Uneven Roads

Todd Shaw has appointments in both the Department of Political Science and the Department of Political Science at the University of South Carolina, Columbia. He is the College of Arts and Science's Distinguished Associate Professor of Political Science and African American Studies. From 2017 to 2021, Shaw was the department chair of political science and later the interim associate dean for diversity, equity, and inclusion in the College of Arts & Sciences. He researches and teaches in the areas of African American politics, urban politics, and public policy, as well as citizen activism and social movements.

Uneven Roads helps you grasp how, when, and why race and ethnicity matter in U.S. politics. Using the metaphor of a road, with twists, turns, and dead ends, this incisive text takes you on a journey to understanding political racialization and the roots of modern interpretations of race and ethnicity. The book's structure and narrative are designed to encourage comparison and reflection. You will critically analyze the history and context of U.S. racial and ethnic politics to build the skills needed to draw your own conclusions.

PrefaceAbout the AuthorsPart I: IntroductionChapter 1: Introduction: Race as an Uneven Road Does Race Still Matter? Defining Race, Ethnicity, and Racism Racial Classification, Citizenship, and Group Status The Uneven Road of Race: Our Framework Conclusion: The Journey AheadPart II: Historical FoundationsChapter 2: Native Americans: The Road from Majority to Minority, 1500s-1970s Native Communities in North America Rising Tensions: Native Americans and the New United States, 1776-1830s U.S. Federal Policy Erodes Indian Rights, 1830s The Civil War and Its Aftermath: Slaveholding and the Fourteenth Amendment U.S. Federal Policy: Assimilation versus Culture and Sovereignty, 1870s-1950s Termination of Federal Support of Tribes, 1945-1950s Civil Rights and Self-Determination, 1960s-1970s Conclusion: A Continuing Struggle for Equal RightsChapter 3: The African American Political Journey, 1500s-1965 Race, Slavery, and the Origins of African Americans, 1500s-1790s The Early American Republic and Black Political Resistance, 1770s-1865 The Antebellum Black Community and Political Resistance The Civil War and Its Aftermath, 1860-1877 Black Politics in the Jim Crow Era, 1880-1940 The Second Reconstruction: Postwar and Civil Rights Movement Era, 1950s-1960s Civil Rights Demonstrations and Mass Protest in the South: The Second Major Protest Cycle, 1960-1964 Conclusion: The Road to Black Politics Up to 1965Chapter 4: The Road toward Contemporary Latino Politics, 1500s-1970s The Road's Colonial Beginnings, 1493-1850 Destruction of Mexican American Politics, Late 1800s The Rebirth of Mexican American Politics, 1900-1960 From Civic Activism to Political Engagement Differing Paths: Puerto Ricans and Cubans, 1890s-1950s Civil Rights and Ethnic Nationalism in Latino Communities, 1960s-1970s Conclusion: Latinos as a Pan-Ethnic GroupChapter 5: Different and Common Asian American Roads, 1800s-1960s The Racialization of Asian Americans European Imperialism and Asian Emigration Immigration and Economics before the Anti-Asian Zenith, Up to the 1870s Early Community Formation among Asian Americans Race, Region, and the Anti-Asian Era, 1870s-1940s Shifts and Declines in the Anti-Asian Era, 1940s-1960s Asian American Political Empowerment in the Civil Rights Era The Asian American Journey Since 1965: The Model Minority and Racial Threat Myth Today Conclusion: The Uneven Roads of Asian American OpportunityChapter 6: Whiteness and the Shifting Roads of Immigrant America, 1780s-1960s Who Is White? Racial Considerations at the Time of the Founding Large-Scale Immigration and Overcoming Ethnic Exclusion White Identity at the Dawn of the Civil Rights Era The State and White Advantage Conclusion: Legacies of Racial Hierarchy and the Roots of Contemporary PoliticsPart III: Policy and Social IssuesChapter 7: Voting Rights in American Life Minority Groups and Voting Rights The Civil Rights Movement as a Foundation for Voting Expansion Civil Rights and Voting Rights Legislation after 1965 Redistricting and Minority Representation The Politics behind the 2006 Early Renewal of the Voting Rights Act The Long-Term Stability of the Voting Rights Act Conclusion: The Role of Race in Contemporary Voting RightsChapter 8: Group Identity, Ideology, and Activism Why Group Identity, Ideology, and Activism Matter Race, Ethnicity, and Public Opinion Race, Ethnicity, and Political Ideology: The Political Impact of Racialization Activist Pathways to Empowerment The Legacy of Grassroots and Civil Rights Activism Conclusion: Mobilizing for a Changed FutureChapter 9: Political Behavior and Representation: Minorities' Growing Voice Why Is the Minority Vote Important? Minority Civic Engagement: Patterns in Participation Minority Ideology and Partisanship: Finding a Place in the U.S. Political System Minority Electoral Participation: Unrealized Potential to Influence Politics Representation: Electing a Voice for Minority Interests Conclusion: Have Minorities Overcome Political Exclusion?Chapter 10: Education and Criminal Justice Policies: Opportunity and Alienation Race, Ethnicity, and Public Policy Public Education: Opportunities and Detours Race, Ethnicity, and Education Policy Outcomes The Criminal Justice System: Barriers and Roadblocks Race, Ethnicity, and Criminal Justice Policy Outcomes Conclusion: Public Policy DestinationsChapter 11: Immigration Policy: The Road to Settlement and Citizenship Immigrant Status and Numbers Immigration Policies before 1965 The 1965 Immigration and Nationality Amendments U.S. Immigrant Incorporation Policies Immigration Policy in the 21st Century: Alternative Roads Minority Communities and Minority Coalitions in the Immigration Reform Debate Conclusion: A Turning Point for U.S. Immigration PolicyChapter 12: Diasporic Politics and Foreign Affairs The Growing Ease of Transnational Activity The Roots of Contemporary Transnational Engagement: Family and Community Ties Transnational Activity: Beyond the Immigrant Generation U.S. Foreign Policy and Minority Communities Conclusion: The Political Value of Transnational PoliticsChapter 13: Beyond Race: Intersections of Race, Gender, Class, and Sexual Orientation The Still Uneven Roads of Race, Racism, and Ethnicity The Uneven Roads of Identity Politics Intersecting Roads: Race, Gender, Class, and Sexual Orientation Possible Responses to Uneven Roads Conclusion: Prospects for the FutureIndex