In the Balance of Power — 2008 ·

Independent Black Politics and Third-Party Movements in the United States

Foreword by Eric Foner

“Ali presents an important survey of the most popular independent and third party movements among African Americans since the founding of the country [and] captures the most important nuances of the ways that African Americans have fought for their own political and economic interests.”

Journal of African American Studies

“This timely book tracks African American political activity from the Revolutionary period into the 21st century. Essentially, Ali argues that African Americans achieved greater political influence outside of the two-party system, participating in third-party politics or through independent black political movements. . . . A well-documented and well-presented argument. . . original and thought provoking. Highly recommended.”

CHOICE

“This is the first full-length scholarly work on African American political independents and their sometimes allies, African American third-party activists. No other historical work has undertaken such a longitudinal study of this group of unattached partisans over the entire sweep of American history. Minority political independents and third-party activists are voters that are in constant motion--aligning, realigning, and dealigning--fluid in their alliances and electoral support. Professor Ali's profound scholarship has finally given the disciplines of political science, history, sociology, and African American studies a holistic political portrait. It is a landmark work.”

The National Political Science Review

Show all quotes Show fewer quotes

“Ali links economics to the formation of third-party movements. . . The connections between the expanding trade union movement in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and black political activism were strengthened through third-party movements agitating for the economic advancement of the working classes confronting unrestrained and monopolistic industrial capitalism. . . . In the Balance of Power (makes) important contributions to the field of third-party politics and should prove useful to researchers.”

The Journal of African American History

“Ali details how African Americans have used independent political tactics—including creating or joining existing third parties, supporting third-party candidates, running fusion campaigns, and lobbying elected officials through powerful organizations—to advance their political and economic interests. Sometimes the outcomes were favorable, other times they were not. But without independent political pressure, progressive and social change would not have occurred. . . . Ali's overview serves as an excellent starting point for anyone interested in this topic.”

South Carolina Historical Magazine

“This is an impressive and important study. In the Balance of Power will stimulate and motivate others to think in innovative and interesting ways about the role and functions of African Americans in third-party movements as well as their attempts to break free of the partisanship that rarely delivers on their social and economic needs in America. This work will be essential reading for those political activists who are searching for ways to reform and remake the American party system.”

Hanes Walton, Jr., — Professor of Political Science, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

“One of the many virtues of Omar Ali’s account lies in highlighting the variety of political structures and strategies blacks have chosen over the course of American history in pursuing the goal of racial justice. Independent politics is not the only approach, but it has a long history, which as Ali shows, has at many points energized the black community and helped to make America a better place for all its people.”

Eric Foner — DeWitt Clinton Professor of History, Columbia University

“Omar Ali has a keen eye for the small political events that bring big social changes. He knows that outsider movements make history. And his understanding of the fragility inherent in progressive change coalitions is on point for today's upended political world. If you're an independent, or interested in the alchemy of new political paradigms, or both, In the Balance of Power is a great read.”

Jacqueline Salit — executive editor, The Neo-Independent

"In the Balance of Power was a fascinating book. . . . As an academic study and as a work of political analysis the book is an example of top-notch scholarship. More than a scholarly work, the subject matter is timely and relevant to current events."

FolkPolitics

Historically, most black voters in the United States have aligned themselves with one of the two major parties: the Republican Party from the time of the Civil War to the New Deal and, since the New Deal—and especially since the height of the modern civil rights movement—the Democratic Party. However, as In the Balance of Power convincingly demonstrates, African Americans have long been part of independent political movements and have used third parties to advance some of the most important changes in the United States, notably the abolition of slavery, the extension of voting rights, and the enforcement of civil rights.

Since the early nineteenth century, there has been an undercurrent of political independence among African Americans. They helped develop the Liberty Party in the 1840s and have continued to work with third parties to challenge the policies of the two major parties. But despite the legal gains of the modern civil rights movement, elements of Jim Crow remain deeply embedded in our electoral process.

In the Balance of Power presents a history and analysis of African American third-party movements that can help us better understand the growing diversity among black voters today.

Omar H. Ali is an associate professor of African American and Diaspora Studies at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro. A graduate of the London School of Economics, he received his Ph.D. in history from Columbia University.