The Difference in Political Participation Rates Between Second-Generation Black Americans and Third-Plus-Generation Black Americans

Gibson Thomas, University of Pennsylvania

Abstract

This study uses data from the Cooperative Election Study (CES), as well as data from interviews that I conducted at the University of Pennsylvania to determine whether or not their was a difference in voting behavior and opinions on voting between Black American second-generation Americans (children of immigrants) and third-plus-generation Black Americans (children of non-immigrants). This research is important to conduct, as second-generation Black Americans make up a fast-growing population in the United States. My quantitative results show that third-plus-generation Black Americans vote at higher rates than second-generation Black Americans, as third-plus-generation Black Americans tend to be older and older people tend to vote at higher rates than younger people. When controlling for age, though, there is actually no difference in voting behavior between the two groups. In terms of my qualitative results, I find that of the people that I interviewed, third-plus-generation Black Americans tend to have different motivations to vote than second-generation Black Americans. Additionally, the groups also have differing perceptions of the importance of voting from one another. Overall, my most convincing and generalizable finding is that on the whole, third-plus generation Black Americans vote at a higher rate than second-generation Black Americans, but within the same age groups, there is no difference between the two groups.

Discipline(s)

African American Studies | American Politics

Suggested Citation

Thomas, Gibson, "The Difference in Political Participation Rates Between Second-Generation Black Americans and Third-Plus-Generation Black Americans" 29 March 2023. CUREJ: College Undergraduate Research Electronic Journal, University of Pennsylvania, https://repository.upenn.edu/curej/271.