clayton moves on to discuss a broad range of topics, including the conservative opposition to race-based districting, the census and reapportionment. North Carolina's redistricting in the 1990s, and the effects of incumbency and racially polarized voting. Analytical and informative, African Americans and the Politics of Congressional Redistricting is a valuable contribution to the existing scholarship on ethnic politics and will be of interest to anyone who believes that representation is at the core of democracy."--BOOK JACKET. In the light of recent federal court cases, this book provides a detailed analysis of the historical exclusion of blacks from the American political process and the legal battles that emerged with the newly-created white districts