Reading and Leading: Interviews With RBPE Editors About the Past and the Future of the Review

The Review of Black Political Economy has been a leader on issues of race and economics, politics, sociology and area studies. After half a century of shaping minds, critical ideas and arguments, the time has come to look back and ask the editors of the Review what they saw when they were at the helm, and what they see ahead. While all their views are different, common themes emerged: 1. The need to embrace new technologies, 2. Making the Review the first pick for top scholars, 3. Relevancy in the post-civil rights era, and 4. Finance for the 21st century.

Lloyd Leroy Hogan

Lloyd Leroy Hogan was the first permanent editor of The Review of Black Political Economy who edited Volumes IV through XI. Under his leadership, The Review became a primary journal devoted to understanding the forces and policies that influence the economic, social, and political forces that influence the well-being of African Americans; Third World economies, particularly those in Africa; and other members of the African diaspora. This article presents an overview of Hogan’s career and his contribution to the development of The Review.

Introduction to the Special Edition of the Review of Black Political Economy on Revisiting the Kerner Commission Report

Revisiting the work of the Kerner Commission after 50 years offers the opportunity to explore two unresolved research and policy issues. First, many of the racial disparities that promoted widespread disorder and violent protests in 1967-1968 remain today. Second, there is the embarrassment of not having any African American researchers on the technical staff examining the causes and consequences of racial disparities in economic outcomes. This special edition of the Review of Black Political Economy ( RBPE), with generous support from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, explores these two themes.

The National Economic Association at 50: Getting Back to Our Roots

The National Economic Association (NEA) started out as the Caucus of Black Economists in December 1969. At the onset of the 50th Anniversary of the NEA’s founding, this presidential address looks at the organization’s past, present, and future to improve the prospects for current and future African American economists. Three recommendations are offered: support The Review of Black Political Economy, the NEA’s journal; help develop regional student chapters; and continue to foster allies that are aligned with the NEA’s mission. The Economics field needs to be better about becoming diverse and inclusive, and the NEA can lead the movement toward those goals.