Racism and the American Presidency

Nearly every American president has dealt with issues concerning race, from Washington to Obama. Thomas Jefferson recognized the role of slaves in his election, Andrew Jackson promoted the common white man, Abraham Lincoln emancipated slaves, and John F. Kennedy called civil rights "a moral issue." This important book shows how presidents--the supreme political actors in the United States--have both influenced issues of race and reflected the sentiments of the masses.

Through its chronological and detailed coverage of U.S. presidents, readers will gain an in-depth understanding of the historical trends and progress made in American race relations. The book supplies a short history of each president and the events, as they relate to African Americans, that impacted their time in office, making the case that America has continually struggled--and still struggles--with issues of race, between its stated ideals and its practices. It also underscores the facts that it has only been since the 1960s that all African Americans have had legal equality and that systemic racism continues to subvert the dream for many Americans.