Theodore J. Davis, Jr., (Ph. D. Florida State University) is a professor in the Department of Political Science and International Relations at the University of Delaware. He has a joint appointment with the Department of Black American Studies. Davis regularly teaches courses related to public policy, urban politics, race and politics, and the politics of poverty. He has occasionally taught courses in public administration, research methods and governance and poverty reduction in Sub-Saharan Africa. Dr. Davis current research focus includes 1) urban politics and African-American community development, 2) the politics of inequality, and 3) Africana studies. He is the author of the book Black Politics Today: The Era of Socioeconomic Transition (Routledge 2012). Dr. Davis is currently working on a book project tentatively titled The Politics and Perils of Educational Disparities: The Pace of Blacks’ Educational Progress.
Delaware has long played a pivotal role in the nation’s struggle to end school segregation and pr... more Delaware has long played a pivotal role in the nation’s struggle to end school segregation and promote educational equality. This article discusses racial disparities in educational achievement and outcomes by examining the state’s political history and the politics of race in public education. This article explores educational disparities from a socio-political perspective, which takes into consideration the direct and indirect influence of historical, political, socio-economic, and socio-cultural events on educational achievements and outcomes in the state. It finds that Black students in urban areas are influenced more by the politics of race in public education than Black students in non-urban school environments in the state. It also shows that the educational achievement and outcomes of Black students are influenced more by the politics of race than White students. It suggests that the politics of race in public education is influenced by political factors that extend well beyond those associated with the process of educating.
Abstract Data indicate that good governance and human development continue to be major issues thr... more Abstract Data indicate that good governance and human development continue to be major issues throughout sub-Saharan Africa. The findings show a significant relationship between the measures of good governance and human development. The findings suggest that policies and efforts aimed at improving government effectiveness and political stability would have the most significant impact on human development and poverty reduction efforts. The findings lend support to the adoption of integrated policy approaches that take into consideration political development along with economic development to reduce poverty in sub-Saharan Africa.
The aim of this paper is to examine and expand our focus on human capital capacity building as a ... more The aim of this paper is to examine and expand our focus on human capital capacity building as a foundation for poverty reduction in Sub-Saharan Africa. The data showed significant differences in the human capital capacity building characteristics as measured by demographic, education and gender equality characteristics. In analyzing select human capital capacity building markers, the findings suggest that the educational indicators were among the strongest in explaining the variation in human development in Sub-Saharan Africa. The findings showed that gender inequality was a serious inhibitor of human development in Sub-Saharan Africa. Overall, the Sub-Saharan nations with the lowest level of poverty had some combination of a population with higher median years of school completed, a higher literacy rate, a lower population growth rate, a larger percent of the population that lived in an urban area, and it had a higher rate of students progressing to secondary education. The findin...
Black males are disproportionately at risk of school failure and are constantly at the bottom of ... more Black males are disproportionately at risk of school failure and are constantly at the bottom of most educational measures of success. This paper aims to contribute to our understanding of the factors linked to the academic achievement gap as it relates to Black male students. The objective of this working paper was to ascertain how Black male students in Delaware felt about their family's involvement in their education and life. It also took into account their mental state during the past year. It considered their feelings about their peers, community, and school environments as potential factors related to educational success. Finally, some attention was given to the impact of their attitudes and behavior concerning educational and life outcomes. Although the focus of this project is oriented explicitly toward Black male student populations in Delaware, the findings have implications and benefits for other disadvantaged and educationally underperforming males.
In 1967, President Lyndon B. Johnson established the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disord... more In 1967, President Lyndon B. Johnson established the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders to examine why race relations in the United States were in such a state of confusion that it had resulted in civil disturbances. By 1968, the trajectory of race relations and racial disparities, with regard to the quality of life and standards of living, were such that the commission wrote, “Our nation is moving toward two societies, one Black, one White, separate and unequal.” Since the start of the twenty-first century, economic recessions, natural disasters, and civil unrest have exposed the continuation of pervasive differences in the perceptions of racial progress between Blacks and Whites. This article aims to examine perceptions of racial progress and the continuation of unfair racial treatment within the context of the commission’s “two nations” thesis. The findings of this article suggest that Blacks remain considerably more pessimistic than Whites about the state of racial ...
This paper seeks to contribute to the literature by thinking about political mobilisation within ... more This paper seeks to contribute to the literature by thinking about political mobilisation within black communities as a socio-political phenomenon. It is implied that sociopolitical factors (such as culture, historicalpatterns, political behavior, social structure, and the functioning of community institutions and leaders) influence the black population\u27s ability to mobilise for the creation of an effective community development agenda. More specifically, this paper expands our understanding of the challenges of mobilising black populations for the purposes of capacity building and development in areas where blacks constitute a critical mass (i.e. urban and inner city communities). Among the findings are that, for purposes of building capacity and community development, political mobilisation must be understood for it is situated in very complex and unique social andpolitical contexts. That the internalpolitical dynamics of black politics today poses a greater challenge than the ...
