Vel Phillips Papers (Teaching, Box 4)

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Department of Afro-American Studies

341 Black Politics and City Government Vel Phillips, JD, Adjunct Professor Semester 1 Fall, 1983-6:30-9:10 P.M.

Description It is well established that the Black citizen in this country today is destined to spend most of his lifetime in an urban environment. It is also well established that although substantial gains have been made in this area of Black political participation at all levels of government, recent studies have shown that the rate of growth in the numbers of Blacks elected to office has slowed. Further, the hard fact is that Blacks comprise a mere 1% of all elected officials in the United States even though they are 12% of the total population. Clearly Blacks are still very far from being equitably represented among public officials. It is essential to correct this inequity if Black citizens are to be a part of a truly representative system of government. This course is designed to give us some insight and some understanding of Black political involvement in an urban community. Because the subject area is very broad, this course shall attempt to narrow the coverage into four general categories.

Requirements

1. Regular class attendance. 2. Participation in class discussion-based on the required texts and other reading material and on the lectures. 3. One term paper-30% 4. One mid-term exam-30% 5. Final exam-40%.

Office Hours I will be available every Wednesday evening after class and also by appointment.

Vel Phillips-Black Politics and City Government-Cont.

General Outline

1. Foundation for Black Political Power September 7-School Board District vs. At Large September 14-Municipal: Overview.

2. The Black Vote and Other Political Resources. September 21-October 12.

3. Mid-term Exam October 19

4. The Black Elected Official October 26-Background, changes, and general overview. November 2-Black Mayors November 9-The American Presidential election November 16-Some of the effects, conclusions, and findings related to Black elected officials.

5. Black Interest Groups November 23-Congressional Black Caucus. November 30-Public Authorities and Urban Politics. December 7-Other interest groups and general review

(December 14-Final Exam.)

Vel Phillips Black Politics and City Government-Cont.

Reading Materials

1. Lucius J. Barker and Jesse J. McCorry, Jr. Black Americans and the Political System (2nd. Edition)

2. Albert K. Karnig and Susan Welch Black Representation and Urban Policy

3. Michael B. Preston, Lenneal J. Henserson & Paul Puryear The New Black Politics/The Search for Political Power

4. Ernest Patterson Black City Politics

5. Mary R. Warner The Dilemna of Black Politics

6. Chuck Stone Black Power in America (Revised Edition)

7. Edward E. Clayton The Negro Politician/His Success and Failure

8. Larry E. Moss Black Political Asendancy in Urban Centers and Black Control of the Local Police Function: An Exploratory Analysis

9. John R. Howard Framework for the Analysis of Urban Black Politics Annals of the American Academy of Political & Social Science Vol. 439-September, 1978.

10. Hanes Walton Jr. Black Politics/A Theoretical and Structural Analysis

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Department of Afro-American Studies

341 Black Politics and City Government Vel Phillips, JD, Adjunct Professor Mid-Term Exam 10/26/83

I. Chuck Stone in Black Political Power in America explains in detail how some "Black Leaders" fall into two categories: "Uncle Toms" and "Ceremonial Leaders."

(A) What are the similarities between these two categories? Give at least one example. (B) What are the differences between these two categories? Give at least one example. (C) State your definition (and explain in some detail) of a true black leader. Again, name at least one example.

II. Someone said many years ago that the Urban League was our (Blacks) State Department and the NAACP was our War Department. These labels stuck. (A) How do you view the roles of these two older organizations, that is, the Urban League and the NAACP? (B) How do these two organizations differ from the newer groups like SCLC, CORE, SNCC, etc? (C) Are there any organizations existing today that are effectively aiding blacks in their quest for full equality?

III. We all know that although Blacks are 12% of the population, they hold only 1% of the elected offices. (A) Explain why you think this exists and more specifically, why the rate of growth of Blacks elected to office has slowed.

Vel Phillips 341 Black Politics and City Government-Cont'd

III. (B) Why do other ethnic groups do considerably better...for example, Jews in New York, Poles in Chicago and Milwaukee, Irish in Boston, etc.? (C) What are the necessary ingredients for a balance of power to work? Give a recent example of an election where the balance of power worked to the advantage of Blacks.