The author examined the effect, if any, of membership in various Black income groups on members’ political power, conceptualized as the ability to elect ideologically preferred representatives to Congress. The findings indicate that large numbers of Black poor actually mitigate quality representation in Congress. This happens despite large concentrations of Black poor into relatively few congressional districts.
Abramson, P., Aldrich, J.H., & Rohde, D.W. ( 1987). Progressive ambition among United States senators: 1972-1988 . Journal of Politics, 49, 3-35.
2.
Adler, E.S., & Wilkerson, J. ( 2004). Congressional Bills Project. Available at http://www.congressionalbills.org
3.
Barrett, E. ( 1995). The policy priorities of African American women in state legislatures. Legislative Studies Quarterly, 20, 223-247.
4.
Dawson, M.C. ( 1994). Behind the mule: Race and class in African-American politics . Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
5.
Durant, T., Jr., & Louden, J. ( 1986). The Black middle class in America: Historical and contemporary perspectives. Phylon, 47, 253-263.
6.
Gilens, M. ( 1996). Race and poverty in America: Public misperceptions and the news media. Public Opinion Quarterly, 60, 515-527.
7.
Katznelson, I. ( 2005). When affirmative action was White: An untold history of racial inequality in twentieth century America. New York: W.W. Norton.
8.
Kinder, D.R., Adams, G.S., & Gronke, P.W. ( 1989). Economics and politics in the 1984 American presidential election. American Journal of Political Science, 33, 491-515.
9.
Lublin, D. ( 1997). The paradox of representation: Racial gerrymandering and minority interests in Congress. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
10.
Mansbridge, J. ( 1999). Should Blacks represent Blacks and women represent women? A contingent "yes." Journal of Politics, 61, 628-657.
11.
Massey, D.S., & Denton, N.A. ( 1993). American apartheid: Segregation and the making of the underclass. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
12.
Parent, W., & Steckler, P. ( 1985). The political implications of economic stratification in the Black community. Western Political Quarterly, 38, 521-538.
13.
Seltzer, R., & Smith, R. ( 1985). Race and ideology: A research note measuring liberalism and conservatism in Black America. Phylon, 46, 98-105.
14.
Tate, K. ( 1993). From protest to politics: The new Black voters in American politics. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.
15.
Welch, S., & Foster, L. ( 1992). The impact of economic conditions on the voting behavior of Blacks. Western Political Quarterly, 45, 221-236.
16.
Wilson, W.J. ( 1987). The truly disadvantaged: The inner city, the underclass, and public policy. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
