Policy Press

Obama and the Biracial Factor

The Battle for a New American Majority

Edited by Andrew J Jolivette

Published

Feb 1, 2012

Page count

256 pages

ISBN

978-1447301004

Dimensions

234 x 156 mm

Imprint

Policy Press

Published

Feb 1, 2012

Page count

256 pages

ISBN

978-1447301011

Dimensions

234 x 156 mm

Imprint

Policy Press

Published

Feb 1, 2012

Page count

256 pages

ISBN

978-1447306399

Dimensions

Imprint

Policy Press

Published

Feb 1, 2012

Page count

256 pages

ISBN

978-1447306405

Dimensions

Imprint

Policy Press
Obama and the Biracial Factor

Since the election in 2008 of Barack Obama to the Presidency of the United States there have been a plethora of books, films, and articles about the role of race in the election of the first person of color to the White House. None of these works though delves into the intricacies of Mr. Obama's biracial background and what it means. Obama and the Biracial Factor is the first book to explore the significance of mixed-race identity as a key factor in the election of President Obama and examines the sociological and political relationship between race, power, and public policy in the United States with an emphasis on public discourse and ethnic representation in his election .

Jolivette and his co-authors bring biracial identity and multiraciality to forefront of our understanding of racial projects since his election. Additionally the authors assert the salience of mixed-race identity in U.S. policy and the on-going impact of the media and popular culture on the development, implementation, and interpretation of government policy and ethnic relations in the U.S. and globally.

Obama and the Biracial Factor speaks to a wide array of academic disciplines ranging from political science and public policy to sociology and ethnic studies.

"Obama and the biracial factor is a crucial addition to the growing work in critical mixed-race studies. This book goes beyond simplistic analyses to demonstrate how mixed-race identity is used to reinforce rather than challenge white supremacy within popular discourse. With the growing debates between scholars who focus on anti-Blackness versus critical race mixed-studies, one may not agree with all the analyses proferred in the text. Nevertheless, this book is an essential addition to this debate." Andrea Smith, Associate Professor of Media and Cultural Studies, University of California Riverside

"Andrew Jolivette presents incisive essays by social scientists and cultural critics about Obama's racial justice successes and stagnations. An historically-informed theme of "post-racism" instead of "post-race" emerges - sober, inspiring, realistic." Naomi Zack, Professor of Philosophy, University of Oregon

“Offers a broad and penetrating view of the importance of race in the ongoing development of American politics.” Politic365.com

"Obama and the biracial factor offers deep insights into the emergence and early years of the administration of the first biracial President in US history, as well as what it might mean for the future of American politics." Kevin R. Johnson, Dean, UC Davis School of Law

"Andrew Jolivette has assembled some of the brightest thinkers at the intersections of race, politics, and social issues. This provocative volume asks and answers critical questions of the early 21st century." Kristen A. Renn, PhD, Associate Professor, Michigan State University

Andrew J. Jolivette received his Ph.D. in sociology from the University of California, Santa Cruz. He is Associate Professor and chair of American Indian Studies at San Francisco State University where he is an affiliated faculty member in Race & Resistance Studies and Educational Leadership.

Obama and the biracial factor: An introduction ~ Andrew Jolivette; Race, multiraciality, and the election of Barack Obama: Toward a more perfect union? ~ G. Reginald Daniel; "A Patchwork Heritage" Multiracial citation in Barack Obama's Dreams from My Father ~ Justin Ponder; Racial revisionism, caste revisited: Whiteness, blackness and Barack Obama ~ Darryl G. Barthe, Jr.; Part II: Beyond black and white identity politics; Obama mamas and mixed race: Hoping for "A More Perfect Union" ~ Wei Ming Dariotis and Grace Yoo; Is 'no one as Irish as Barack O'Bama'? ~ Rebecca Chiyoko King-O'Riain; Mixed race kin-aesthetics in the Age of Obama ~ Wei Ming Dariotis; Mutt like me: Barak Obama and the mixed race experience in historical perspective ~ Zebulon Miletsky; Part III: The battle for a new American majority; A different kind of blackness: The question of Obama's blackness and intraracial variation among African Americans ~ Robert Keith Collins; Avoiding Race or Following the Racial Scripts? Obama and race in the recessionary period of the colorblind era ~ Kathleen Odel Korgen and David L. Brunsma; Barack Obama and the rise to power: Emmett Till revisited ~ Andrew Jolivette