Author Description

Unlike previous epochs in the United States, African Americans are not constantly reminded of inequality by fire hoses, attack dogs, lynchings, state sanctioned mob violence and various forms of overt de facto and de jure racial structuring. Because of this, the everyday human events surrounding African American life does not foster a critical consciousness of the enduring contradictions still present in contemporary American society. Invisible Jim Crow explores the dominative ideological frameworks in the U.S. from 1980-2007. Starting with an examination of the racialized social, political and economic climate ushered in by the Ronald Reagan administration, the book investigates the late 20th century Republican Revolution and its ideas concerning activist conservatism. The author makes plain the operational framework of this movement and its lingering impact on African Americans in the 21st century. Using an African-centered lens, Invisible Jim Crow examines the contemporary influence of the anti-egalitarian elements leading up to the unveiling of Contract with America and the political agenda of the 104th congress. The book explores the neo-liberal/neo-conservative alliance and its strategic use of race and taxes to set the climate for the racialization of welfare reform and the criminalization of anti-poverty programs. The book lays bare the underpinnings of radical conservative ideologies and their influence on the life chances and opportunities of African Americans. Invisible Jim Crow investigates the role of contemporary public discourse and the creation of discursive communities, specifically as they pertain to the speculation of post- racialism in the public sphere. The book maintains that understanding the role of public discourse and the creation of discursive communities is vital to understanding ideological domination and its impact on African Americans. The book challenges new developments in Black forms of Christianity to determine if they best ser