Acknowledgments  ix

Introduction. The Right Tactic, Time, and Place  1

Part I. From Black Politics to Grassroots Protest  

1. Making Black Activism Matter  13

Part II. Black Grassroots Activism and Accountability in Detroit, 19331993  

2. Where are the People? Early Black Housing Poverty and Grassroots Activism  39

3. Trading Activism: The Young Regime and the Context of Black Politics  64

4. Picking Up Spears: The Timing and Utility of Renewed Activism  85

5. Holding Them Responsible: Community Development Activism  106

6. Now Is the Time!: Public Housing and Anti-Homelessness Activism  133

Part III. Black Grassroots Activism after Young and beyond Detroit, 19932005  

7. A Change is Gonna Come? The Archer Regime and Housing Politics beyond Detroit  163

Epilogue. More than a Drop: The Visions of Black Grassroots Activism  191

Appendix 1  197

Appendix 2  201

Notes  209

Bibliography  245

Index  279

Winner, W. E. B. Du Bois Distinguished Book Award

“[Shaw’s] study, based on interviews with activists and government officials, contributes to an understanding of the often-overlooked struggles against urban retrenchment in the 1980s and 1990s.”—Karen R. Miller, Journal of American History

“Students of community activism, black politics, and social movements will find this to be a rich resource. . . . For those eager and willing to explore how and when the boundaries of electoral and black politics can be expanded, or at the very least challenged, by black activism, this book will be an interesting read.”—Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore, Political Science Quarterly

“The book is also a well-researched addition to the body of literature that analyses how cleavages in blacks’ collective identity affect black politics and
social movements. . . . Now is the Time is recommended for social movements, urban politics and black politics scholars, particularly those interested in predicting and evaluating movement outcomes.”— Glenn Bracey, Ethnic and Racial Studies

“Shaw’s text is significant for anyone interested in grassroots activism, issues of affordable housing, or the relationship between activism and the political sphere. . . . In today’s era of active citizenship and social volunteerism, Shaw’s book leaves a textual legacy of those who actively engaged their communities and political leaders despite economic, gender, and racial divides.”—Stacia Kock, thirdspace

“Now is the Time! is . . . a timely book that offers an important corrective to recent works on Detroit, and provides crucial lessons for activists and academics who are committed to developing more equitable and democratic lives for low-income residents.”—David Goldberg, American Studies

Winner, W. E. B. Du Bois Distinguished Book Award

“[Shaw’s] study, based on interviews with activists and government officials, contributes to an understanding of the often-overlooked struggles against urban retrenchment in the 1980s and 1990s.”—Karen R. Miller, Journal of American History

“Students of community activism, black politics, and social movements will find this to be a rich resource. . . . For those eager and willing to explore how and when the boundaries of electoral and black politics can be expanded, or at the very least challenged, by black activism, this book will be an interesting read.”—Cynthia Jackson-Elmoore, Political Science Quarterly

“The book is also a well-researched addition to the body of literature that analyses how cleavages in blacks’ collective identity affect black politics and
social movements. . . . Now is the Time is recommended for social movements, urban politics and black politics scholars, particularly those interested in predicting and evaluating movement outcomes.”— Glenn Bracey, Ethnic and Racial Studies

“Shaw’s text is significant for anyone interested in grassroots activism, issues of affordable housing, or the relationship between activism and the political sphere. . . . In today’s era of active citizenship and social volunteerism, Shaw’s book leaves a textual legacy of those who actively engaged their communities and political leaders despite economic, gender, and racial divides.”—Stacia Kock, thirdspace

“Now is the Time! is . . . a timely book that offers an important corrective to recent works on Detroit, and provides crucial lessons for activists and academics who are committed to developing more equitable and democratic lives for low-income residents.”—David Goldberg, American Studies

“Now Is the Time! is a valuable and significant contribution to black and urban politics as well as social movement studies. Todd C. Shaw gives us a deep analysis and rich description of the conditions under which poor and marginalized people may make their voices heard. His interviews yield more than data—the words of the activists make us feel the tenor of the times, and help us understand what motivates activists as well as politicians to fix a problem. Anyone concerned about the conditions of our urban communities needs to read this book.”—Andrea Y. Simpson, author of The Tie That Binds: Identity and Political Attitudes in the Post-Civil Rights Generation

“What makes this book so significant is that it places African-American politics within the context of grassroots organizing and local coalition-building. Using the case of Detroit and focusing on the mayoralty of Coleman A. Young, Todd C. Shaw explores how grassroots groups have organized and mobilized in Detroit around low-income and affordable housing. In particular, it explores how these groups have strategized during Young’s long reign. This book is a must read for those interested in racial politics, urban politics, and urban housing policy.”—Marion Orr, Fred Lippitt Professor of Public Policy and Political Science, Brown University

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