African Americans in Global Affairs: Contemporary Perspectives

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C o n t e m p o r a r y P e r s p e c t i v e s African Americans in Global Affairs Edited by Michael L. Clemons Michael L. Clemons, editor African Americans in Global Affairs C o n t e m p o r a r y P e r s p e c t i v e s The repression historically faced by African Americans has had an important effect on the nature of the group’s participation in foreign affairs. This book offers a much-needed and long-overdue survey of the field, setting the stage for further exploration and analysis. Chapters discuss the Congressional Black Caucus and TransAfrica Forum; African American political organizations and Africa; Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice; the evaporation of strong black voices in events such as those in Rwanda and Darfur; and self-critical Pan Africanism. A prologue by Michael L. Clemons and introductory chapter by Ronald W. Walters provide new ways to conceptualize these international perspectives, while Clemons’s epilogue speculates on the opportunities and challenges offered by the presidency of Barack Obama. michael l. clemons is Associate Professor of Political Science at Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia. Northeastern University Press Boston, Massachusetts Published by University Press of New England Hanover and London www.upne.com Cover illustration: Official White House photo by Pete Souza politics/african american studies A long-overdue introduction to the multifaceted nature of African American participation in global affairs “The book represents the most significant recent contribution to our understanding of African American influences on U.S. foreign policy and international affairs. An outstanding group of scholars explores the history of Blacks in the Foreign Service, Black activist criticism of official policy, and African American engagement with Blacks in other countries. This book is a welcome addition to the literature on Black politics, U.S. foreign policy, and international relations.” —Ollie Johnson, Wayne State University ...