Black Freedom Fighters in Steel: The Struggle for Democratic Unionism by Ruth Ne

Description: Black Freedom Fighters in Steel by Ruth Needleman Thousands of African Americans poured into northwest Indiana in the 1920s, dreaming of decent-paying jobs and a life without Klansmen, chain gangs and cotton. This text reveals the hidden history of these black steelworkers and their role in the struggle for union democracy and workers rights. FORMAT Hardcover LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand New Publisher Description Thousands of African Americans poured into northwest Indiana in the 1920s dreaming of decent-paying jobs and a life without Klansmen, chain gangs, and cotton. This book by Ruth Needleman aims to add a new dimension to the literature on race and labour. It tells the story of five men born in the South who migrated north for a chance to work the dirtiest and most dangerous jobs in the steel mills. Individually they fought for equality and justice; collectively they helped construct economic and union democracy in post-war America. George Kimbley, the eldest, grew up in Kentucky across the street from the family who had owned his parents. He fought with a French regiment in World War I and then settled in Gary, Indiana, in 1920 to work in steel. He joined the Steelworkers Organizing Committee and became the first African-American member of its full-time staff in 1938. The youngest, Jonathan Comer, picked cotton on his fathers land in Alabama, stood up to racism in the military during World War II and became the first African American to be president of a basic steel local union. This is a book about the integration of unions, as well as about five remarkable individuals.It focuses on the decisive role of African-American leaders in building interracial unionism. One chapter deals with the African-American struggle for representation, highlighting the importance of independent black organization within the union. Needleman also presents a conversation among two pioneering steelworkers and current African American union leaders about the racial politics of union activism. Author Biography Ruth Needleman is Professor of Labor Studies at Indiana University Northwest in Gary, where she created a special college degree program, known as Swingshift College, for steelworkers. Table of Contents "Oh, that Kimbley, hes union crazy" - George Kimbley; "Slavery never ended at Inland" - William Young; "The only race that mattered was the human race" - John Howard; "Get your horses" - Curtis Strong; "Plain old-fashioned discrimination" - Jonathan Comer; "Change this segregated system!" - the National Ad Hoc Committee in Steel; "Between a rock and a hard place" - taking a job on staff; "Diplomats and rabble-rousers" - black radicalism and the union movement; "Upheavalin steel" - from the consent decree to global restructuring; "Fire in the belly" - a conversation among black labour leaders. Review "Ruth Needlemans examination of black steelworkers in the Calumet region... stylistically forges new ground and may prod many to adopt her method of retelling history. Needleman presents a clear sense of the opportunities that were and were not available to black workers, of the role that blacks played in building the union, and of the ideological and strategic differences that existed between union men." -- Peter B. Levy, York College * Journal of American History * "As a source of material on fighting racism at work, or on union organizing in general, this book is extremely valuable." -- Diane Fieldes * The Journal of Industrial Relations * Long Description Thousands of African Americans poured into northwest Indiana in the 1920s dreaming of decent-paying jobs and a life without Klansmen, chain gangs, and cotton. Black Freedom Fighters in Steel: The Struggle for Democratic Unionism by Ruth Needleman adds a new dimension to the literature on race and labor. It tells the story of five men born in the South who migrated north for a chance to work the dirtiest and most dangerous jobs in the steel mills. Individually they fought for equality and justice; collectively they helped construct economic and union democracy in postwar America. George Kimbley, the oldest, grew up in Kentucky across the street from the family who had owned his parents. He fought with a French regiment in World War I and then settled in Gary, Indiana, in 1920 to work in steel. He joined the Steelworkers Organizing Committee and became the first African American member of its full-time staff in 1938. The youngest, Jonathan Comer, picked cotton on his fathers land in Alabama, stood up to racism in the military during World War II, and became the first African American to be president of a basic steel local union. This is a book about the integration of unions, as well as about five remarkable individuals. It focuses on the decisive role of African American leaders in building interracial unionism. One chapter deals with the African American struggle for representation, highlighting the importance of independent black organization within the union. Needleman also presents a conversation among two pioneering steelworkers and current African American union leaders about the racial politics of union activism. Review Quote "Yes, Needleman said, workers like Comer would meet, drink, and play cards with other workers. But they always shared the miseries of their jobs and what was needed to change that. Needleman, who began collecting information for the book in 1984, said this regions labor movement has lost touch with the people and communities that once stoked its fire. Today, with only 13 percent of American workers being unionized, the movement is clearly being doused from many sides, she said. Everyone has dropped the ball."--Jerry Davich, Northwest Indiana Times, September 2003. Details ISBN0801437415 Author Ruth Needleman Publisher Cornell University Press Year 2003 ISBN-10 0801437415 ISBN-13 9780801437410 Format Hardcover Subtitle The Struggle for Democratic Unionism Country of Publication United States DEWEY 331.6396073 Illustrations 1 map, 54 halftones Affiliation Professor of Labor Studies, Indiana University Northwest, Gary, USA Series ILR Press Books Publication Date 2003-03-31 Pages 320 Imprint ILR Press Place of Publication New York Short Title Black Freedom Fighters in Steel Language English Media Book DOI 10.1604/9780801437410 Audience General/Trade UK Release Date 2003-03-31 We've got this At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it. With fast shipping, low prices, friendly service and well over a million items - you're bound to find what you want, at a price you'll love! TheNile_Item_ID:159858716;

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