Black Freedom Fighters in Steel: The Struggle for Democratic Unionism

by Ruth Needleman

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 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 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 father's 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.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

320 pages, Hardcover

First published May 1, 2003

Reviews

[Jody Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written telling of the stories of five black USW union workers and leaders, and through them a broader history of USW and its complicated racial history. Well worth the read and important to see how different strategies and personalities made their impacts. Many of the issues with USW are still present in todays' unions, albeit in different form and severity.

[Mills College Library]

331.6396 N375 2003