Politics beyond Black and White
Biracial Identity and Attitudes in America

This book investigates the social and political implications of the US multiracial population, which has surged in recent decades.

Lauren D. Davenport (Author)

9781108444330, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 29 March 2018

262 pages, 19 b/w illus. 30 tables
22.8 x 15.3 x 1.5 cm, 0.37 kg

'… a timely intervention into the study of racial politics, forcing us to think about politics beyond singular racial identities, as the title of the book so aptly suggests. Politics beyond Black and White is a must read for anyone interested in learning about the social and political consequences of a group that is poised to play a vital role in the electoral politics of the nation.' LaFleur Stephens-Dougan, Perspectives on Politics

The US is transforming into a multiracial society: today one-in-six new marriages are interracial and the multiple-race population is the fastest-growing youth group in the country. In Politics Beyond Black and White, Lauren D. Davenport examines the ascendance of multiracial identities and their implications for American society and the political landscape. Amassing unprecedented evidence, this book systematically investigates how race is constructed and how it influences political behavior. Professor Davenport shows that biracials' identities are the product of family, interpersonal interactions, environment, and, most compellingly, gender stereotypes and social class. These identities, in turn, shape attitudes across a range of political issues, from affirmative action to same-sex marriage, and multiracial identifiers are shown to be culturally and politically progressive. But the book also reveals lingering prejudices against race-mixing, and that intermarriage and identification are highly correlated with economic prosperity. Overall findings suggest that multiracialism is poised to dismantle some racial boundaries, while reinforcing others.

Acknowledgements
List of figures
List of tables
Part I. Background and Framework: 1. The rise of the multiple-race population
2. The political construction of racial boundaries
Part II. Constructing Racial Identification and Identity: 3. Creating racial identification
4. Processes of identity formation
Part III. The Politicization of Identity: 5. The development of racial ideologies and attitudes
6. The development of social attitudes
7. Multiple-minority biracials and the construction of identity
Part IV. Conclusions: 8. The implications of multiracialism for American society and politics
Appendix
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Political science & theory [JPA], Politics & government [JP], Sociology: family & relationships [JHBK], Sociology [JHB], Sociology & anthropology [JH], Ethnic studies [JFSL], Gender studies, gender groups [JFSJ], Social classes [JFSC], Social interaction [JFFP], Society & social sciences [J]