On this month's episode we're joined by Lancaster University's politics lecturer Richard Johnson (@richardmarcj) to discuss five pioneering black politicians who ran for election in the decades before Barack Obama's ascension to the White House in 2008: Ed Brooke, Tom Bradley, Douglas Wilder, Harvey Gantt, and Carol Moseley Braun.   The podcast begins with a clip of Richard's interview with Braun in which she discusses her views on race and politics.   Throughout the discussion Richard reflects on whether Obama was a political unicorn with his appeal to white and black audiences; how these five pioneers navigated the choppy waters of racial politics and what their candidacies tell us about the country in wich they were running; and finally, whether their candidacies - and, in some cases, spells in office - were able to inspire change in American society.   Thanks again for listening, we'll be back next month, discussing barbeque diplomacy and Vietnam (all will be explained).   Cheers, Mark and Malcolm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices