ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the ways in which racial and ethnic minorities participate in the political system. It highlights the fact that in the political game, each of the racial and ethnic minorities has been at a disadvantage, despite its efforts to be active in the polity. Actual or perceived group cohesion has been identified in political science research as being strongly associated with increased levels of political participation among racial and ethnic minority groups in the United States. High levels of group cohesion may translate into increased levels of political participation, especially registering to vote and actually voting, by racial minority groups. Racial and ethnic minority groups have frequently turned to the courts in an attempt to improve their positions because victories in the courts are more likely to be determined by an appeal to what is right than merely to what is politically popular.
