African American Activism and Political Engagement: An Encyclopedia of Empowerment

Winner, 2024 RUSA Outstanding Reference AwardAn indispensable resource for understanding trends and issues in African-American political organizing; the history of Black Liberation movements in the United States; and the fortitude, determination, reliance, beauty, and influence of Black culture and community.The book begins with a suite of seven long-form essays on various aspects of Black political involvement and empowerment, including the importance of Black women in early labor organizing; campaigns defending Black voting rights against suppression and disenfranchisement; the Black Lives Matter movement; and the contributions and legacy of the nation's first Black president, Barack Obama.The encyclopedia itself contains approximately 200 authoritative entries on a wide assortment of topics related to African-American political activism and empowerment, including biographical profiles of key leaders and activists, political issues and topics of particular interest to African-American voters and lawmakers, important laws and court cases, influential organizations, and pivotal events in American culture that have influenced the trajectory of Black participation in the nation's political life. Read more