About the book
In the 1960s and 1970s, the textile industry’s workforce underwent a dramatic transformation, as African Americans entered the South’s largest industry in growing numbers. Only 3.3 percent of textile workers were black in 1960; by 1978, this number had risen to 25 percent. Using previously untapped legal records and oral history interviews, Timothy Minchin crafts a compelling account of the integration of the mills.
Minchin argues that the role of a labor shortage in spurring black hiring has been overemphasized, pointing instead to the federal government’s influence in pressing the textile industry to integrate. He also highlights the critical part played by African American activists. Encouraged by passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, black workers filed antidiscrimination lawsuits against nearly all of the major textile companies. Still, Minchin notes, even after the integration of the mills, African American workers encountered considerable resistance: black women faced continued hiring discrimination, while black men found themselves shunted into low-paying jobs with little hope of promotion.
Editions of Hiring the Black Worker
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780807824702
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780807847718
- EBook
- ISBN 9780807882931
- EBook
- ISBN 9798890867995
Read an Excerpt
In the 1960s and 1970s, the textile industry’s workforce underwent a dramatic transformation, as African Americans entered the South’s largest industry in growing numbers. Only 3.3 percent of textile workers were black in 1960; by 1978, this number had risen to 25 percent. Using previously untapped legal records and oral history interviews, Timothy Minchin crafts a compelling account of the integration of the mills.
Minchin argues that the role of a labor shortage in spurring black hiring has been overemphasized, pointing instead to the federal government’s influence in pressing the textile industry to integrate. He also highlights the critical part played by African American activists. Encouraged by passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, black workers filed antidiscrimination lawsuits against nearly all of the major textile companies. Still, Minchin notes, even after the integration of the mills, African American workers encountered considerable resistance: black women faced continued hiring discrimination, while black men found themselves shunted into low-paying jobs with little hope of promotion.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Hiring the Black Worker about?
In the 1960s and 1970s, the textile industry’s workforce underwent a dramatic transformation, as African Americans entered the South’s largest industry in growing numbers. Only 3.3 percent of textile workers were black in 1960; by 1978, this number had risen to 25 percent. Using previously untapped legal records and oral history interviews, Timothy Minchin crafts a compelling account of the integration of the mills.
Minchin argues that the role of a labor shortage in spurring black hiring has been overemphasized, pointing instead to the federal government’s influence in pressing the textile industry to integrate. He also highlights the critical part played by African American activists. Encouraged by passage of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, black workers filed antidiscrimination lawsuits against nearly all of the major textile companies. Still, Minchin notes, even after the integration of the mills, African American workers encountered considerable resistance: black women faced continued hiring discrimination, while black men found themselves shunted into low-paying jobs with little hope of promotion.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Hiring the Black Worker?
History and Archaeology > History > History: specific events and topics > Social and cultural history
Where can I read a sample of Hiring the Black Worker?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780807824702
How long is Hiring the Black Worker and how many pages does it have?
Hiring the Black Worker has 360 page(s)
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Hiring the Black Worker?
Timothy J. Minchin
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Hiring the Black Worker is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780807824702) and paperback(ISBN 9780807847718) and ebook(ISBN 9780807882931) and ebook(ISBN 9798890867995)
Where can I buy Hiring the Black Worker online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Hiring the Black Worker from below
Where can I buy Hiring the Black Worker?