Buch(elektronisch)#12016
Historic firsts: how symbolic empowerment changes U.S. politics
In: Oxford scholarship online
In: Political science
Election 2008 made American history, but prior campaigns paved the way, starting with the candidacies of Shirley Chisholm in 1972 and Jesse Jackson in 1984. While unsuccessful, they were significant. The present study focuses on primary contests, compelling us to think about the lasting impact of unsuccessful candidates - Chisholm and Jackson - insofar as they influenced American voters across various racial, ethnic, and gender groups as well as the electoral prospects of future candidates. This study has implications for theories of representation and empowerment as well as intersectionality-type research.