What's Going On? : Political Incorporation and the Transformation of Black Public Opinion

In political opinion surveys from the 1950s through the 1970s, African Americans were consistently among the most liberal groups in the United States and were much further to the left than White Americans on most issues. Starting in the 1980s, Black public opinion began to move to the center, and this trend has deepened since. Why is this the case? Katherine Tate contends that Black political incorporation and increased affluence since the civil rights movement have made Black politics and public opinion more moderate over time. Black leaders now have greater opportunity to participate in mainstream politics, and Blacks look to elected officials rather than activists for political leadership. Black socioeconomic concerns have moved to the center as poverty has declined and their economic opportunities have improved. Based on solid analysis of public opinion data from the 1970s to the present, Tate examines how Black opinions on welfare, affirmative action, crime control, school vouchers, civil rights for other minorities, immigration, the environment, and U.S. foreign policy have changed. ""Katherine Tate's new empirical work on African American public opinion moves the field into a wholly new direction. Instead of analyzing the diverse ideologies within this public opinion, this bold and novel pioneering work assesses and evaluates the dynamism in this opinion between 1970 to 2004 with insights from 2008...This book is a fascinating read. It is also a brilliant and original work."͠Hanes Walton Jr., The University of Michigan" "In political opinion surveys from the 1950's through the 1970's, African Americans were consistently among the most liberal groups in the United States and were much further to left than White Americans on most issues. Starting in the 1980's, Black public opinion began to move to the center, and this trend has deepened since. Why is this the case?" "Katherine Tate contends that Black political incorporation and increased affluence since the civil rights movement have made Black politics and public opinion more moderate over time. Black leaders now have greater opportunity to participate in mainstream politics, and Blacks look to elected officials rather than to activists for political leadership. Black socioeconomic concerns have moved to the center as poverty has declined and their economic opportunities have improved." "Based on analysis of public opinion data from the 1970's to the present, Tate examines how Black opinions on welfare, affirmative action, crime control, school vouchers, civil rights for other minorities, immigration, the environment, and U.S. foreign policy have changed." ""What's Going On? is a provocative and informative examination of African American public opinion. Scholars of Black politics will consult and debate this important work for many years to come."͠Vincent Hutchings, Institute for Social Research, The University of Michigan"--BOOK JACKET

In political opinion surveys from the 1950s through the 1970s, African Americans were consistently among the most liberal groups in the United States and were much further to the left than White Americans on most issues. Starting in the 1980s, Black public opinion began to move to the center, and this trend has deepened since. Why is this the case?

Katherine Tate contends that Black political incorporation and increased affluence since the civil rights movement have made Black politics and public opinion more moderate over time. Black leaders now have greater opportunity to participate in mainstream politics, and Blacks look to elected officials rather than activists for political leadership. Black socioeconomic concerns have moved to the center as poverty has declined and their economic opportunities have improved.

Based on solid analysis of public opinion data from the 1970s to the present, Tate examines how Black opinions on welfare, affirmative action, crime control, school vouchers, civil rights for other minorities, immigration, the environment, and U.S. foreign policy have changed.

What's Going On? The State Of Public Opinion In Black America -- Welfare Reform And Shifts In Black Opinion On Welfare Policies -- Shifts In Black Support For Government Aid For Blacks And Minorities -- Black Opinion On Crime Control Policies -- Education Policies, School Vouchers, And Busing In Black America -- Social Issues And Rights For Women And For Gays And Lesbians In Black America -- Black Opinion On Immigration And The Environment -- Blacks On U.s. Foreign Policy -- Black Political Incorporation And Public Opinion. Katherine Tate. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. What's going on? the state of public opinion in Black America Welfare reform and shifts in Black opinion on welfare policies Shifts in Black support for government aid for Blacks and minorities Blacks on crime control policies Education policies, school vouchers, and busing in Black America Social issues and rights for women and for gays and lesbians in Black America Blacks on immigration and the environment Blacks on U.S. foreign policy Black political incorporation and public opinion. Drawing on public opinion data from the 1970s to the present, the author argues that black political incorporation and increased affluence have made African-American politics and public opinion more moderate and less liberal in regards to welfare, affirmative action, school vouchers, immigration and more. By the author of Black Faces in the Mirror. Original. Based on analysis of public opinion data since the 1970s, this title examines how Black opinions on welfare, affirmative action, crime control, school vouchers, civil rights for other minorities, immigration, the environment, and US foreign policy have changed.