Todd Shaw is Assistant Professor of Political Science and African American Studies at the University of South Carolina.

• Acknowledgments ixIntroduction. The Right Tactic, Time, and Place 1Part I. From Black Politics to Grassroots Protest 1. Making Black Activism Matter 13Part II. Black Grassroots Activism and Accountability in Detroit, 1933–1993 2. Where are the People? Early Black Housing Poverty and Grassroots Activism 393. Trading Activism: The Young Regime and the Context of Black Politics 644. Picking Up Spears: The Timing and Utility of Renewed Activism 855. Holding Them Responsible: Community Development Activism 1066. Now Is the Time!: Public Housing and Anti-Homelessness Activism 133Part III. Black Grassroots Activism after Young and beyond Detroit, 1993–2005 7. A Change is Gonna Come? The Archer Regime and Housing Politics beyond Detroit 163Epilogue. More than a Drop: The Visions of Black Grassroots Activism 191Appendix 1 197Appendix 2 201Notes 209Bibliography 245Index 279

“Now Is the Time! is a valuable and significant contribution to black and urban politics as well as social movement studies. Todd C. Shaw gives us a deep analysis and rich description of the conditions under which poor and marginalized people may make their voices heard. His interviews yield more than data-the words of the activists make us feel the tenor of the times, and help us understand what motivates activists as well as politicians to fix a problem. Anyone concerned about the conditions of our urban communities needs to read this book.”-Andrea Y. Simpson, author of The Tie That Binds: Identity and Political Attitudes in the Post-Civil Rights Generation “What makes this book so significant is that it places African-American politics within the context of grassroots organizing and local coalition-building. Using the case of Detroit and focusing on the mayoralty of Coleman A. Young, Todd C. Shaw explores how grassroots groups have organized and mobilized in Detroit around low-income and affordable housing. In particular, it explores how these groups have strategized during Young’s long reign. This book is a must read for those interested in racial politics, urban politics, and urban housing policy.”-Marion Orr, Fred Lippitt Professor of Public Policy and Political Science, Brown University