{"product_id":"black-freedom-fighters-in-steel-the-struggle-for-democratic-unionism-9780801488580","title":"Black Freedom Fighters in Steel: The Struggle for Democratic Unionism","description":"\u003cp\u003eAs 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 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.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45646781743157,"sku":"ByrdShop_0801488583","price":27.54,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780801488580.jpg?v=1781678405","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/black-freedom-fighters-in-steel-the-struggle-for-democratic-unionism-9780801488580","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}