The Last Plantation - by James R Jones (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

A revealing look at the covert and institutionalized racism lurking in the congressional workplace

Racism continues to infuse Congress's daily practice of lawmaking and shape who obtains congressional employment. In this timely and provocative book, James Jones reveals how and why many who work in Congress call it the "Last Plantation." He shows that even as the civil rights movement gained momentum in the 1960s and antidiscrimination laws were implemented across the nation, Congress remained exempt from federal workplace protections for decades. These exemptions institutionalized inequality in the congressional workplace well into the twenty-first century.

Combining groundbreaking research and compelling firsthand accounts from scores of congressional staffers, Jones uncovers the hidden dynamics of power, privilege, and resistance in Congress. He reveals how failures of racial representation among congressional staffers reverberate throughout the American political system and demonstrates how the absence of diverse perspectives hampers the creation of just legislation. Centering the experiences of Black workers within this complex landscape, he provides valuable insights into the problems they face, the barriers that hinder their progress, and the ways they contest entrenched inequality.

A must-read for anyone concerned about social justice and the future of our democracy, The Last Plantation exposes the mechanisms that perpetuate racial inequality in the halls of Congress and challenges us to confront and transform this unequal workplace that shapes our politics and society.

Review Quotes

"The Last Plantation holds crossover appeal for anyone interested in how congressional staffers -- whose names never make it onto legislation -- play an important role in our democratic system. . . . Jones draws upon his experience and the valuable networks he developed during his time as a congressional intern to write what I think will become the definitive book on how race and racism shape the congressional workplace."---Victor Ray, The Emancipator

"A study that denizens of the Beltway should take seriously -- precisely because it couldn't be written by political scientists, policy wonks or journalists."---Michael Schaffer, POLITICO

"Enlightening, insightful, and eloquent. . . . A timely contribution to understandings of persistent racism in American politics."-- "Choice"

"Honorable Mention for the Oliver Cromwell Cox Book Award, Racial and Ethnic Minorities Section of the American Sociological Association"

"James R. Jones's The Last Plantation provides an important case study and analysis that helps further sociological understanding of racial politics at these levels. . . . By focusing on social patterns of discrimination and racial inequalities within the halls of Congress itself, the book shines a light on a major process of racial oppression in the United States. . . . This book is of great value to policy makers, scholars, and the public."---Michael Rosino, Sociology of Race and Ethnicity

About the Author

James R. Jones is associate professor of Africana studies and sociology and director of the Sheila Y. Oliver Center for Politics and Race in America at Rutgers University, Newark.