The Role of African American Males in Politics and Government

This article examines the contributions of African American males to government and politics during the latter half of the twentieth century. More specifically, it chronicles the careers of Kweisi Mfume, Colin Powell, J. C. Watts, Jr., Ralph Bunche, Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., Andrew Young, Jr., and Edward Brooke. The purpose of this critical analysis is threefold: (1) to present a historical overview of prominent African American males in the executive, judicial, and legislative branches of government as well as state and local government; (2) to discuss crucial variables that determined the selection of individuals to be examined in this case study, upon which the author's typology is based, and to reflect critically upon the unique contributions of the seven aforementioned individuals to national and international affairs; and (3) to explore some future implications for black males in the totality of the current American political spectrum. This study takes on considerable magnitude given the fact that it delineates the closing of the twentieth century and the entrance into the new millennium.