Award Date

5-15-2026

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Sociology

First Committee Member

Robert Futrell

Second Committee Member

Tirth Bhatta

Third Committee Member

Courtney Carter

Fourth Committee Member

Elizabeth Maltby

Number of Pages

191

Abstract

This dissertation moves the discussion of Black candidates economic policies beyond race to understand how Black candidates participate in racial capitalism. Using a mixed-methods approach, including textual analysis, and multinomial logistic regressions, I interrogate how 374 Black candidates navigate economic framing. Candidates use four distinct economic frames, three of which are rooted in neoliberalism, traditional, welfare state, progressive, and vague values. I present the findings in three papers which examine framing via textual analysis, the intra-categorical differences, and differences by congressional district demographics. In the first paper I show that Black candidates framing of economic issues reinforces racial capitalism even if language of black uplift is used. The second paper examines the intra-categorical differences between candidates and finds that education, religion, and immigration status are significant predictors of economic frames used by Black candidates. The final paper shows that congressional district demographics and political demographics such as unemployment race and running against other Black people can predict economic framing a candidate uses. I measure the relative risk that a candidates will select traditional, progressive or vague value framing over welfare state. This research allows sociologist to more accurately situate Black candidates in the system of racial capitalism and understand how candidates perpetuate economic inequality.

Keywords

Black Politics; Elections; Framing; Intersectionality; Neoliberalism; Racial Capitalism

Disciplines

African American Studies | American Studies | Political Science | Race and Ethnicity | Sociology

File Format

PDF

File Size

1549 KB

Degree Grantor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Language

English

Rights

IN COPYRIGHT. For more information about this rights statement, please visit http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

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