Michael Jackson's intellectual interests and personal passions are borne from his compelling life journey and the innocent stubbornness of a child asking, "why?" He was raised by a loving single mother and older sister in the post-industrial urban blight of Camden, New Jersey during the HIV/AIDS & crack cocaine epidemics of the 1980s. Michael witnessed and experienced firsthand the ways in which politics, public policy, and the decisions of a few can greatly impact people's lives for the good and the bad. He grew up watching not only the institutional disregard for, and demonization of the poor, but also the impact on the way poor communities of color feel and see themselves and their possibilities. 

Michael not only has been one of America's often forgotten poor children of color, but also a childhood caretaker to a disabled mother, a struggling working poor parent, and an ivy league Ph.D. student. These and other experiences have afforded him a unique perspective on issues, problems, and solutions.

His insight, interests, and analysis are, therefore, shaped by a desire to demystify and destigmatize institutions, individuals, and systems of power to African diasporic peoples and poor communities of color. Therefore, Michael strives to bring this unique perspective to his examination of public policy, politics, news, and culture to acheive this goal.

 

Michael's research and writing background include a focus on the political implications of growing class, generational, and geographic distinctions within communities of color. Specific areas of academic interest are how race and class intersect to maintain the socio-economic disparity between African Americans and the larger American society and thereby result in negatively affecting their political incorporation, participation, and efficacy. The goal of this research is to increase African American political participation in areas not exclusive to electoral voting and achieve political incorporation and substantive representation. More specifically, by examining the political behavior and ideology of subgroups within the African American community (Africans, Afro-Caribbean’s, and African American) in order to develop tools that better politically mobilize the African American community, and enhance the general research of the political opinions and political behaviors of communities of color.

 

Some of his previous work experience includes research assistant at Thriving Cities Group, Demos, and as part of the evaluation team for The California Votes Initiative to increase voter turnout among low propensity communities in Central and Southern California and as a teaching assistant at Columbia University. Michael authored various political blogs and an article in the journal East Bay Politica entitled, "The Browning of Europe: A Comparative Analysis of British, French, and German Reaction to Postwar Immigration". 

 

Michael Jackson is a political analyst/researcher and freelance writer/editor living in New York City. He holds a B.A. in political science with a concentration in American Politics & Urban Studies from California State University, East Bay and was formerly graduate fellow at the Columbia University Graduate School of Arts & Sciences' Ph.D program.