Two interrelated themes — the idea of universal freedom and the concept of minority-majority coalitions — show students the profound influence African Americans have had on American government and politics.

·  Abundant, relevant historical material enriches the story of the African American political experience and gives students the background they need to understand the evolution of race and democracy in America.

·  Often missing from similar texts, the strong behavioral component gives students a sense of the diversity of African American attitudes and behavior and introduces students to how modern political science survey research is conducted.

·  High-interest boxed features throughout the text present case studies and vignettes about important historical events, influential personalities, and contemporary issues to further engage students in the text material.

·  An abundance of tables, charts, and graphs throughout the text illustrate discussions and make concepts concrete with real-world data and examples.

·  Includes sections on multicultural coalitions, and the growing influence of Latin and Asian American populations on American “race” politics, African American women and the quest for universal freedom, and African Americans and HIV-AIDS.