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Show Hinckley Journal of Politics Autumn 1998 Discourse in Action: The Mobilization of the Million Man March by Richard A. Vazquez This paper seeks to apply James Scott's discourse paradigm, as expressed in Domination and the Arts of Resistance, to the mobilization processes used in the Million Man March (MMM). While Scott's paradigm is almost exclusively applied to power relationships where there is an excessively oppressive group (i.e. master/slave), the paradigm can, at least in part, be applied successfully to the MMM because of the existence of an anti-black hegemonic ideology in America. The discussion begins with an overview of Scott's discourse theory, detailing how it relates to the MMM. What follows is an analysis of the factors and organizational steps within the Black community which spurred its collective action, and a discussion of how discourse theory relates to each. The paper then proceeds with a brief evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of both macrostructural theory and rational-choice analysis as they would be applied in this case. Finally, the discussion concludes with a summation of the paper's findings. Introduction As the light of daybreak began to shine upon Washington, D.C. during the early morning hours of October 16, 1995, one could easily notice that this day would be different. From every direction Black men filed into the city, having come from all parts of America. They came to hear a message which preached atonement for past mistakes, a renewed commitment to advancing the Black race both in the home and in the business community, a dismantling of negative Black stereotypes, and a greater involvement in American politics. They would hear this message spoken by some of the most prominent Black figures in American society including the Rev. Jesse Jackson, the Rev. Benjamin Chavis, Maya Angelou, and Dr. Betty Shabazz. Possibly the most poignant message of all was delivered at day's end by the march's chief organizer, Minister Louis Farrakhan. Farrakhan used his position as leader of the Nation of Islam to formally organize and publicize the march's goals and underlying themes among African Americans nationally. When analyzing the actual mobilization of the march, however, one learns that Farrakhan actually played a relatively small role. If not for an active and widespread national discourse which transcended both class and gender within the Black community, the march would not have been possible. Although paradigms such as rational-choice analysis Richard Vasquez received a B.A. in Political Science and an Undergraduate Certificate in Public Administration from the University of Utah. He cur-rently is attending New York University Law School. (Chong 1991) and macro-structural theory (Massey and Denton 1993) may help us anticipate government reactions to the pressures applied by a social movement, discourse theory better helps us understand how that movement actually developed. The argument presented here is that the discourse paradigm, if applied to the Million Man March (MMM), can explain effectively its extensive support. This is shown by applying central points of James Scott's (1990) discourse theory to Black social, historical, and cultural factors which have contributed to the Blacks' status as an oppressed class in American society. Scott's theory is also applied to the discourse within the Black community which contributed to the organization of the MMM. This discourse shows that the movement was organized in direct opposition to an oppressive dominant ideology, fostered primarily by a Caucasian "ruling class." In the following pages, we begin with an overview of Scott's discourse theory, detailing its major assumptions, some of its controversies, and how it relates to the MMM. We then proceed to an analysis of the factors and organizational steps within the Black community that spurred its collective action and how discourse theory relates to each. Next, we evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of both macrostructural theory and rational-choice analysis as they would be applied to this particular case study. Finally, we conclude with a summation of how discourse theory relates to the MMM. Discourse Theory Scott's Discourse Paradigm Discourse theory relies on the premise that one group in soci- 67 |