A New Working Class: The Legacies of Public-Sector Employment in the Civil Rights Movement

Civil rights activists fought against employment discrimination and for African Americans to have a greater role in municipal decision-making. Activists used the Great Society and government jobs to advance their goals, and the public sector became a critical job niche for Black workers, especially women. Black government workers and their unions fought for their rights as workers and won union representation, but during the 1970s and 1980s, presidents from both political parties pursued policies that imperiled these gains. Federal officials justified austerity policies by criminalizing Black urban residents, while workers and their unions faced off against predominately white local officials who cut government jobs and services. This combination of federal and local policies increased insecurity in hyper-segregated and increasingly over-policed low-income Black neighborhoods, leaving residents to provide themselves or do without services that public-sector workers had fought to provide.

Format: Hardback
Length: 336 pages
Publication date: 15 October 2021
Publisher: University of Pennsylvania Press

For decades, civil rights activists have tirelessly fought against employment discrimination and advocated for increased representation of African Americans in municipal decision-making. As their influence in city halls across the country grew, activists capitalized on the opportunities presented by the Great Society and the government jobs it created on the local level to further their goals.

A New Working Class delves into the compelling stories of Black public-sector workers and their unions as they strive for racial and economic justice in Baltimore. The public sector emerged as a crucial job niche for Black workers, particularly women, a significant achievement largely overlooked in the narrative of the civil rights movement. A vocal segment of Black public-sector employees took up the mantle of activists and worked from their government positions to advance their objectives. They also fought for their rights as workers, successfully gaining union representation.

In a period often characterized by deindustrialization and the decline of unions, Black government workers and their unions were just beginning to make their mark. However, during the 1970s and 1980s, presidents from both political parties pursued policies that threatened to undermine these hard-fought gains. Public-sector workers and their unions bravely stood up against funding reductions, defending the principle that the government has a responsibility to ensure the well-being of its residents. Federal officials justified their austerity measures, the weakening of the welfare state, and the expansion of the carceral state by criminalizing Black urban residents, including government workers and their unions.

Concurrently, workers and their unions faced off against predominantly white local officials who responded to austerity pressures by cutting government jobs and services while offering tax incentives to businesses and investing in low-wage, service-sector jobs. This dynamic created a challenging environment for Black government workers and their unions, as they struggled to maintain their gains and protect the interests of their communities.

Despite these obstacles, civil rights activists and Black public-sector workers remained steadfast in their pursuit of equality and justice. They organized protests, rallied support, and worked tirelessly to advocate for their rights and the rights of their communities. Their efforts paved the way for significant progress, including the passage of landmark legislation such as the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

In conclusion, A New Working Class offers a powerful exploration of the struggles and achievements of Black public-sector workers and their unions in Baltimore. It highlights the critical role that the public sector played in the civil rights movement and the ongoing fight for racial and economic justice. The book sheds light on the challenges faced by these workers and their unions, as well as the resilience and determination they displayed in the face of adversity. It serves as a reminder of the ongoing importance of fighting for equality and social justice and the vital role that public-sector workers and their unions play in achieving these goals.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780812253450