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Interracial Political Coalitions: an Analysis Of INTERRACIAL POLITICAL COALITIONS: AN ANALYSIS OF JUSTICE FOR JANITORS CAMPAIGNS IN HOUSTON, TX A Thesis by GLENN EDWARD BRACEY II Submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE December 2008 Major Subject: Sociology INTERRACIAL POLITICAL COALITIONS: AN ANALYSIS OF JUSTICE FOR JANITORS CAMPAIGNS IN HOUSTON, TX A Thesis by GLENN EDWARD BRACEY II Submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies of Texas A&M University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE Approved by: Chair of Committee, Joe R. Feagin Committee Members, Paul Almeida Kimberly Brown Head of Department, Mark Fossett December 2008 Major Subject: Sociology iii ABSTRACT Interracial Political Coalitions: An Analysis of Justice for Janitors Campaigns in Houston, TX. (December 2008) Glenn Edward Bracey II, B.A., University of Florida Chair of Advisory Committee: Dr. Joe R. Feagin The history of the United States is one of racial division and conquest. People of color have employed every method of resistance available to them to defend themselves against white racist aggression. Large political coalitions among racially oppressed groups have been relatively rare in United States’ history. Political scientists and sociologists have revised downward early predictions of coalitions among these groups. Most contemporary social science details the problems confronting interracial alliances but do not detail empirically supported solutions. This thesis fills the gap in the literature by analyzing two interracial political campaigns in Houston, Texas. In so doing, I use extended case method and grounded theory to define the organizational structures, ideologies, and political climates that skillful organizers have used to successfully launch and maintain political coalitions among African Americans, Latinos, and whites. Through participant observation, in-depth interviewing with organizers from Justice for Janitors campaigns in 1986 and 2006, and content analysis, I extend social movements and critical race literatures. iv The thesis extends Bell’s interest convergence theory to include struggles for civil and economic rights conducted in the new millennium primarily in support of Latinos. Contrary to the political process model and in support of interest convergence theory, I find that Justice for Janitors campaign outcomes depended on whether white policymakers clearly saw whites’ interests in supporting racial justice. Even with similar political climates, organizers’ achieved success through sacrificing Latina janitors’ racialized interests to bring union demands into agreement with white policymakers’ goals. This case study gives close attention to one aspect of the union’s negotiations of the 2006 political climate, namely the union’s careful framing of the movement to minimize discussions of race in a white racist context. Finally, this thesis also looks inside the movement and analyzes the roles that personal racial ideology and organizational structure played in the trajectory of the 2006 campaign. I conclude with a discussion of interracial political coalitions and what lessons future organizers and aggrieved parties can learn from Justice for Janitors’ efforts in Houston, Texas. v DEDICATION Dedicated to my grandfather, Leslie Durant (1916-2004), whose love and dedication created and sustained our family, and whose patient conversation and life story made me politically aware as a young child, and whom we all love and miss beyond words….Pop-pop, I finally made my grade. vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank my committee chair, Dr. Joe R. Feagin, and my committee members, Dr. Almeida, Dr. Brown, and Dr. Moore, for their guidance, patience, and support throughout the course of this research. Thanks also go to my friends and colleagues and the department faculty and staff for making my time at Texas A&M University a beneficial experience. This is especially true of those who made the trip from Florida to Texas in 2004. My deepest appreciation also goes to everyone involved in the Justice for Janitors campaigns in Houston whose hard work and dedication truly has improved the lives of thousands of people and inspired thousands more. Finally, thanks to my mother, father, and sister for their encouragement. vii NOMENCLATURE ACORN Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now CRECEN Centro de Recursos Centroamericanos SEIU Service Employees International Union TMO The Metropolitan Organization viii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT .......................................................................................................... iii DEDICATION....................................................................................................... v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................... vi NOMENCLATURE .............................................................................................. vii TABLE OF CONTENTS....................................................................................... viii LIST OF FIGURES ............................................................................................... x CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION AND THEORY ................................................... 1 Social Movements and People of Color’s Interest in Predicting Success ........................................................................................ 3 Testing Interest Convergence….. ................................................. 5 The Political Process Model......................................................... 5 Tarrow and Political Opportunity................................................. 8 Framing ....................................................................................... 8 Inadequacy of Political Process Model for Racialized Movements.................................................................................. 9 SEIU Frame Expansion to Include Racialized Goals .................... 11 Interracial Coalitions - Occurrences ............................................. 12 Interracial Coalitions and Tactics ................................................. 13 Race and Social Movements – Bell’s Interest Convergence Theory ......................................................................................... 13 Social Movement Unionism and Framing .................................... 14 II METHODS AND DATA .................................................................. 18 How Race Impacts Methodology Choice ..................................... 21 Data Collection............................................................................ 23 Social Movement Organizations .................................................. 25 ix CHAPTER Page III INTEREST CONVERGENCE THEORY: A CASE STUDY OF JUSTICE FOR JANITORS CAMPAIGNS IN HOUSTON, TEXAS ......................................................................... 29 Justice for Janitors in Houston ..................................................... 31 SEIU and Immigrants Rights ....................................................... 33 The Failed 1986 Campaign .......................................................... 34 The Successful 2006 Campaign ................................................... 36 Divergent Interests – The International and Immigration Rights... 39 Race Sacrificing – SEIU, the Federal Government, and Immigration ................................................................................. 41 Conclusion................................................................................... 47 IV HIDING UNDER MOTHER’S SKIRT: FRAMING THE 2006 CAMPAIGN ..................................................................................... 52 Family as Primary Subordinate Frame ......................................... 53 Protest Art ................................................................................... 54 Motherhood/Family in Featured Image ........................................ 56 YouTube – Healthcare and Motherhood....................................... 60 Austraberta Rodriguez – Wages and Motherhood......................... 65 Conclusion................................................................................... 67 V RACE IDEOLOGY IN THE JUSTICE FOR JANITORS COALITION..................................................................................... 73 Race Ideology Among Activists................................................... 76 Managing Ideological Differences ............................................... 85 VI CONCLUSIONS ............................................................................... 93 REFERENCES ...................................................................................................... 99 APPENDIX A ....................................................................................................... 108 VITA..................................................................................................................... 112 x LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE Page 1 Featured Image of 2006 Houston Justice for Janitors Campaign .............. 56 2 Sandoval and Family ............................................................................... 61 1 CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION AND THEORY In February of 2001, Talmadge Branch, chairman of the Maryland state legislature’s Congressional Black Caucus, entered the 27 Package Lounge in Perry, Florida and attempted to buy a beer. A white bartender refused to
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