More than six decades after the historic Brown vs Board of Education Supreme Court decision, whic... more More than six decades after the historic Brown vs Board of Education Supreme Court decision, which desegregated the nation’s schools, a significant achievement gap between Black and White students still remains. Theodore J. Davis, Jr argues that the slow progress in closing this gap comes down to the politics of race, involving past and present discriminatory institutional policies and practices, and the politics of education, which has contributed to the rise of alternative schooling, the re-segregating of public schools, and conflict over the allocation public education resources.
1: Black Politics Today: The Evolution 2: A Community in Transition and Dividing by Class 3: The ... more 1: Black Politics Today: The Evolution 2: A Community in Transition and Dividing by Class 3: The Foundations for a Political Divide 4: Attitudes and Perceptions in Black and White: What They Suggests About Race and Politics 5: Blacks' Public Opinion Today: A Question of Consensus 6: Black Politics and the Continuing Struggle for Political Influence in the Socioeconomic Transition Era 7: Black Political Leadership Today 8: Beyond Socioeconomic Status: Other Factors Influencing Black Politics Today
This article examines differences in the income status of black and white populations in Southern... more This article examines differences in the income status of black and white populations in Southern nonmetropolitan counties and discusses how various labor market, social, and human capital characteristics influence the income status of the respective groups. The data show an inconsistent pattern between black and white populations’ income level in Southern nonmetropolitan counties. The data also show that various structural/institutional (e.g., local labor market and human capital) and social/cultural (e.g., population) factors affect the income of black and white populations differently.
This paper suggests that before racial minorities (in this case blacks) become full participants ... more This paper suggests that before racial minorities (in this case blacks) become full participants in the political decision making process, they must go through a process defined [n this paper as the "politics of inclusion". It offers a framework for understanding Lucius Barker s (I983) discussion of the politics of inclusion. This framework assumes that the relationship between the political majority and political minorities have political and social dimensions, and at the center of the relationship is the struggle to either maintain or change the status quo. In essence, majority 'minority group politics involve more than one group's effort to influence the a/location of society s resources and values; it also involves understanding the shared relationship between politically advantaged and disadvantaged groups. The politics of inclusion involves understanding the socio-political relationship between political majority and political minorities, and that the end result of the process is the ''politics of normalcy". Understanding the politics of inclusion and its influence on the behavior of political minorities is especially significant because of America s racial past and histo1y of political exclusion.
Delaware has long played a pivotal role in the nation’s struggle to end school segregation and pr... more Delaware has long played a pivotal role in the nation’s struggle to end school segregation and promote educational equality. This article discusses racial disparities in educational achievement and outcomes by examining the state’s political history and the politics of race in public education. This article explores educational disparities from a socio-political perspective, which takes into consideration the direct and indirect influence of historical, political, socio-economic, and socio-cultural events on educational achievements and outcomes in the state. It finds that Black students in urban areas are influenced more by the politics of race in public education than Black students in non-urban school environments in the state. It also shows that the educational achievement and outcomes of Black students are influenced more by the politics of race than White students. It suggests that the politics of race in public education is influenced by political factors that extend well beyond those associated with the process of educating.
Abstract Data indicate that good governance and human development continue to be major issues thr... more Abstract Data indicate that good governance and human development continue to be major issues throughout sub-Saharan Africa. The findings show a significant relationship between the measures of good governance and human development. The findings suggest that policies and efforts aimed at improving government effectiveness and political stability would have the most significant impact on human development and poverty reduction efforts. The findings lend support to the adoption of integrated policy approaches that take into consideration political development along with economic development to reduce poverty in sub-Saharan Africa.
The aim of this paper is to examine and expand our focus on human capital capacity building as a ... more The aim of this paper is to examine and expand our focus on human capital capacity building as a foundation for poverty reduction in Sub-Saharan Africa. The data showed significant differences in the human capital capacity building characteristics as measured by demographic, education and gender equality characteristics. In analyzing select human capital capacity building markers, the findings suggest that the educational indicators were among the strongest in explaining the variation in human development in Sub-Saharan Africa. The findings showed that gender inequality was a serious inhibitor of human development in Sub-Saharan Africa. Overall, the Sub-Saharan nations with the lowest level of poverty had some combination of a population with higher median years of school completed, a higher literacy rate, a lower population growth rate, a larger percent of the population that lived in an urban area, and it had a higher rate of students progressing to secondary education. The findin...
Black males are disproportionately at risk of school failure and are constantly at the bottom of ... more Black males are disproportionately at risk of school failure and are constantly at the bottom of most educational measures of success. This paper aims to contribute to our understanding of the factors linked to the academic achievement gap as it relates to Black male students. The objective of this working paper was to ascertain how Black male students in Delaware felt about their family's involvement in their education and life. It also took into account their mental state during the past year. It considered their feelings about their peers, community, and school environments as potential factors related to educational success. Finally, some attention was given to the impact of their attitudes and behavior concerning educational and life outcomes. Although the focus of this project is oriented explicitly toward Black male student populations in Delaware, the findings have implications and benefits for other disadvantaged and educationally underperforming males.
