African American Tea Party Supporters: Explaining a Political Paradox

by Kirk A. Johnson University of Mississippi

Overview

To their critics who celebrated the election of America’s first African American president, black Tea Party supporters are self-loathing race traitors. In African American Tea Party Supporters: Explaining A Political Paradox, Kirk A. Johnson interviews thirty elected officials, radio personalities, military veterans, and other black Tea Partyers to reveal a group with deep regard for African Americans—and even for Barack Obama—but also divergent perspectives on race, religion, government, and Tea Party racism. Johnson argues when viewed in the context of their family structures and life experiences, black Tea Partyers’ unusual political choices are knowable, understandable, and largely rational.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781498590884
Publisher:	Lexington Books
Publication date:	09/23/2019
Pages:	218
Product dimensions:	6.36(w) x 8.98(h) x 0.87(d)

About the Author

Kirk A. Johnson is associate professor of sociology and African American studies at the University of Mississippi.

Table of Contents

Chapter One: How “Black” Are They? Black Tea Partyers Talk about Race

Chapter Two: Does it Run in the Family? The Making of a Black Tea Partyer

Chapter Three: “Personal Responsibility”—Panacea or Placebo?

Chapter Four: Our First Muslim President? Black Tea Partyers Weigh in on Obama

Chapter Five: Is this a Real Invitation? African Americans Come to the Tea Party

Editorial Reviews

By examining a group with such an unexpected political affiliation, African American Tea Party Supporters is an intriguing exploration of a little-studied aspect of the Tea Party movement. Kirk Johnson provides a detailed account of the backgrounds, motivations, and attitudes of African American members of the Tea Party. This book shows how this uniquely positioned group manages complicated relationships with white members of the Tea Party and with other black people. Readers of all political leanings will be surprised at times and frustrated at others, but engaged and better-informed as a result of this book. By providing insight into the politics of African American Tea Party members, Johnson contributes to a deeper understanding of contemporary conservative politics.

Corey D. Fields

Why do a very small minority of black Americans support the Tea Party, a movement of agitated white people with suspect and often outwardly racist motives? And should we care? Kirk Johnson seeks an answer by interviewing 30 black Tea Party members and he is surprised by what he finds. This is a brave book. Yes, Johnson exposes more than a bit of misinformation and prejudice. But in his sociological presentation black Tea Party members come alive as mostly nuanced, thoughtful, and principled—and not as racist or duped. This book made me think.

Roger Berkowitz