This study is a critique of Bobo and Gilliam's (1990) empowerment hypothesis. The authors examine black-white differences in political trust, efficacy, and sociopolitical participation. The study took place in Mobile, Alabama, and involved a telephone probability survey of 428 respondents. The authors argue for an expanded operational definition of empowerment, and research results support this position. No significant differences between blacks and whites emerged for political participation, attending to news, gender, age, occupation, or education. Blacks were significantly more politically trusting, efficacious, and involved in the community than were whites.
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