ABSTRACT
Race is an enduring piece of the American political fabric. One cannot truly be a student of American politics without also being familiar with the politics of race and the political behaviors of America's racial minority groups. Blacks are likely to have stereotypic attitudes toward Asians and Latinos, Asians toward blacks and Latinos, and Latinos toward Asians and blacks. Blacks are not likely to shift dramatically from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party, primarily because the Republican Party is moving farther away from the issues of importance to the national black community. African Americans, American Indians, Latinos, and Asian Americans are citizens, and no one questions whether the protections and privileges embodied in the Constitution apply to all citizens. Also, the right to vote is an accepted principle, and denial of the right to vote on the basis of color is prohibited—at least in theory.
