About this Book

In this volume first published in 1993, Swain (political science and law, Vanderbilt U.) considers how the interests of African Americans are represented in the US, how they can be increasingly represented, and the role of white members of Congress. The study uses interviews with members of Congress and their staffs, those in their districts and in the field, and the analysis of roll-call and historical data from 1987 to 1992. Swain provides a history of black representation from the Reconstruction era to the twentieth century, and analyzes districts that are historically black, newly black, heterogeneous, and majority-white. She then looks at white representation in minority-black and majority black districts and the implications for the future. This edition contains a chapter on black congressional representation since 1992.