African American Political Thought

'Comprehensive and highly teachable, this thoughtfully organized chronological survey traces the development of African American political thought from early enslavement resisters like David Walker to contemporary post-Civil Rights scholarship and Afrofuturism. The text skillfully presents progressive and conservative perspectives while student-centered study questions foster critical analysis and meaningful classroom discussion, making it an outstanding resource for classroom learning and discussion.' Briana Hyman, North Carolina A&T State University
'Alex Zamalin's book is an illuminating and scholarly tour through the history of Black political thought. It will be a core text for courses in history, law, and the social sciences dealing with race and racism, abolitionism, civil rights, American political thought, mass incarceration, and the politics of social change. The study questions at the end of each chapter and the comprehensive glossary of critical terms make this volume an ideal teaching tool.' Christopher C. Robinson, Clarkson University
'The tradition of African American political thought, its place within the corpus of political theory, and its contemporary political relevance remain much too neglected. Alex Zamalin has established himself as one of the most insightful scholars correcting this. African American Political Thought is a critical contribution to this urgent project. It provides a rich and politically salient introduction to two centuries of innovative political theorizing about the successes and failures of the American democratic experiment. This text is a welcoming and accessible entry point for students and laypeople, but Zamalin's interpretations also give the most seasoned scholars much with which to wrestle and to rethink. We are all fortunate to have Zamalin's new work as a guide in the recovery of a major tradition still relegated to the margins.' Gregory Smulewicz-Zucker, Northeastern University, New York
'In this book, Alex Zamalin offers a comprehensive but concise overview of Black political theory. Situating his discussion of specific theorists within their historical context, he identifies the problems that each sought to address and the methods they employed for doing so, demonstrating both the continuity and change in this rich tradition of thought. Written with great clarity and engaging prose, African American Political Thought is the perfect introduction to the topic.' Simon Stow, William & Mary