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Race Rules Electoral Politics in New Orleans, 1965-2006

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Race Rules: Electoral Politics in New Orleans, 1965-2006

by Baodong Liu

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	6011 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
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Print length	:	180 pages

New Orleans, a city with a rich and complex racial history, has long been a microcosm of the broader American experience with race and politics. In the years following the passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the city underwent a dramatic transformation as African Americans gained political power for the first time. However, this progress was not without its challenges, as white flight, machine politics, and political corruption all played a role in shaping the city's racial landscape.

In his book Race Rules: Electoral Politics in New Orleans, 1965-2006, political scientist Albert R. Hunt III provides a comprehensive and nuanced account of this tumultuous period in New Orleans history. Drawing on extensive archival research and interviews with key figures, Hunt argues that race has been the dominant force shaping electoral politics in the city.

The Voting Rights Act and Black Political Empowerment

The passage of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was a watershed moment in American history, and it had a profound impact on New Orleans. Prior to the Act, African Americans in the city faced widespread discrimination and disenfranchisement. However, the Act's provisions for federal oversight of voter registration and elections helped to break down these barriers, and African Americans began to register and vote in large numbers.

The rise of black political power in New Orleans was led by a new generation of young, ambitious African American leaders. These leaders, such as Ernest "Dutch" Morial and Aaron Broussard, challenged the old white political establishment and fought for the rights of their constituents. In 1973, Morial was elected as the first African American mayor of New Orleans, and Broussard was elected to the Louisiana State Senate.

White Flight and the Decline of the City

The rise of black political power in New Orleans was met with resistance from many white residents. White flight, the movement of white people from urban areas to suburbs, became a major problem in the city. Between 1960 and 1980, the white population of New Orleans declined by more than 200,000 people. This demographic shift had a profound impact on the city's politics, as white voters became a minority in many of the city's districts.

The decline of the city's white population was also accompanied by a decline in its economic fortunes. As white businesses and residents left the city, the tax base eroded and the city's infrastructure fell into disrepair. This decline created a vicious cycle, as the city's financial problems made it even more difficult to attract new businesses and residents.

Machine Politics and Political Corruption

In the midst of the racial and economic turmoil of the post-Voting Rights Act era, New Orleans was also plagued by machine politics and political corruption. Machine politics is a system of political organization in which a small group of powerful individuals control the levers of power. In New Orleans, the machine was led by Mayor Moon Landrieu, who served from 1970 to 1978.

Landrieu's machine was known for its patronage and corruption. Landrieu and his allies used their control of the city government to reward their supporters with jobs, contracts, and other favors. This system of patronage and corruption created a culture of dependency and distrust among the city's residents.

In Race Rules, Albert R. Hunt III provides a comprehensive and nuanced account of the role of race in electoral politics in New Orleans from 1965 to 2006. Hunt argues that race has been the dominant force shaping the city's politics, and he traces the ways in which racial dynamics have influenced everything from voter turnout to the rise of machine politics. Race Rules is an essential read for anyone interested in the history of race and politics in America.

Race Rules: Electoral Politics in New Orleans, 1965-2006

by Baodong Liu

5 out of 5