"Katherine Tate's new empirical work on African American public opinion moves the field into a wholly new direction. Instead of analyzing the diverse ideologies within this public opinion, this bold and novel pioneering work assesses and evaluates the dynamism in this opinion between 1970 to 2004 with insights from 2008...This book is a fascinating read. It is also a brilliant and original work."ùHanes Walton Jr., The University of Michigan<BR><BR>In political opinion surveys from the 1950's through the 1970's, African Americans were consistently among the most liberal groups in the United States and were much further to left than White Americans on most issues. Starting in the 1980's, Black public opinion began to move to the center, and this trend has deepened since. Why is this the case? <BR><BR>Katherine Tate contends that Black political incorporation and increased affluence since the civil rights movement have made Black politics and public opinion more moderate over time. Black leaders now have greater opportunity to participate in mainstream politics, and Blacks look to elected officials rather than to activists for political leadership. Black socioeconomic concerns have moved to the center as poverty has declined and their economic opportunities have improved.<BR><BR>Based on analysis of public opinion data from the 1970's to the present, Tate examines how Black opinions on welfare, affirmative action, crime control, school vouchers, civil rights for other minorities, immigration, the environment, and U.S. foreign policy have changed.<BR><BR>"What's Going On? is a provocative and informative examination of African American public opinion. Scholars of Black politics will consult and debate this important work for many years to come."ùVincent Hutchings, Institute for Social Research, The University of Michigan