The American Political System and
the Problem of Race
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the Problem of Race
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What is the American Creed?
The belief that America is the land of freedom equality and opportunity.
Define and describe the three models in the readings from McAdam used to explain the development of social movements.
Classical models: based on pluralism or the idea that roughly equal groups compete for power in American society.
Resource mobilization model: They acknowledge that some groups are more powerful than others, but according to McAdam, they give too much power to elites. Elites are powerful, but not all powerful. Resource mobilization models say that the masses need to rely on elites for resources (organized labor, foundations, etc).
Political process model: Doesn’t just explain why social movements arise, but how they are sustained and why they decline. The factors that explain are the levels of organization, the collective assessment, the structure of political opportunities.
What is racial resentment?
This concept is defined as a blend of anti-Black attitudes and the belief that Blacks violate traditional American values.
According to Ture and Hamilton, what are the three “myths of coalition"?
Liberal whites are the ideal allies of Blacks.
Groups That Vary in Power can Still Be Effective Allies
Shared Ideology is a Basis for a Stable Coalition
Contrast Sales’ view of the BPM with McAdam’s View.
Sales rejected McAdam’s View that the BPM Represented the Movement in Decline. Instead Sales argues that the CRM was in crisis or transition as early as 1963, and that the Black Power phase actually prolonged the movement.
What is the American Dilemma?
Failing to live up to the outwardly expressed ideals of equality, freedom, dignity of the individual, and inalienable rights
According to McAdam, what are the two factors necessary for the formation of social movements?
Levels of organization in marginalized communities (Mobilize community resources, Supply leaders and participants, Communication networks to facilitate the use and dissemination of different tactics)
The “structure of political opportunities.” (The migration of Blacks to the North where they could vote, the growth in enrollment at HBCUs, the growth of urban Black churches, and the emergence of the Cold War).
What is biological racism?
This concept is built on the belief that Blacks are innately (biologically) inferior to Whites.
According to Ture and Hamilton, which group represents the best prospect of allyhood with whites?
Poor Whites. Ture and Hamilton argue that if only poor whites could be educated about their interests, then they would be willing to form a coalition with blacks.
What is Black nationalism?
This concept is defined as “the support for Black autonomy.”
What is one lesson offered by the rise and fall of the Freedmen’s Bureau?
Federal efforts to assist Blacks are short-lived, under-funded and half hearted (Initially designed to operate for only one year, and then eventually 6, Restricted clientele to Blacks initially and then only to the “deserving (orphans, the disabled, Union soldiers’ families)
What tactics did FBI Disruption rely on?
Infiltration, creating tension between rival groups, and assassination
Explain how threat affects decision making based on Pheonix's model. Give an example of how this works.
Threat --> Alert System --> Fight or Flight
Ture and Hamilton distinguish between two types of racism. Name them and define them.
Institutional and individual racism.
Individual racism occurs when one person takes into consideration the race of another to subordinate, control or otherwise against an individual.
Institutional racism is when the normal and accepted patterns and practices of a society’s institutions have the effect of subordinating or discriminating against an individual or group on the basis of race.
According to Sales, Malcolm X was responsible for 5 ideological innovations that influenced the BPM. Name them.
Injecting the concepts of Nationalism and Pan-Africanism into the movement.
Critiquing non-violence on both moral and strategic grounds.
Highlighting the importance of international alliances.
His position on working with whites
Combining reform and revolution.