Economics and African Americans

Hogan defines a political economy as "a human population undergoing the act of social reproduction, over a protracted period of time, under a set of rules promulgated and enforced by a political state, within a bounded geographical domain" (1984, p. 12). The black political economy forms a separate economy because it fulfills all the requirements of this definition. Blacks represent a distinct human population, partly because of the barriers to kinship with white, mainstream society. (Intermarriage between blacks and whites occurs on a limited basis; therefore, blacks generally reproduce black offspring, thus perpetuating their distinctiveness.) Further, the presence of African Americans in the United States for four and a half centuries qualifies as a protracted period of time. Since, during this time period, blacks have never attained the status

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dent of history. It derives from a complex of decisions from the courthouse to the White House which Black people do not influence or control" (p. 87). America is controlled by interest groups, the most powerful of which cater to the affluent, trade organizations, and major corporate concerns. The interests of blacks, disadvantaged persons, and urban dwellers are not championed in Washington or at the state and local government levels. Consequently, laws that benefit disadvantaged blacks (e.g., social welfare, education reform, or public health) are formulated by legislators with elitist priorities. The result is the passage of legislation that does little to improve the black political economy. Partial solutions to the institutional racism that stifles the black political economy are improved participation of blacks in the voting process and the increased election of black officials. As one National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) official puts it, "People have to make certain that we lose no ground in the protection of our right to vote . . . There has to be an ongoing aggressive campaign for voter participation" (Peoples, 1995, p. 44). Unfortunately, black participation in the voting process i
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Approximate Word count = 2136
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page)