Americans Governing

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Marshall Curry's Academy Award-nominated film Street Fight is the story of Cory Booker's campaign for Mayor of Newark, New Jersey, in 2002. Booker, a young lawyer and city councilman, ran against longtime incumbent Sharpe James in a campaign marked by racial tension, lies, and powerful threats. While Booker lost the race against James by a vote of 47 to 53 percent, he ran again in 2006 against Deputy Mayor Ronald Rice and soundly defeated his opponent.

When Politics Is Black and White

The narrator says that this election was to be won and lost in the streets. What does he mean?

Why does Booker live in Brick Towers?

The narrator says, "Once James takes the stage, it becomes obvious why he has never lost an election." What do you think it is about James that appeals to the crowd? Would he appeal to every crowd? Why or why not?

How do Sharpe James and Cory Booker attempt to influence public opinion? What is the role of information in their strategies?

Image Matters

Booker is associated with whites, Jews, and Republicans by the James campaign. Why is it important to Booker that the black community know he is a black Democrat?

Does this documentary footage make you feel better or worse about politics? Why?

Political socialization is the process by which we learn about the political world and develop our beliefs about that world. From these two clips, who or what do you think has influenced the political socialization of these candidates and voters?