Conventional political wisdom states that getting people angry is a good way to get them to vote. My guest today, Professor Davin Phoenix, argues in his recent book, The Anger Gap: How Race Shapes Emotion in Politics, that for African-Americans, and other communities of color, anger functions differently. Because their grievances are not taken seriously by the political establishment, anger inhibits rather than encourages formal political participation – like voting – but encourages system-challenging behavior like protests and boycotts. Professor Phoenix and I talk about the role of race and emotions in politics, how we should understand the present political moment, and what all of this means for politics moving forward.

• You can learn more about Professor Phoenix’s work by visiting his website at https://davinphoenixphd.com/ or follow him on twitter @Davin_Phoenix.
• His book, The Anger Gap: How Race Shapes Emotion in Politics is available now from Cambridge University Press.
• Professor Phoenix was recently interviewed on KPCC’s “AirTalk” about protests against police violence and recently published an Opinion piece in The New York Times on the anger gap.
• You can read about his ongoing research about protests and police reform in The Washington Post’s “The Monkey Cage:” https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/06/11/will-floyd-protests-lead-police-reform-heres-what-we-know/
• Music: https://www.purple-planet.com
• Learn more about the show, and subscribe to our newsletter at www.oxypoli-cast.oxycreates.org
• Learn more about the Politics Department at Occidental College at: https://www.oxy.edu/academics/areas-study/politics