3 - The Nuances in Black Voters’ Candidate Selection Process

Summary

The broader work on candidate selection often makes the case that usage of identity, particularly race, is a sign of one's lacking political sophistication. In this chapter, I explain that this belief stems from the oversimplification of the conceptualization of race as just skin color. This position ignores the social complexities of racial identity within which many Black individuals operate. Relying on existing observation data, I show that Black voters make important distinctions between politicians based on their perceptions of them as a "problem solver" or a "prestige seeker." This distinction and the subsequent evaluations hold even for Black politicians suggesting that even within the same-race representation paradigm, Black voters' desire for a politician who cares more for the group than themselves remains steadfast. This chapter sets the stage for a deeper exploration into the nuances and distinctions Black voters make between politicians, regardless of their race