African Americans and the Presidency explores the long history of African American candidates for President and Vice President, examining the impact of each candidate on the American public, as well as the contribution they all made toward advancing racial equality in America. Each chapter takes the story one step further in time, through original essays written by top experts, giving depth to these inspiring candidates, some of whom are familiar to everyone, and some whose stories may be new. Presented with illustrations and a detailed timeline, African Americans and the Presidency provides anyone interested in African American history and politics with a unique perspective on the path carved by the predecessors of Barack Obama, and the meaning their efforts had for the United States.

Bruce A. Glasrud is Professor Emeritus of History at California State University, East Bay and retired Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences at Sul Ross State University. Among his co-edited publications are Black Women in Texas History and Buffalo Soldiers in the West: A Black Soldiers Anthology.

Cary D. Wintz is Professor of History at Texas Southern University. His most recent works include serving as co-editor of The Encyclopedia of African American History, 1896 to the Present: From the Age of Segregation to the Twenty-first Century, and authoring Harlem Speaks: A Living History of the Harlem Renaissance.

Introduction: The African American Quest for the Presidency

Bruce A. Glasrud and Cary D. Wintz

1 Beginning the Trek-Douglass, Bruce, Black

Conventions, Independent Political Parties

Bruce A. Glasrud

2 The Communist Party of the United States and African

American Political Candidates

David Cullen and Kyle G. Wilkison

3 Charlotta A. Bass-Win Or Lose, We Win

Carolyn Wedin

4 Shirley Chisholm-A Catalyst for Change

Maxine D. Jones

5 The Socialist Workers Party and African Americans

Dwonna Naomi Goldstone

6 Civil Rights Activists and the Reach for Political Power

Jean Van Delinder

7 Jesse Jackson-Run, Jesse, Run!

James M. Smallwood

8 Lenora Branch Fulani-Challenging the Rules of the Game

Omar H. Ali

9 Race Activists and Fringe Parties with a Message

Charles Orson Cook

10 Black Politicians-Paving the Way

Hanes Walton, Jr., Josephine A. V. Allen,

Sherman C. Puckett, and Donald R. Deskins, Jr.

11 Colin Powell-The Candidate Who wasn't

Cary D. Wintz

12 Barack Hussein Obama-An Inspiration of Hope, an

Agent for Change

Paul Finkelman

Blacks and the Presidency: A Selected Bibliography