UW News

January 5, 2011

Parker honored for book on African American veterans

UW News

Christopher S. Parker, an associate professor of political science, has been awarded the 2010 Ralph Bunche Award for his book, Fighting for Democracy: Black Veterans and the Struggle Against White Supremacy in the Postwar South (Princeton University Press).

Christopher S. Parker and his book, 'Fighting for Democracy: Black Veterans and the Struggle Against White Supremacy in the Postwar South.'

Christopher S. Parker and his book, "Fighting for Democracy: Black Veterans and the Struggle Against White Supremacy in the Postwar South."

Bestowed annually by the American Political Science Association, the award recognizes the best scholarly work that explores ethnic and cultural pluralism.

Parker uses historical evidence, personal interviews and analysis of survey data to argue that service in World War II emboldened black soldiers to demand their civil rights.

The three-person committee who selected Parkers book placed it in the context of rights and responsibilities: “Parkers beautifully written narrative of African American soldiers in the postwar South lays bare how this republican notion underlay black mens ideological and tactical resistance to Jim Crow.”