The Weakness of Black Politics

Since the 1950s the politics of New York blacks has been characterized by weakness and factional division. Compared with the political gains of blacks in cities like Atlanta, Chicago, Philadelphia, Cleveland, and Detroit, black politics in New York is marked by low influence and a marginal presence) Several features of black New York’s politics demonstrate this weak political incorporation: (1) the failure to elect a black mayor, to mount a serious black mayoral challenge, or to play a decisive role in a successful mayoral coalition; (2) the absence of a viable black presence in New York City’s dominant decision-making bodies; and (3) a faction-ridden black leadership.

Yet other aspects of black New York’s political position do not by themselves indicate weakness. Twenty-five percent of the city’s population is black, and blacks have seven of the thirty-five city council seats (20 percent). There is one black borough president, David Dinkins, for Manha...