Arts Innovation Talk: "Caribbeanization of Black Politics"

In The Caribbeanization of Black Politics, Sharon D. Wright Austin explores the impact of ethnic diversification of African American communities on the prospects for black political empowerment. Focusing on Boston, Chicago, Miami, and New York City--cities that for the last several years have experienced an influx of black immigrants--she surveyed more than two thousand African Americans, Cape Verdeans, Haitians, and West Indians. Although many studies conclude that African American group consciousness causes them to participate in politics at higher rates when socioeconomic status is controlled for, Wright Austin analyzes whether this is true for other black groups. She assesses the current political incorporation of these groups by looking at data on public officeholders and by examining political coalitions and conflicts among the groups, and she also discusses the possible future of black political development in these cities.

Come out to learn and mingle with others for one of the most interesting topics about a very dynamic group of people for a region collectively.

About Dr. Austin:

Dr. Sharon Wright Austin is a Professor of Political Science at the University of Florida and has also taught courses at the Universities of Louisville, Michigan, and Missouri-Columbia. Dr. Austin received a doctorate in Political Science from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville in 1993. Her teaching interests are in American Government, Urban Politics, and African American Politics and her research interests are in African American mayoral elections, African American/Caribbean American political relationships, rural African American political activism, and African American political behavior. Her first book, Race, Power, and Political Emergence in Memphis was published in 2000 by Garland Publishing. She has also published scholarly articles in the National Political Science Review, The Journal of the National Conference of Black Political Scientists, Political Research Quarterly, Social Science Quarterly, The Journal of Black Studies, and Politics and Policy and has written several book chapters. Her second book, The Transformation of Plantation Politics in the Mississippi Delta: Black Politics,Concentrated Poverty, and Social Capital in the Mississippi Delta , was published by the State University of New York Press in 2006. Her third book, The Caribbeanization of Black Politics: Race, Group Consciousness, and Political Participation in America was published by the State University of New York Press in 2018.

About Haitian Heritage Museum

Founded in 2004 to commemorate Haiti’s Bicentennial, the Haitian Heritage Museum (HHM) is a 501c3 organization that is committed to highlighting and preserving Haiti’s rich culture and heritage globally. Our goal is to provide a cultural Mecca for Little Haiti where individuals outside of our community and within our community boundaries can come to enjoy beautiful Haitian art, historic artifacts, ethnic sounds of Haitian music, view Haitian films and enjoy a collection of Haitian literary works.

Sponsors: Amerian Airlines and Miami Dade County

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

The Haitian Heritage Museum | Miami Design District, 4141 NE 2nd Ave, Miami, United States