This book explores how a variety of social groups-women, African-Americans and political radicals-create their own 'public spheres, ' parallel to the mainstream public arena.

INTRODUCTION; 1. Politics, expression, and marginality; 2. Backchannels of communication: salonnières of the French Enlightenment; 3. Race discrimination, mass media, and public expression: Chicago, 1934-60; 4. Political marginality and communication in Greenwich village, 1911-18; 5. Contemporary outsiders: the Libertarians; Conclusion, Notes; Bibliography; Index.