Polite Protest: The Political Economy of Race in Indianapolis, 1920-1970

by Richard B. Pierce

This history of the black community of Indianapolis in the 20th century focuses on methods of political action―protracted negotiations, interracial coalitions, petition, and legal challenge―employed to secure their civil rights. These methods of "polite protest" set Indianapolis apart from many Northern cities. Richard B. Pierce looks at how the black community worked to alter the political and social culture of Indianapolis. As local leaders became concerned with the city's image, black leaders found it possible to achieve gains by working with whites inside the existing power structure, while continuing to press for further reform and advancement. Pierce describes how Indianapolis differed from its Northern cousins such as Milwaukee, Chicago, and Detroit. Here, the city's people, black and white, created their own patterns and platforms of racial relations in the public and cultural spheres.

Genres: History

168 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

Reviews

[Paul Mullins · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoughtful and compelling case study about the civil rights experience in one community that strips away false heroicism, recognizes the complicated negotiations along class and color lines that were part of the human rights struggle, and paints a sober if not especially rosy picture of the long-term effects of 20th century anti-racist activism. This is a brief but absolutely thorough case study, very accessible and quite creative.

[Jack Heller · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a quick read, with an academic focus on public policy rather than on people's stories. It has some value, though a reader won't know much about the lived experience of the segregationist policies.