Twists of Fate: Multiracial Coalitions and Minority Representation in the U.S. House of Representatives

Congress members from racial minority groups often find themselves in a unique position: Not only do they tend to represent constituencies that are more economically disadvantaged than those of their white colleagues, but they themselves also often experience marginalization while trying to do their jobs. In Twists of Fate (Oxford University Press), Vanessa C. Tyson ’98 examines the experiences of racial-minority members in the House of Representatives, and how the cross-racial coalitions they’ve built to advance broad non-discrimination agendas have led to legislative success. Tyson is assistant professor of politics at Scripps College.