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In Black Voices in the Halls of Power, authors Jennifer R. Garcia, Christopher T. Stout, and Katherine Tate explore how US lawmakers use racial rhetoric to elevate the voice of Black communities, influence policy, and shape voter trust. Through a combination of data-driven research and accessible storytelling, the book uncovers the strategic ways politicians speak about race, revealing how rhetoric impacts policymaking and representation and offering fresh insights into race and power in American politics. The book explores how politicians craft messages to appeal to diverse audiences and use political communication to advance legislative priorities. It also examines how legislators' engagement in racial outreach affects voter attitudes. Given the increasingly important role of race on the national political stage in the US, the book provides a critical yet engaging examination of race, rhetoric, and representation in Congress.
List of contents
1. Introduction - echo in the halls: racial rhetorical representation in the modern era; 2. Pushing the agenda or reacting to the moment: why communication directors engage in rhetorical outreach; 3. Who racializes? Exploring the demographic factors of Members of Congress who provide racial rhetorical representation through an intersectional perspective; 4. The highs and the lows: predicting racial rhetorical representation around high- and low-profile racial events; 5. Crystal clear: rhetorical representation and defining novel racial issues; 6. Depth and breadth: exploring the breadth of racial topics Members of Congress speak about when they engage in racial rhetorical representation; 7. Not all talk is cheap: the link between different forms of rhetorical representation and legislative activity in Congress; 8. Can racial rhetorical representation improve approval ratings?; 9. What if it fails? Is rhetorical representation without legislation valuable in the eyes of the Constituents; 10. Conclusion: is racial advocacy enough?
About the author
Jennifer R. Garcia is Assistant Professor in the Politics Department at Oberlin College. Her work has been published in several journals, including Political Communications, Legislative Studies Quarterly and Political Research Quarterly.
