The Substance of Hope

This book is a trenchant and timeless examination of the still-contested meanings of President Barack Obama's election.

Jelani Cobb investigates the civil rights movement forces that helped produce Obama's victory and inquires into how American society does and does not change.

The book, reissued with a new introduction, reflects on the seismic impact of the Obama presidency and its ongoing influence on America.

Cobb teases apart the paradoxes embodied in race and patriotism, identity and citizenship, progress and legacy, offering original insights into America's future.