Conjuring Crisis : Racism and Civil Rights in a Southern Military City

How have civil rights transformed racial politics in America? Connecting economic and social reforms to racial and class inequality, __Conjuring Crisis__ counters the myth of steady race progress by analyzing how the federal government and local politicians have sometimes "reformed" politics in ways that have amplified racism in the post civil-rights era. In the 1990s at Fort Bragg and Fayetteville, North Carolina, the city's dominant political coalition of white civic and business leaders had lost control of the city council. Amid accusations of racism in the police department, two white council members joined black colleagues in support of the NAACP's demand for an investigation. George Baca's ethnographic research reveals how residents and politicians transformed an ordinary conflict into a "crisis" that raised the specter of chaos and disaster. He explores new territory by focusing on the broader intersection of militarization, urban politics, and civil rights. How Have Civil Rights Transformed Racial Politics In America? Connecting Economic And Social Reforms To Racial And Class Inequality, Conjuring Crisis Counters The Myth Of Steady Race Progress By Analyzing How The Federal Government And Local Politicians Have Sometimes Reformed Politics In Ways That Have Amplified Racism In The Post Civil-rights Era. In The 1990s At Fort Bragg And Fayetteville, North Carolina, The City's Dominant Political Coalition Of White Civic And Business Leaders Had Lost Control Of The City Council. Amid Accusations Of Racism In The Police Department, Two White Council Members Joined Black Colleagues In Support Of The Naacp's Demand For An Investigation. George Baca's Ethnographic Research Reveals How Residents And Politicians Transformed An Ordinary Conflict Into A Crisis That Raised The Specter Of Chaos And Disaster. He Explores New Territory By Focusing On The Broader Intersection Of Militarization, Urban Politics, And Civil Rights. Introduction -- Narrating A Racial Crisis -- Conspiracies And Crises On Cape Fear -- The Cunning Of Radical Reform -- Performing Crisis -- Threatening Images Of Black Power -- Power Shift -- Outsiders And Special Interests -- Single Shot -- Conclusion -- Epilogue. George Baca. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Connecting economic and social reforms to racial and class inequality, this counters the myth of steady race progress by analyzing how the federal government and local politicians have sometimes 'reformed' politics in ways that have amplified racism in the post civil-rights era.