TheLoop21.com

Reparations Chronicles


The long history of blacks and the auto industry

By: Susan Anderson (follow this member)
Wed, 05/06/2009 - 00:00

comment   |   share it   |   print it

The auto industry is in trouble, but blacks who work in the auto sector of the economy, from factory workers to car dealers and parts suppliers, are under a greater threat. Plans by Congress and the Obama administration to rescue the car makers need to take the well-being of the black community into account. That would help shore up middle class stability, while also preserving a significant part of our national history.

According to the Economic Policy Institute, “The share of black workers (14.2 percent) in automotive industries is much higher than their overall share of the labor force (11.2 percent)…African-Americans earn much higher wages in the auto industry than in other parts of the economy, and the loss of these solid, middle-class jobs would be devastating.”

And it’s not just the workers on the line we’re talking about. USA Today reported that out of 60 black automotive suppliers (with annual sales of about $4 billion and 8,000 employees) five have shut down. Out of 800 auto dealers that closed recently, maybe 200 of them were minority owned.

The elevated numbers of blacks in the auto industry is the result of major historical events. As University of Pennsylvania Professor Thomas J. Sugrue writes in Driving While Black: The Car and Race Relations in Modern America, “Detroit, the Motor City, became one of the most important destinations for black migrants from the south because of its reputation as a major center of car production.” 

But the doors of the auto industry were virtually closed to blacks in the early part of the 20th century. The corporations discriminated in hiring, and they were often backed by racist white workers. In 1935, corporate auto makers met their match when the militant United Auto Workers union was formed. The UAW was among the first major unions to organize black workers, even when white workers opposed it.

It took the 1930s union-led strikes, a 1940s threatened March on Washington, and WWII demands on industrial manufacturing to finally get the doors of the auto industry to open wide to African American employees. Even then, blacks were relegated to the lowest-paid and most dangerous jobs in the factories. From the 1950s to the 1960s, black organizations such as the Trade Union Leadership Council, NAACP and League of Revolutionary Black Workers, fought for more jobs and better conditions in the industry. Auto makers, wanting to avoid protests and lawsuits, increased opportunities for blacks.

For more than 60 years, blacks have contributed to the economy and benefited from their role in the auto industry. As Congress and the administration advance their plans for this sector, somebody needs to let them know, this is a part of the national heritage that can’t go down the tubes.

Susan D. Anderson teaches, speaks and writes about African American history, politics and culture. She is the author of Nostalgia for a Trumpet: Poems of Memory and History, published by Northwestern University Press. She has been a Visiting Professor at Pitzer College, a contributor to the Los Angeles Times Sunday Opinion since 1999, and currently manages an archival program at the USC Libraries.

Tags:  
  • Culture & Society
  • Reparations Chronicles
  • auto industry
  • black history

 

RELATED STORIES


  • We demand: 'A Different World: The Movie'
    Thu, 07/29/2010 - 00:00
    It's the perfect candidate for adaptation. ...
    Read More
  • The five most beloved Black sidekicks
    Wed, 07/28/2010 - 00:00
    My list of great black sidekicks is endless, but here are the 5 I love most. ...
    Read More
  • Damn that Rap, Snoop stole my music
    Tue, 07/27/2010 - 00:00
    A discussion on intellectual property and the future of Black expression ...
    Read More
  • The Black sidekick: Want your character to shine?
    Mon, 07/26/2010 - 06:55
    Give her a black best friend ...
    Read More


 

COMMENTS



by mezkie (not verified)

the auto industry were facing serious economic downturn and it's about time for the industry to make effective solutions to the problem. Good to hear that blacks have contributed to the economy and benefited from their role in the chilton auto industry for more than 60 yrs.

Posted Thu, 05/28/2009 - 22:34

Post new comment

Anyone can comment at anytime. Login or Register to keep all your comments in your profile!
The content of this field is kept private and will not be shown publicly.
Formatting Tips:
  • Web page addresses and e-mail addresses turn into links automatically.
  • Lines and paragraphs break automatically.

More information about formatting options

CAPTCHA
Please type what you see in the box below.
 

Blogosphere

  • Culture Voice The Dream's views on fatherhood are skewed
  • Schooled! "Resegregating" North Carolina's schools?
  • Post-Race? The Curious Case of Alvin Greene
  • Money Counts Buried in debt? How to get out without getting scammed

theloop Twitter

twittercomment
    • That is why MN Short Sale has formed a group of experts from different fields to help those homeowne... On Seven tips to shave down your spending painlessly (almost)
    • He wasn't an equal co-conspirator, the plan was totally and entirely Shoshanna's plan. It was really... On The five most beloved Black sidekicks
    • I think that the selection of responses to the poll question are very narrow and designed to shape a... On Why Aren’t More Black Musicians Boycotting Arizona?
    • Sex and the City movie #1. Jennifer Hudson's character. ... On The Black sidekick: Want your character to shine?
    • register
    • login

    Search

    • rss
    • twitter
    • faceboook
    • myspace
    • black
    • Home
    • News
    • Money
    • Politics
    • Culture&Society
    • Entertainment

    right-menu

    • Videos
    • Blogs
    • Community
    Hot Topics
    • This Week's News
    • NAACP
    • Personal Finance
    • Black Women
    • LeBron James
    • Oil Spill Gulf Of Mexico
    • Shirley Sherrod
    • HOME
    • MONEY
    • POLITICS
    • CULTURE & SOCIETY
    • ENTERTAINMENT

    imageIn the Loop

    • Videos
    • Blogs
    • Photo Galleries
    • Loop Scoops

    imageCommunity

    • Sign Up
    • Login
    • Discuss
    • Polls

    imageThe Loop21

    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Work for Us
    • Advertise with Us

    imageMore

    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms & Conditions

    imageConnect with us:

    • image
    • image
    • image
    • image
    • image
    Go Up?

    Copyright© TheLoop21 All Rights Reserved