Racial and ethnic identities are robust factors within American politics that often influence the judgments, opportunities, and behaviors of all Americans, whether they are native or new Americans. Therefore, as the numbers within the Black immigrant community rise, so do speculations that center on whether these new Black immigrants affect the life chances of Black people, particularly as they relate to political advancements. Scholars increasingly seek to determine whether these new Black immigrants help or hinder the efforts of so many Blacks to break through social, economic, and political obstacles to attain greater political dominance. On one hand, research that examines the political behavior of African Americans discovers that racial identity can encourage political participation and involvement that augment descriptive representation in government. On the other hand, research that examines the connection between racial identity and political participation of Black immigrants, including Black immigrants from the Caribbean, offers inconsistent results....
University of California Press