In 1967, President Lyndon B. Johnson established the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disord... more In 1967, President Lyndon B. Johnson established the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders to examine why race relations in the United States were in such a state of confusion that it had resulted in civil disturbances. By 1968, the trajectory of race relations and racial disparities, with regard to the quality of life and standards of living, were such that the commission wrote, “Our nation is moving toward two societies, one Black, one White, separate and unequal.” Since the start of the twenty-first century, economic recessions, natural disasters, and civil unrest have exposed the continuation of pervasive differences in the perceptions of racial progress between Blacks and Whites. This article aims to examine perceptions of racial progress and the continuation of unfair racial treatment within the context of the commission’s “two nations” thesis. The findings of this article suggest that Blacks remain considerably more pessimistic than Whites about the state of racial ...
This paper seeks to contribute to the literature by thinking about political mobilisation within ... more This paper seeks to contribute to the literature by thinking about political mobilisation within black communities as a socio-political phenomenon. It is implied that sociopolitical factors (such as culture, historicalpatterns, political behavior, social structure, and the functioning of community institutions and leaders) influence the black population\u27s ability to mobilise for the creation of an effective community development agenda. More specifically, this paper expands our understanding of the challenges of mobilising black populations for the purposes of capacity building and development in areas where blacks constitute a critical mass (i.e. urban and inner city communities). Among the findings are that, for purposes of building capacity and community development, political mobilisation must be understood for it is situated in very complex and unique social andpolitical contexts. That the internalpolitical dynamics of black politics today poses a greater challenge than the ...
More than six decades after the historic Brown vs Board of Education Supreme Court decision, whic... more More than six decades after the historic Brown vs Board of Education Supreme Court decision, which desegregated the nation’s schools, a significant achievement gap between Black and White students still remains. Theodore J. Davis, Jr argues that the slow progress in closing this gap comes down to the politics of race, involving past and present discriminatory institutional policies and practices, and the politics of education, which has contributed to the rise of alternative schooling, the re-segregating of public schools, and conflict over the allocation public education resources.
1: Black Politics Today: The Evolution 2: A Community in Transition and Dividing by Class 3: The ... more 1: Black Politics Today: The Evolution 2: A Community in Transition and Dividing by Class 3: The Foundations for a Political Divide 4: Attitudes and Perceptions in Black and White: What They Suggests About Race and Politics 5: Blacks' Public Opinion Today: A Question of Consensus 6: Black Politics and the Continuing Struggle for Political Influence in the Socioeconomic Transition Era 7: Black Political Leadership Today 8: Beyond Socioeconomic Status: Other Factors Influencing Black Politics Today
This article examines differences in the income status of black and white populations in Southern... more This article examines differences in the income status of black and white populations in Southern nonmetropolitan counties and discusses how various labor market, social, and human capital characteristics influence the income status of the respective groups. The data show an inconsistent pattern between black and white populations’ income level in Southern nonmetropolitan counties. The data also show that various structural/institutional (e.g., local labor market and human capital) and social/cultural (e.g., population) factors affect the income of black and white populations differently.
This paper suggests that before racial minorities (in this case blacks) become full participants ... more This paper suggests that before racial minorities (in this case blacks) become full participants in the political decision making process, they must go through a process defined [n this paper as the "politics of inclusion". It offers a framework for understanding Lucius Barker s (I983) discussion of the politics of inclusion. This framework assumes that the relationship between the political majority and political minorities have political and social dimensions, and at the center of the relationship is the struggle to either maintain or change the status quo. In essence, majority 'minority group politics involve more than one group's effort to influence the a/location of society s resources and values; it also involves understanding the shared relationship between politically advantaged and disadvantaged groups. The politics of inclusion involves understanding the socio-political relationship between political majority and political minorities, and that the end result of the process is the ''politics of normalcy". Understanding the politics of inclusion and its influence on the behavior of political minorities is especially significant because of America s racial past and histo1y of political exclusion.
Between 1965 and 1968, race relations in the U.S. existed in a state of confusion that resulted i... more Between 1965 and 1968, race relations in the U.S. existed in a state of confusion that resulted in civil disturbances. Wilmington, Delaware was one of many cities that experienced civil unrest and racial tension. In 1967, President Lyndon B. Johnson established the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders to answer three fundamental questions: what happened, why it happened, and what can be done to prevent it from happening again. The Commission would later become known as the Kerner Commission after Otto Kerner, the chair of the Commission. In 1968, the trajectory of race relations and racial disparities in the quality of life and standards of living were such that the Kerner Commission wrote that " Our nation is moving toward two societies, one Black, one White, separate and unequal. " The top four grievances identified by Blacks in late 1960 according to the Kerner Commission Report were: 1) unethical police practices, 2) unemployment and underemployment, 3) inadequate housing and 4) inadequate education. The aim of this paper is to consider if the racial disparities that led to civil unrest in Delaware in 1968 continue to persist 50 years after the Kerner Commission Report. In Delaware, the findings show that nearly 50 years after the Kerner Commission Report: 1) racial disparities in education, employment, income, and housing remain a serious issue, 2) Blacks and Whites differ in their perceptions of what are the most important problems facing the state, and 3) racial differences in perceptions of fairness of police practices and the justice system remain deep
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