Barack Obama, Post-Racialism, and the New Politics of Triangulation

Terry Smith is a Distinguished Research Professor at DePauw College of Law.

'In a sea of nonsensical post-racial hoopla, Professor Smith brings to the fore the 'new politics of triangulation,' which he describes as 'the 'third way' between liberalism and conservatism.' Obama, accordingly, does not represent racial progress but a new and perhaps more problematic phase of phenotypical rather than substantive representation for people of color in the polity. My hope is that this book helps progressives and people of color understand once and for all that politicians should be judged not by the color of their skin but by the content of their politics!' Eduardo Bonilla-Silva, professor of Sociology at Duke University and author of Racism Without Racists 'Terry Smith has written an insightful book on post-racialism in Obama's America. Despite the election of the country's first African-American president, the United States continues to experience racial disparities, and political and social inequality. The author makes clear that as a 'race-averse' president, Obama poses serious challenges for voters from many different backgrounds, including black voters. I would recommend this book to all those interested in understanding racial politics and the costs of electoral triangulation.' Darrell M. West, vice president and director of Governance Studies, Brookings Institute 'Terry Smith sets out to illustrate how African-Americans have fared in a post-racial triangulation society. He is critical of the triangulation theory, yet provides a balanced critique filled with statistics and further evidence of its impact on the African-American community. He exposes judicial and political hypocrisy in the unpleasant realities regarding race, politics, and money. It is an act of courage to describe the harsh truth of disparities in the African-American community economically, socially, and politically, yet Terry Smith does all these things well.' Gilda R. Daniels, associate professor, University of Baltimore School of Law and former deputy chief of the United States Department of Justice, Civil Rights Division, Voting Section

• PART I: BEFORE OBAMA Black Politics: Which Way Is Left? Race and Money in Politics Black Tea: Black Conservatives and the Rhetoric of Social Conservatism Contradictions in a 'Latino Moment': Latinos as Less Black? PART II: BARACK OBAMA AND THE TRIUMPH OF SYMBOLISM Triangulation 101: The Old Conceives the New The New Triangulation: Barack Obama and Post-Racialism A Thousand Obamas?: Race and Electoral Ambition Do Blacks Need a Black President?: Of Movements, Not Men