Working-Class New York: Life and Labor Since World War II by Joshua B. Freeman

by Joshua B. Freeman

A "lucid, detailed, and imaginative analysis" (The Nation) of the model city that working-class New Yorkers created after World War II —and its tragic demise. More than any other city in America, New York in the years after the Second World War carved out an idealistic and equitable path to the future. Largely through the efforts of its working class and the dynamic labor movement it built, New York City became the envied model of liberal America and the scourge of conservatives cheap and easy-to-use mass transit, work in small businesses and factories that had good wages and benefits, affordable public housing, and healthcare for all. Working-Class New York is an "engrossing" (Dissent) account of the birth of that ideal and the way it came crashing down. In what Publishers Weekly calls "absorbing and beautifully detailed history," historian Joshua Freeman shows how the anticommunist purges of the 1950s decimated the ranks of the labor movement and demoralized its idealists, and how the fiscal crisis of the mid-1970s dealt another crushing blow to liberal ideals as the city's wealthy elite made a frenzied grab for power. A grand work of cultural and social history, Working-Class New York is a moving chronicle of a dream that died but may yet rise again. 8 pages of black-and-white photographs.

Genres: History, Labor, New York, Nonfiction, United States, The United States Of America, American

Hardcover

First published May 1, 2000

Reviews

[Katelin Penner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great labor history of NYC with a super interesting housing angle

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

The narrative in "Working Class New York," grows less interesting along with the declining labor movement it chronicles.

That's no criticism. After all, Joshua Freeman did not write a novel, rather penned an important nonfiction and academic effort that tells the story of New York through its workers.

"Working Class New York," is wonderfully done and demonstrative, at every turn, of the author's passion for his subject.

But, for labor enthusiasts, the end can't match the beginning for excitement.

In the early chapters, the poesy of labor reigns as the Hatters, Printers, Furriers, Elevator Operators, Milliners, Bakers and Tugboat workers, representing a rainbow of crafts and productive industries, bring the world's mightiest city to a halt through mass strikes driven by the underlining goal of reorganizing society itself.

Freeman's analysis of New York's economic structure, and how it created a textured union movement unequaled in the rest of the country, is fascinating and as much a love letter to the unions as to Gotham itself.

Indeed, the author frequently asserts that the city's best face was the lined countenance of the laborer or craftsperson enlightened by their recognition of a shared destiny, on the shop floor and front stoop, with similarly situated souls.

"Working Class New York," meticulously follows the labor movement's progress and retrenchments, starting with its halcyon days in the post-war 1940s.

It makes no bones about the powerful impetus communist politics played, and the subsequent loss of energy that coincided with the reds being chased out of American labor.

Freeman illustrates how the union movement reflected changes in the city as it lost manufacturing jobs and embraced the financial and service-based industries.

His mapping of municipal unionism's rise has less of a workerist flavor and more of what the departed Allan Bloom called the "Nitzscheanization of the left," as ethnicity and cultural issues consumed unions' internal power struggles and drove their industrial strategies.

And the book details how the decline of labor in New York reflected its nationwide losses as the country grew more individualistic and market-oriented in the 1970s and '80s.

Freeman's chapter on how financial types used The Big Apple's fiscal crisis in the late 1970s to undermine and rollback the unions' hard-earned, and unique urban social democracy, is must-read for anyone interested in those dynamics affecting the American workplace for nigh on a generation now.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Experience the enthralling story of the working class in post-World War II New York City. Witness the impact of the city's labor movement on essential aspects such as mass transit, fair wages, affordable housing, and healthcare. In "Working-Class New York," historian Joshua Freeman vividly portrays the birth and decline of this ideal, delving into the effects of anti-communist purges in the 1950s and the mid-1970s fiscal crisis on the city's progressive landscape. This compelling narrative presents a detailed account of a dream that faced collapse but carries the potential for resurgence. Immerse yourself in the rich cultural and social fabric of Working-Class New York—an embodiment of resilience and the pursuit of a brighter future.

[Mike O'Connor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting history of the rise and decline of labour movements in New York. Gives a good account of the changing demographics of the city and the kinds of jobs and benefits (or lack thereof) these demographics had. The book also goes into detail about various public housing projects which I found interesting. Can sometimes be overwhelming when going through all the many strikes and union tussles, particularly during the 40s and 50s when these were regular events.

[David]

I read this book for my college degree 15 years ago. (YIKES!) And I have been thinking about it again recently. Given the intervening years, I want to revisit it. So I am.

[Jonathan Kissam · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweeping, at times moving, and ultimately heartbreaking history that brings together labor, social and cultural history to tell this story of how working people in New York City created a culture and community, and for a couple of heady decades after World War II, a polity, that celebrated their own multi-ethnic and multi-racial working class.

[Simon Kissam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really good. Joshua Freenman told the story of working class New York in a clear and concise way that is easy to read and understand. He also often compares NYC to the rest of the USA which was nice. I don't really know what else to write about this. It was just a good interesting well-written history of Working Class New York since WW2 and shows the evolution of it from then to the early 2000s when this book was written.

[Shaun Richman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had the pleasure of experiencing an early preview of this book in an undergrad class led by Dr. Freeman at Queens College. Still a definitive take on an over-looked chapter in American social democratic experimentation.

[Elizabeth Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

For research on Knickerbocker Village...

[ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

very interesting look at labor in NYC since WWII

[Dean · Rating 4 out of 5]

Underwhelming.