Power to the Poor

Black-Brown Coalition and the Fight for Economic Justice, 1960-1974

By Gordon K. Mantler | Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press

About the book

The Poor People’s Campaign of 1968 has long been overshadowed by the assassination of its architect, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and the political turmoil of that year. In a major reinterpretation of civil rights and Chicano movement history, Gordon K. Mantler demonstrates how King’s unfinished crusade became the era’s most high-profile attempt at multiracial collaboration and sheds light on the interdependent relationship between racial identity and political coalition among African Americans and Mexican Americans. Mantler argues that while the fight against poverty held great potential for black-brown cooperation, such efforts also exposed the complex dynamics between the nation’s two largest minority groups.
Drawing on oral histories, archives, periodicals, and FBI surveillance files, Mantler paints a rich portrait of the campaign and the larger antipoverty work from which it emerged, including the labor activism of Cesar Chavez, opposition of Black and Chicano Power to state violence in Chicago and Denver, and advocacy for Mexican American land-grant rights in New Mexico. Ultimately, Mantler challenges readers to rethink the multiracial history of the long civil rights movement and the difficulty of sustaining political coalitions.

Editions of Power to the Poor

Hardcover
ISBN 9780807838518
Paperback
ISBN 9781469621883
EBook
ISBN 9781469608075
EBook
ISBN 9781469608068
EBook
ISBN 9798893134674
PDF
ISBN 9798890886392

Read an Excerpt

The Poor People’s Campaign of 1968 has long been overshadowed by the assassination of its architect, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and the political turmoil of that year. In a major reinterpretation of civil rights and Chicano movement history, Gordon K. Mantler demonstrates how King’s unfinished crusade became the era’s most high-profile attempt at multiracial collaboration and sheds light on the interdependent relationship between racial identity and political coalition among African Americans and Mexican Americans. Mantler argues that while the fight against poverty held great potential for black-brown cooperation, such efforts also exposed the complex dynamics between the nation’s two largest minority groups.
Drawing on oral histories, archives, periodicals, and FBI surveillance files, Mantler paints a rich portrait of the campaign and the larger antipoverty work from which it emerged, including the labor activism of Cesar Chavez, opposition of Black and Chicano Power to state violence in Chicago and Denver, and advocacy for Mexican American land-grant rights in New Mexico. Ultimately, Mantler challenges readers to rethink the multiracial history of the long civil rights movement and the difficulty of sustaining political coalitions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Power to the Poor about?

The Poor People’s Campaign of 1968 has long been overshadowed by the assassination of its architect, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and the political turmoil of that year. In a major reinterpretation of civil rights and Chicano movement history, Gordon K. Mantler demonstrates how King’s unfinished crusade became the era’s most high-profile attempt at multiracial collaboration and sheds light on the interdependent relationship between racial identity and political coalition among African Americans and Mexican Americans. Mantler argues that while the fight against poverty held great potential for black-brown cooperation, such efforts also exposed the complex dynamics between the nation’s two largest minority groups.
Drawing on oral histories, archives, periodicals, and FBI surveillance files, Mantler paints a rich portrait of the campaign and the larger antipoverty work from which it emerged, including the labor activism of Cesar Chavez, opposition of Black and Chicano Power to state violence in Chicago and Denver, and advocacy for Mexican American land-grant rights in New Mexico. Ultimately, Mantler challenges readers to rethink the multiracial history of the long civil rights movement and the difficulty of sustaining political coalitions.

What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Power to the Poor?

Society and Social Sciences > Society and culture: general > Social groups, communities and identities > Ethnic studies / Ethnicity

Where can I read a sample of Power to the Poor?

You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780807838518

How long is Power to the Poor and how many pages does it have?

Power to the Poor has 376 page(s)

Is Power to the Poor part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?

Yes it is a part of series Justice, Power, and Politics

Who is/are the Author/s of the book Power to the Poor?

Gordon K. Mantler

Who is the Publisher of the book Power to the Poor?

The University of North Carolina Press

What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?

Power to the Poor is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780807838518) and paperback(ISBN 9781469621883) and ebook(ISBN 9781469608075) and ebook(ISBN 9781469608068) and ebook(ISBN 9798893134674) and pdf(ISBN 9798890886392)

Where can I buy Power to the Poor online or support local independent bookshops?

You can buy Power to the Poor from below

Where can I buy Power to the Poor?