Something Within

Frederick Harris wades into a perenially contentious debate: the degree to which religious experience is central to African-American political involvement and success. For the first time applying the techniques of a cultural resource model to this question, Harris makes a strong case for the formative influence of religion, both as a source of strength and often determinative in practical political consequences. Harris' argument overturns a large body of quantitative research on political activism, principally in the Chicago religious community.