Kentucky State University dean authors book on public policy,  American politics and African American history

Kentucky State University dean authors book on public policy, American politics and African American history

Posted on June 21, 2019

A Kentucky State University dean has authored a book on public policy, American politics and African American history.

Erik Brooks, a Kentucky State professor and dean whose research delves into public policy, American politics, and African American history has authored a book examining the American presidency through the prism of race and race relations in the United States. The book, African Americans and the Presidents, is published by Greenwood Press.

The book reveals a long and complicated relationship between the U.S. presidency and the African American community. The book evaluates each of the 45 American president’s policies, cabinet appointments, and handling of race matters in the United States and takes an insightful examination of each American president’s life and career as well as the policies enacted during his presidency that affected the African American community.

“The idea came to me a few years ago while I was watching a documentary on the racial integration of the U.S. military and how the president was integral in this mandate,” Brooks said. “I began looking for a book or manuscript that would educate me on how all of the presidents and their policies have dealt with black people.”

To his dismay, Brooks could not find a book to satisfy his intellectual curiosity on the subject.

“I could not find what I was looking for and enclosed in a single volume, so I decided to do it myself. I called up my long-time writing collaborator (Glenn Starks) and pitched the idea and as they say, the rest is history,” Brooks said.

In discussing the book Brooks noted, “We take a look at each president and frame their views on the issue of race and how they dealt with race before, during, and after their presidency. I am proud of how we have synthesized this information and produced new knowledge.”

The book’s cover, African American hands holding a presidential shield, is symbolic because most of the country’s early infrastructure was built with the hands of unpaid black labor and this allowed the country to quickly financially prosper.

Brooks expects the audience for this book to be anyone who wants to know more about African American history, American politics and public policy.

Brooks is the author, co-author, or editor of 12 books.

Brooks is the dean of humanities and social sciences and director of the Whitney Young Honors Collegium at Kentucky State University. He holds a doctorate in public policy and administration from Virginia Commonwealth University’s L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs.