For those following the 2016 national elections, MSNBC correspondent Joy-Ann Reid (former host of The Reid Report) has provided a fascinating primer. Fracture: Barack Obama, the Clintons, and the Racial Divide outlines the role of race in national politics from the 1960s to the present, weaving together popular culture, policy and a wealth of research.
One chapter--titled "Kanye"--picks apart the profound and surprising cultural impact of Kanye West's infamous outburst against George W. Bush during a fundraising segment for Hurricane Katrina (an incident that Bush later described as "the worst moment of his presidency"). It's a compelling examination of the incident, but Reid then goes on to show that West's words fit within the ever-evolving narrative of race relations in national politics. By looking at how then-Senator Barack Obama responded to both West's statement and to Hurricane Katrina in general, she illuminates the strange role that race has always played in the president's career. When Obama initially ran for office, Reid points out, critics rushed to compare him to Hillary Clinton, who despite being Caucasian, began the 2004 elections more established among (and in many cases more trusted by) older civil rights leaders.
Reid appears regularly on Hardball with Chris Matthews and The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell, and was involved with both the 2004 and 2008 national political campaigns. Having worked in media for nearly 20 years, she is well positioned to speak on political issues. --Annie Atherton