Karl Lyn

This dissertation project moves beyond conventional measures of politics such as voting and activism to uncover the everyday social and cultural processes that animate Black young adults’ political agency, offering insight into the new and diverse ways Black young adults navigate today’s political landscape. Through a unique combination of qualitative interviews, participant observation, and digital storytelling, this study ethnographically explores how Black young adults ages 18-25 living in South Central Los Angeles exercise political agency in their daily lives amid growing inequality. This study speaks to the contemporary national debate about the uncertain future of Black young adults in American democracy.