Revolutionaries to Race Leaders

Description

Revolutionaries to Race Leaders: Black Power and the Making of African American Politics by Cedric Johnson is an incisive and deeply researched study of the transformation of Black political activism in the United States from the radicalism of the Black Power movement to the emergence of a more mainstream, race-based leadership class. Johnson critically examines how the revolutionary ideals of grassroots mobilization, systemic change, and class struggle that characterized the Black Power era were gradually replaced by a focus on racial representation, identity politics, and electoral strategies that prioritized inclusion within existing political structures over broader social transformation. The book explores the complex historical processes that led former revolutionaries and community organizers to become prominent figures in mainstream politics, often advocating for policies that aligned more closely with neoliberal frameworks than with the radical visions they once championed. Johnson argues that this shift has had profound implications for African American politics, as the move from mass-based movements to professionalized leadership has often marginalized the voices of working-class Black communities and blunted efforts toward structural economic change. Drawing on case studies, historical analysis, and political theory, Revolutionaries to Race Leaders offers a critical reflection on the legacy of Black Power and the challenges facing contemporary Black political movements. Johnson’s work calls for a renewed focus on class, labor, and material conditions as central concerns for achieving genuine social justice and equality. This book is essential reading for scholars, activists, and anyone interested in the intersections of race, class, and political power in America.