The Black Representative of the White Electorate

There is a great article in the NY Times Magazine by Nicholas Dawidoff entitled Race in the South in the Age of Obama. The article, which is beautifully written, brings to light local black politicians in places in the deep South who have managed to win elections in predominantly white electoral districts. The Article raises two questions for me. First, what does it cost black elected officials (or would be elected officials) to run for office in predominantly white electoral districts in the deep South. Second, are these black elected officials indicators of the future of black politics. Put differently, are we witnessing the demise of the justification for majority-minority districts (districts in which voters of color--the minority--are the majority of the electorate)? In this post, I will address the first question.