Democratic Destiny and the District of Columbia

This volume conveys a critique of the mayors of Washington, D.C since 1968 and an analysis of public policies that have confronted D.C. since congress granted limited Home Rule. This analysis of public policy problems and assessment of contemporary mayors should be of interest across disciplines-political science, urban studies and public policy.

This book contributes substantially to urban affairs and public policy literature by presenting an introduction to the complex politics and public policy issues of Washington, D.C. The uniqueness of the city, as elaborated in this volume, provides background for understanding the non-traditional congressional relationship with the city and the way in which this establishes and perpetuates the continuing fight for congressional representation, real home rule and equitable federal benefits for citizens of the District of Columbia. Usually becoming a mayor, member of a city council, or agency head in a major city could become a stepping stone to higher office. In Washington, D.C. however, this has not been the case. Contests for political leadership operate in a unique political climate because Washington, D.C is the capital of the U.S., subject to congressional oversight, has a majority African American population, and has a majority Democratic population. Those who become mayor are therefore, confined to play a local with rare opportunities for a national role. One Objective of this volume is to highlight the difficulties of experiencing political democracy and adequate policy distribution by citizens of the District of Columbia. These analyses conclude that one of the major obstacles to these objectives is the manner in which home rule was constructed and persists, leading to the conclusion that the desire of citizens and their leaders for change is well founded.

Chapter 1 Foreword
Chapter 2 1. Introduction: An Administered System of Government
Chapter 3 2. Home Rule for Washington, D.C.
Chapter 4 3. Walter Washington: Mayor Of the Last Colony
Chapter 5 4. Marion Barry: A Politician for the Times
Chapter 6 5. Sharon Pratt Kelly: The Reform Mayor
Chapter 7 6. The High Tide of Pragmatic Black Politics: Mayor Anthony Williams and the Suppression of Black Interests
Chapter 8 7. The Mayor as the Head School Master
Chapter 9 8. Can Washington, D.C. Youth Speak?
Chapter 10 9. Banished Housing Policy
Chapter 11 10. Democracy and Its Impact on Rehabilitative Resources
Chapter 12 11. The Dynamics of Poverty in the District of Columbia
Chapter 13 12. Communicating Liberation
Chapter 14 13. Conclusion