Ben Waber reviewed For Jobs and Freedom by Robert Zieger
An Illuminating, Intertwined History
5 stars
Zieger lays out the co-evolution of labor and civil rights post-Civil War, clearly laying out how the legacy of slavery in the South and racism more broadly continued to echo through labor and race relations long after that conflict ended. As one might expect, there's also a lot of analysis of the fraught, complex relations between Black people and the organized labor movement, with early movements such as the Knights of Labor and the IWW contrasting strongly with the overtly racist stance of the AFL and other unions. The importance of solidarity across communities is also explored, with conflicts between immigrants and Black workers only serving to reduce the earnings potential of both groups. As the history moves into the early 21st century Zieger makes it clear how far we still have to go, but also how much real progress has been made. Highly recommend
Zieger lays out the co-evolution of labor and civil rights post-Civil War, clearly laying out how the legacy of slavery in the South and racism more broadly continued to echo through labor and race relations long after that conflict ended. As one might expect, there's also a lot of analysis of the fraught, complex relations between Black people and the organized labor movement, with early movements such as the Knights of Labor and the IWW contrasting strongly with the overtly racist stance of the AFL and other unions. The importance of solidarity across communities is also explored, with conflicts between immigrants and Black workers only serving to reduce the earnings potential of both groups. As the history moves into the early 21st century Zieger makes it clear how far we still have to go, but also how much real progress has been made. Highly recommend