The BreakthroughRecommendations

Gwen Ifill, a seasoned journalist, assesses the American political scene in The Breakthrough, giving new light on the impact of Barack Obama's surprise presidential victory and presenting the new generation of African American leaders forging a brave new route to political power.

Ifill claims that the Black political structure that emerged during the Civil Rights movement is giving way to a generation of men and women who have directly benefited from the 1960s conflicts. She includes in-depth profiles of renowned leaders such as Newark Mayor Cory Booker, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick, and U.S. Congressman Artur Davis of Alabama (all of whom were interviewed for this book), as well as other up-and-coming individuals from around the country. Ifill shows why this is a pivotal moment in American history by drawing on exclusive interviews with power brokers such as President Obama, former Secretary of State Colin Powell, Vernon Jordan, the Reverend Jesse Jackson, his son Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr., and many others, as well as her own razor-sharp observations and analysis of such issues as generational conflict, race/gender clash, and the "black enough" conundrum.

The Breakthrough is a stunning examination of modern politics and a necessary basis for comprehending the future of American democracy in the Obama era.