Organized Labor and the Black Worker, 1619-1981

by Philip S. Foner

In this classic account, historian Philip Foner traces the radical history of Black workers’ contribution to the American labor movement.

Genres: History, Labor, Nonfiction, Politics, Race, American History, Social Justice

492 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1974

About the author

Philip Sheldon Foner was an American labor historian and teacher. Foner was a prolific author and editor of more than 100 books.

Reviews

[Kyle Suratte · Rating 5 out of 5]

""The workingman's success is simply impossible without united and harmonious action. If the machinist says to the wielder of the pick and shovel "I will not associate with you. If you want better wages you must get it on your own hook." If the clerk says to the coal heaver "Between you and I there is a gulf fixed." Or if the white says to the black "I do not recognize you as a fellow workman." And these feelings prevail, there is the end of hope for the labor movement.""

Boston Daily Evening Voice, Oct. 5th 1865

[Bob Peterson]

A must read for anyone interested in knowing the depths of racism within the white working class, and how the owning class used racism to divide the working people ... and, unfortunately, how many unions collaborated with the owners to protect white workers at the expense of black workers. On the bright side, however, Foner describes several cases when left-wing unions, many lead by communists, fought racism internally within their unions, forged multiracial alliances and successfully won battles with the owning class.

[Jonathan Cromwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exhaustive and incredible. A must-read for anyone interested in labor history and anti-racism.

[Chris Nagel · Rating 4 out of 5]

(People familiar with my reviews are expecting this to begin with "The butler did it." In this case, that would be imprudent, not to say impudent. So I won't do that.)

I don't know a lot about labor history -- an educational gap I'm working to fill a bit -- so I have no strong basis for judging this book. Foner did several thing well here. His balance of fact and interpretation is good. What it lacks in narrative flair, the book makes up for in wealth of informed discussion of how things happened. There are no heroes and no devils (except for capitalists, duh).

The Foreword by Robin D. G. Kelley puts the book in its historical context, which is interesting as well. Per Kelley, Foner was criticized for being partisan (Foner's sympathy for the Black workers is obvious) and even misrepresenting facts. But Kelley praises the book, and Foner, for being in front of a movement to write poor people's and non-white people's history -- both of which are absolutely worth our time.

Reading this also made me wonder a bit about my own union.

[Jody Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Should be required reading for anyone involved in labor organizing. I knew that there was a terrible history of organized labor siding with white supremacy, but the extent and the degree to which this took place is mind-boggling. And Foner still manages to emphasize the positive potential when we can build a pro-black labor movement. To do so honestly we have to reckon with the history and the current state of things. Knowing that history helps us identify white supremacist structures when they're not as apparent- apprenticeships and entry tests for unions largely have historical roots in keeping black workers out. If you are in a union or plan to be, please please read this book!

[AHW]

This is a vitally important subject. Readers should be aware however that Foner is accused of continual plagiarism of student papers and unpublished dissertations throughout his career, unreliable citations, and even destroying documents in the AFL-CIO archives. Find the relevant information for this on History News Network and elsewhere.
He also has an annoying tendency in this book to speak on behalf of “black people” or “black workers,” and pays little attention to proletarian black women, disabled black proletarians, or other oppressed subgroups.

[Mitchell Chatfield · Rating 3 out of 5]

At times a little wayward to listen to, Foner’s book illustrates the key role that racial divisions has in the perpetuating class war. This is not to say that there is no race but only class; rather that it is almost racist division that comes first (cf the employers playing black and white scabs off each other to break various attempts at solidarity). Moreover, the last chapter or two detail the somewhat spurious but very prevalent claims of ‘reverse racism’ which are unfortunately still alive and well in the twenty first century.

[Bkbakerjr · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m currently reading Black Reconstruction in America by W.E.B. Du Bois with a book club. I used Philip Foner’s Organized Labor & The Black Worker 1619 - 1975 as supplemental reading. My primary focus was the first four chapters as those are set within the time period of Du Bois’ Black Reconstruction.

[Zolani Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an amazing, inspiring and deeply essential piece of work. The long, arduous story told here through generation after generation of triumph, failure and struggle. Has completely refreshed my perspective on the history of racism. Hands down the most important book I've ever read.

[Mills College Library]

331.6396 F6739 2017

[Miles Trujillo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Necessary text for understanding American labor history.