American Politics/ Inequality
Cedric Johnson has developed a keen understanding of how African-American politics have changed since the stirrings of the civil rights movement in 1960’s America. Through his study, he has charted how the Black Power movement began operating in more moderate ways to create change for the African-American community. He has thorough knowledge of the historical shift of the Black Power movement from protest and activism to mainstream politics, the abandonment of social movement politics in favor of insider politics with a focus on elections and more formal political activities.
“A shift occurred,” Johnson says of a post-civil rights movement era, “from grass roots activism, outside of the mainstream, to more formal approaches. Black power saw a departure from movement-style activist efforts.”
His background and research in this area and similar areas make him an excellent spokesperson on civil disobedience and the anti-war movement, including the movement against the impending war in Iraq underway across the U.S. today.
Johnson's research also addresses questions of working class politics. He is interested in the unique features of class formation and identity in American society and their impact on the development of labor-based activism.
Johnson in the News:
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Interview opportunities and additional background information may be requested through the Office of Communications, Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Geneva, New York. Phone: (315) 781-3540. After business hours, Communications staff members are accessible through contact information on their answering machine at that number.
Cedric Johnson joined the Hobart and William Smith faculty in 2001. He received his B.A. at Southern University, his first M.A. at Ohio State University, and both his second M.A. and his Ph.D. at University of Maryland, College Park. His dissertation was titled "Dilemmas of Black Power Politics: The National Black Assembly, Race Leaders and Radicalism in the Post Segregation Era."
Prior to coming to the Colleges, Johnson served as an adjunct member of the faculties at Marymount University, George Washington University and University of Maryland.
Johnson’s published work includes: co-author of “Bibliography of African American Leadership: An Annotated Guide” (with Ronald W. Walters) and “Searching for a Deeper Understanding of Devolution through Black Media,” with Adolphus G. Belk, Jr. and Tamelyn Tucker-Worgs.
Johnson is a faculty supporter of the Colleges’ Refuse and Resist! Organization, is a member of the Equity and Affirmative Action Committee at the Colleges, and the Labor Lyceum Planning Committee for the Rochester Labor Council.
Johnson’s professional affiliations include membership in the American Political Science Association, the National Conference of Black Political Scientists and the Pi Sigma Alpha Honor Society.