Marked Men: Black Politicians and the Racialization of Scandal

Marked Men by Nyron N. Crawford explores Black Americans' suspicion of political harassment of Black elected officials, challenging traditional beliefs about forgiveness and corruption. Through experiments, case studies, and survey data, Crawford reveals how racialized suspicion shapes Black voters' support for their representatives, highlighting the complexities of political scandals and the interplay between race and politics in contemporary America.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 21 May 2024
Publisher: New York University Press

Black Americans' suspicion of political harassment of Black elected officials is explored in Marked Men by Nyron N. Crawford, who presents a fresh perspective on political scandal, corruption, and racial politics in the United States. Contrary to conventional beliefs that politicians are forgiven for their transgressions due to the benefits they provide their constituents, Crawford contends that Black Americans view political misdeeds by Black elected officials through a lens of suspicion towards the criminal legal system. His work reveals that Black Americans often question the motivations behind investigations and indictments of Black politicians, expressing concern that such actions by the state are intended to undermine, embarrass, and harass Black leaders. Through a mixed-method approach that includes experiments, case studies, and survey data, Crawford illustrates that racialized suspicion shapes the way Black voters rally to protect their embattled Black political representatives. The book challenges conventional wisdom by highlighting how a tolerance of corruption is not the driving force behind the support for wayward politicians. Instead, racialized mistrust of the criminal justice system plays a pivotal role. By shedding light on this dynamic, Marked Men examines the complexities of political scandals and the intricate interplay between race and politics in contemporary America. The study calls for a deeper understanding of the motivations and attitudes of Black voters, prompting readers to reconsider prevailing assumptions about political accountability and forgiveness in the context of race.

Weight: 316g
Dimension: 151 x 229 x 14 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781479816330