The previous chapter revealed Afro-Caribbean immigrants' ties to the home country make for notable differences in how they and their African-American counterparts understand what it means to be black in this country and respond to racial discrimination. The next logical step in the analysis is to determine whether those differences translate to political behavior. Do the differences in group identity uncovered in the previous chapter extend to political behavior and attitudes? Or do these two groups of black ethnics pursue similar options in their attempts to achieve political representation and influence? This question takes us full circle to a key empirical focus of the book: ascertaining whether Afro-Caribbeans are following the same path to political incorporation as their native-born black counterparts.

Addressing this fundamental question requires taking a closer look at the political attitudes and behavior of New York's Afro-Caribbean immigrants. Have these black ethnics developed the same political views or outlook as their African-American counterparts? Or do they subscribe to a different set of political opinions? Have Afro-Caribbeans begun to make the same demands for racial redistribution and systemic reform African Americans made in their own earlier bids for political inclusion? Or have these foreign-born blacks pursued an alternative course?

To address these questions, this chapter dissects the newly emerging Afro-Caribbean ethnic politics. First, I consider which kinds of policy interests and political claims Afro-Caribbean leaders have advanced on behalf of their immigrant constituents – to see whether they mirror or deviate from the patterns established by African Americans.