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University Microfilms International 300 N. Zeeb Road Ann Arbor, Mi 48106 8400159 Ardrey, Saundra Curry THE POLITICAL BEHAVIOR OF BLACK WOMEN IN THE SOUTH: A CASE STUDY OF RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA The Ohio Slate University Ph.D. 1983 University Microfilms International300 N. Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, Ml 48106 Copyright 1984 by Ardrey, Saundra Curry All Rights Reserved THE POLITICAL BEHAVIOR OF BLACK WOMEN IN THE SOUTH A CASE STUDY OF RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA DISSERTATION Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of the Ohio State University By Saundra Curry Ardrey, B.A., M.A. The Ohio State University 1983 Reading Committee: Approved By: Dr. William E. Nelson Dr. Kristi Andersen Dr. Aage Clausen Dr. Herbert Weisberg Adviser Department of Political Science DEDICATION TO MY MOTHER As the epitome of the spirit, pride and determination that is the heritage of the Black woman in America, I dedicate this dissertation on the political behavior of those women to my mother, Estella H. Curry. For the support (both financial and emotional), For being there for me, For listening and encouraging me in everything I've tried to do, and most of all, For simply being "Momma" - I say, THANK YOU and LOVE ALWAYS! ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The pursuit of this graduate degree has been an interesting, lengthy and sometimes rocky road. Often I have neglected to thank the people who have encouraged and supported me along the way. First, I wish to express my gratitude to Dr. William Nelson who has been my adviser and guide from the very first day of graduate work. He has stood by and encouraged me even when I, at times, lost my way and went off 'to find myself.' His confidence in me will be long remembered. I wish to thank Dr. Frank Hale and the Minority Fellowship Program for affording me the opportunity to matriculate at Ohio State University. Special thanks also go to Dick Stoddard who took a chance on me the 'second time around' and who often provided the proverbial shoulder to cry on. I would also like to acknowledge the members of my reading committee. Thanks to Dr. Kristi Andersen for always having an open door, for her help on editing and for providing an objective, listening ear in which I could test suggestions and ideas. To Dr. Aage Clausen who spent countless hours pouring over computer printouts and for patiently explaining the intricacies of statistical analysis to me, I say thank you. Many thanks to Dr. Herbert Weisberg for his critical review and comments. I realize that his timely response to my "frantic" pleas for advice were not always easily made from England. Special thanks to my friend Lucy Lyons, without whose help the data would never have been coded and the computer program would never have been written. And to Mark Teare, without whose help the final drafts of the dissertation would have been solely delayed. Thank you both for the hours of unselfish aid and thanks for the 'humor'. Thanks also go out to Susan Hunter and the Political Science Polimetrics Lab. My friends Virginia Marshall, Hendrick Spruyt and Ronald Anderson provided support, encouragement and hours of grateful and fun-filled distractions from my studies. Dave Brown will also be fondly remembered as a friend who took the time to always check on my progress and who asked poignant questions about by analysis which more times than not provided the impetus I needed to get going again. My father and sister are also thanked for their words of encouragement and emotional support through the years. My appreciation to the Furman University Political Science Department and to Dr. Ernest Walters for providing me with my first job as an Assistant Professor which gave an extra incentive to finish the dissertation. And finally, to my husband, William, who has waited patiently in Louisville, Ky. for me to complete my work here at Ohio State. I am grateful for his support and his unwavering faith in my abilities as a scholar. VITA August 26, 1953 Born - Louisville, Georgia 1975 B.A., Winston-Salem State University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 1976 M.A., The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 1976-1978,1982-1983*• Teaching Associate, Department of Political Science, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 1978 Visiting Lecturer, Department of Political Science, The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 1979-1981 Instructor, Department of Social Sciences, The University of Kentucky Jefferson Community College, Louisville, Kentucky CONVENTION PRESENTATIONS "The Political Behavior of Black Women: A Case Study of Raleigh, North Carolina", Southern Political Science Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, 1982. FIELDS OF STUDY Major Field: American Politics Studies in Urban Politics. Professor William Nelson - v Studies in Public Opinion and Political Socialization. Professor Kristi Andersen Studies in Voting Behavior and Political Participation. Professor Herbert Weisberg Studies in Legislative Politics. Professor Aage Clausen Minor Field: International Relations Studies in Transnational Relations. Professor Chadwick Alger CONTENTS DEDICATION ............................................................. ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS............................... iii VITA ..................................................... v LIST OF TABLES ......................................................... ix LIST OF FIGURES . ............................................... x Chapter page I. THE POLITICAL BEHAVIOR OF BLACK WOMEN ......................... 1 The Issue of Political Participation ....................... 3 Black Women in the Political System: an Historical Perspective ............................................ 10 Review of Research on the Political Behavior of Black women 21 II. METHODOLOGY AND ANALYSIS ........................................33 Research Desi g n ................. 35 Selection of s a m p l e ........................................37 Outline of dissertation .................................. 42 III. RALEIGH, N.C.: THE COMMUNITY SETTING ......................... 43 The Black Presence in North Carolina ....................... 45 Political participation prior to 1960 ................. 4 7 Political participation since 1960 48 IV. HOW BLACK WOMEN PARTICIPATE IN THE PROCESS OF DECISIONMAKING . 52 Participation in voluntary associations ................... 59 Self-help associations .................................. 61 Community Service Associations ......................... 66 Social and Family Associations ......................... 70 Religious Affiliation .................................... 75 Electoral Participation .................................... 80 N o n - v o t e r s .............. 86 V o t e r s .................................................... 89 - vii - Campaigns, pollwork and political rallies ............... 94 Participation in Protest Activities ....................... 97 Alienation and Apathy as Participation .................... 106 Alienated or Apathetic ................................. 110 Projected cost of participation ......................... 114 Conclusion................................................... 116 V. INFLUENCES ON POLITICAL PARTICIPATION: CONTEXTUAL, STRUCTURAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS ............................... 122 Influence of Contextual Factors ........................... 125 Influence of Structural Factors ........................... 154 Influence of Psychological Factors ......................... 150 Cynicism and t r u s t .......................................151 Feelings of personal and political efficacy ...........