New Books in African American Studies

Marion Orr, "House of Diggs: The Rise and Fall of America's Most Consequential Black Congressman, Charles C. Diggs Jr." (UNC Press, 2025)


Listen Later

At the height of the civil rights movement, Charles C. Diggs Jr. (1922-1998) was the consummate power broker. In a political career spanning 1951 to 1980, Diggs, Michigan's first Black member of Congress, was the only federal official to attend the trial of Emmett Till's killers, worked behind the scenes with Martin Luther King Jr., and founded the Congressional Black Caucus. He was also the chief architect of legislation that restored home rule to Washington, DC, and almost single-handedly ignited the American anti-apartheid movement in the 1960s. Drawing on extensive archival research, including Diggs's rarely seen personal papers, FBI documents, and original interviews with family members and political associates, political scientist Marion Orr reveals that Diggs practiced a politics of strategic moderation. Orr argues that this quiet approach was more effective than the militant race politics practiced by Adam Clayton Powell and more appealing than the conservative Chicago-style approach of William Dawson--two of Diggs's better-known Black contemporaries.
Vividly written and deeply researched, House of Diggs is the first biography of Congressman Charles C. Diggs Jr., one of the most consequential Black federal legislators in US history. Congressman Diggs was a legislative lion whose unfortunate downfall punctuated his distinguished career and pushed him and his historic accomplishments out of sight. Now, for the first time, House of Diggs restores him to his much-deserved place in the history of American politics.

Marion Orr is the Frederick Lippitt Professor of Public Policy and professor of political science and urban studies at Brown University.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/african-american-studies

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

New Books in African American StudiesBy New Books Network

  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5
  • 4.5

4.5

163 ratings


More shows like New Books in African American Studies

View all
Democracy Now! Audio by Democracy Now!

Democracy Now! Audio

5,697 Listeners

New Books in History by Marshall Poe

New Books in History

212 Listeners

New Books in Psychoanalysis by Marshall Poe

New Books in Psychoanalysis

189 Listeners

New Books in Military History by Marshall Poe

New Books in Military History

161 Listeners

New Books in Anthropology by New Books Network

New Books in Anthropology

50 Listeners

New Books in Political Science by New Books Network

New Books in Political Science

64 Listeners

New Books in Sociology by New Books Network

New Books in Sociology

47 Listeners

New Books in Philosophy by New Books Network

New Books in Philosophy

110 Listeners

New Books in Native American Studies by Marshall Poe

New Books in Native American Studies

104 Listeners

New Books in Critical Theory by Marshall Poe

New Books in Critical Theory

150 Listeners

New Books in Intellectual History by New Books Network

New Books in Intellectual History

61 Listeners

Jacobin Radio by Jacobin

Jacobin Radio

1,445 Listeners

Reveal by The Center for Investigative Reporting and PRX

Reveal

8,287 Listeners

The Dig by Daniel Denvir

The Dig

1,564 Listeners

Code Switch by NPR

Code Switch

14,583 Listeners

Rev Left Radio by Revolutionary Left Radio

Rev Left Radio

3,300 Listeners

Pod Save the People by Crooked Media

Pod Save the People

8,779 Listeners

Teaching Hard History by Learning for Justice

Teaching Hard History

589 Listeners

The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily by American Public Media

The Slowdown: Poetry & Reflection Daily

1,207 Listeners

The Red Nation Podcast by The Red Nation

The Red Nation Podcast

998 Listeners

Home Cooking by Samin Nosrat & Hrishikesh Hirway

Home Cooking

4,849 Listeners

What's Left of Philosophy by Lillian Cicerchia, Owen Glyn-Williams, Gil Morejón, and William Paris

What's Left of Philosophy

261 Listeners

Lever Time by David Sirota

Lever Time

559 Listeners

Ordinary Unhappiness by Patrick & Abby

Ordinary Unhappiness

219 Listeners