Despite considerable examination, scholars have yet to definitively
establish the relationship between a legislator's racial background
and his or her legislative activities. We assess the relationship between
descriptive and substantive representation by discerning whether Black
members of the U.S. House are more likely to promote group interests in
their varied capacities as elected officials than are similarly positioned
non-Black legislators. Our empirical tests utilize the most appropriate
econometric models and techniques to analyze data from four Congresses
spanning two distinctive districting regimes and incorporating several
elements of representational behaviors. The findings are clear: Black
members represent group interests more vociferously than non-Black
members, including liberal non-Black Democrats from similar districts.
Moreover, because Black members do not receive electoral benefits for
engaging in such behavior, these legislators have policy-based motivation
for representing Black interests. These results have profound practical
implications for minority political representation and the future of
identity politics.