Race-Based Coalitions Among Minority Groups

Abstract

As immigration from Latin America, Asia, and the Caribbean increases the numbers of racial minorities living in American cities, political scientists are beginning to wonder whether these newcomers will forge coalitions with their native-born counterparts, particularly African-Americans. A number of scholars have argued that race-based alliances between non-White immigrants and African-Americans are likely, in light of continuing patterns of racial discrimination in this country. But it turns out that such coalitions are quite rare. Using the case of Caribbean- and American-born Blacks in NewYork City, the author attempts to understandwhy. He reconsiders the argument for race-based alliances, as well as other leading theories of intergroup coalition building. His analysis demonstrates why racial commonalities have not been enough to overcome interminority tensions, highlights the limits of race-based coalitions, and shows how institutions may shape the intergroup dynamics on which these attempted alliances fail or succeed.