Race, Class, Gender, and Linked Fate
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University of South Carolina Scholar Commons Theses and Dissertations 1-1-2013 Race, Class, Gender, and Linked Fate: A Cross- Sectional Analysis of African American Political Partisanship, 1996 and 2004 Sherral Yolanda Brown-Guinyard University of South Carolina Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/etd Part of the Political Science Commons Recommended Citation Brown-Guinyard, S. Y.(2013). Race, Class, Gender, and Linked Fate: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of African American Political Partisanship, 1996 and 2004. (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/etd/1774 This Open Access Dissertation is brought to you by Scholar Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Scholar Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. RACE, CLASS, GENDER, AND LINKED FATE: A CROSS-SECTIONAL ANALYSIS OF AFRICAN AMERICAN POLITICAL PARTISANSHIP, 1996 AND 2004 by Sherral Y. Brown-Guinyard Bachelor of Arts College of Charleston, 1973 Master of Public Administration University of South Carolina, 1976 Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements For the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science College of Arts and Sciences University of South Carolina 2013 Accepted by: Laura R. Woliver, Major Professor Todd C. Shaw , Committee Member C. Blease Graham , Committee Member Barbara A. Woods , Committee Member Lacy Ford, Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Studies © Copyright by Sherral Y. Brown-Guinyard, 2013 All Rights Reserved. ii DEDICATION At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us. Albert Schweitzer It is with sincere gratitude that I dedicate this dissertation in loving memory to my father, Richard Brown, Jr. who taught me how to triumph in any given situation, and to my mother, Inell Evergene Brothers Brown from whom I learned to persevere and to prevail. They dared to dream during a moment in time when reality seemed to obscure the vision they held for each of their children. Nonetheless, my parents’ steadfastness, hope, and confidence in Christ kept their flame alive within us. The completion of this research is a tribute to their determination. Throughout this effort, and especially after the passing of my parents, my husband, Furman Guinyard, was my constant source of support and rekindling. I am ever grateful to him for his great sacrifice on my behalf. It is with incredible joy, love, and appreciation that I also dedicate this dissertation to him. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS A number of individuals, in one way or another, contributed and extended their valuable assistance in the preparation and completion of this study, and for that I am truly grateful. Nonetheless, it would be remiss of me not to mention the following persons without whom this dissertation would not have been possible. I am particularly honored to have the direction, dedication, attention, advice, feedback, and critiques of my committee, which have served me well. My utmost gratitude is extended first to Dr. Laura R. Woliver, my committee chair, for her presence, patience, encouragement, inspiration, and unwavering support; to Dr. Todd C. Shaw, a strong advocate and constant motivating force, for his unequivocal guidance and demonstrated quiet confidence in my research; to Dr. C. Blease Graham, whom I consider one of my most cherished mentors, for his encouragement and advice throughout the course of my graduate studies; and to my friend and colleague, Dr. Barbara A. Woods, the lone historian, for her expertise in African-American civil rights and invaluable assistance on both a professional and a personal level. My deepest appreciation is further extended to colleagues, family, and friends, Dr. Michael Boatwright, Yumin Zhao, Dr. El Raya A. Osman, Dr. Teshome Tadesse, Deborah Gramling, Stephanie Brown-Guion, and Keala “Regina” Inciong-Ako, my beloved friend ( kona hoaloha ). Above all, I acknowledge with humble devotion the Almighty God who has been my perpetual light, constant comfort, and enduring strength throughout this journey. To God be the glory! (Nui Loa I ke Akua ka ho'onani ia!) iv ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: To determine the predominance of linked fate and socio-demographic predictors race, class, and gender in the political partisanship of African Americans, and in the political partisanship of comparison racial and ethnic group populations. METHODS: Data obtained from the 1996 National Black Election Study panel series were used to examine the political attitudes, perceptions, and beliefs of 824 adult African Americans. In addition, data collected for the 2004 National Politics Study examined 3,087 American adults from comparison racial and ethnic population groups. These groups included 706 African Americans, 868 White Non-Hispanics, 676 Hispanics, 466 Asians, and 371 Black Caribbeans. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to analyze linked fate and socio-demographic predictors of African American political partisanship. RESULTS: In the 1996 sample about 69% of African Americans were Democrats, 20% Independent, and 4% Republicans. Similarly, in the 2004 sample Democratic preferences were held by 70% African Americans followed by about 66% Black Caribbeans, 44% Hispanics, 37% Asians, and 36% White Non-Hispanics. In the multinomial logistic regression models linked fate was less likely to influence African American political partisanship in 1996. Still, when considering the unique contribution of linked fate and social demography—race, class, and gender—used to predict political partisanship among comparison populations in 2004, support for the Democratic Party was more v likely among respondents with perceptions that linked fate has some affect on them; and among all racial and ethnic population groups when compared to Non-Hispanic Whites. On the other hand, as class increased the likelihood of Democratic partisanship decreased, whereas gender was not significantly associated with predicting political partisanship ( p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Race continues to be the predominant predictor of significant and distinctive partisan preference attitudes in the African American racial group. The relationship of race, class, gender, linked fate, and partisanship shows some reliance on a (black) racial or ethnic group heuristic for political decision-making. Still, further investigation is needed to assess whether such group cues in partisan decisions actually reflect perceptions of a (black) linked racial fate rather than a sense that one’s fate is linked to that of the Democratic Party. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS DEDICATION ....................................................................................................................... iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................................................ iv ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................................v LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................................................. xi LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................................... xiv CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................1 CHAPTER 2 TOWARD A THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK FOR PARTISANSHIP ...........................................................................................................13 2.1 FROM CLASSIC CONCEPTUALIZATION TO REVISIONIST CRITIQUES ...........................................................................................................14 2.2 BACK TO THE BASICS ? THE DEBATE CONTINUES .................................................16 2.3 SOURCES OF CHANGE IN POLITICAL PARTY IDENTIFICATION ..............................18 2.4 A BROADER ACCOUNT OF PARTY CHANGE : ISSUE EVOLUTION ................................................................................................19 2.5 AFRICAN AMERICAN PARTISANSHIP : A THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVE .......................................................................................................21 CHAPTER 3 HISTORICAL OVERVIEW AND BACKGROUND : 1863-1964 .................................31 3.1 OVERVIEW ...........................................................................................................32 3.2 BACKGROUND : AFRICAN AMERICAN ANTI -SLAVERY STRATEGIES .........................................................................................................33 3.3 THE DEMOCRATIC -REPUBLICAN PARTY SCHEME AND SLAVERY .....................................................................................................41 3.4 PERIOD OF RADICAL RECONSTRUCTION , 1863-1877 ...........................................48 vii 3.5 PERIOD OF POST -RECONSTRUCTION , 1877-1936 .................................................56 3.6 PERIOD OF THE NEW DEAL COALITION , 1936-1964 ............................................62 3.7 CONCLUSION .......................................................................................................83 CHAPTER 4 FROM PROTEST TO PARTICIPATION : 1964-2008 ...............................................86 4.1 BACKGROUND .....................................................................................................87 4.2 PERIOD OF CIVIL