Prior research has indicated that the election of a black mayor is accompanied by increased trust in local government on the part of the black electorate. The authors explore contextual effects of the crime and drug epidemic on black trust in local black government. They draw on seven public opinion surveys of citizens of New Orleans, a black empowerment area, conducted between 1985 and 1994. Black confidence in local black government declined during that period, partially as a result of rising crime and the declining quality of urban life. Models of trust in government and the future of black empowerment are discussed.
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