Professor Jane Rhodes speaks with The Atlantic
The Atlantic magazine interviewed Jane Rhodes, UIC professor and head of African American studies, in an article about 2020 Democratic presidential candidates engaging African-American voters through black media outlets and sponsored forums. Rhodes, who notes that the Chicago Defender played a role in the political rise of former President Obama, says the candidates’ black media efforts serve as a good first-step but shouldn’t replace genuine community engagement.
Jane Rhodes' quoted in Atlantic article Heading link
Rhodes applauded how the candidates, overall, are focused on issues crucial to many black voters, such as education and housing. But she cautioned that the candidates’ investment in black media is no substitute for really engaging the community. “My view is that it’s a quick one-off. It can be a way to appear that you care about black communities, but are you really spending time there?” Rhodes said.
| manager editor of The Atlantic magazine