Race and Ethnicity as Foundational Forces in Political Communication: Special Issue Introduction

Despite the centrality of race and ethnicity in social political life, they are often absent from studies urgent questions contemporary communication research. In this essay introducing a special issue focused on “Race Ethnicity as Foundational Forces Political Communication,” we examine factors that may contribute to relative absence race/ethnicity scholarship, including: 1) structural inequalities field, 2) contested conceptualizations race, 3) domination certain epistemological methodological traditions. We introduce articles means moving toward richer integration into field’s “big questions” expanding boundaries field itself. making case for more robust conversation about communication, note crucial areas self-reflection, debate, inspiration.