A New Working Class

This book explores the struggles of Black public-sector workers in Baltimore, highlighting their fight for racial and economic justice amid challenging political landscapes.

For decades, civil rights activists have been at the forefront of the struggle against employment discrimination, advocating for a more significant role for African Americans in municipal decision-making. As their influence grew within city halls nationwide, they seized the opportunities presented by the Great Society, which created numerous local government jobs. A New Working Class delves into the efforts of Black public-sector workers and their unions as they fought for racial and economic justice in Baltimore. This sector became a vital employment avenue for many Black workers, particularly women, marking a notable yet often overlooked achievement of the civil rights movement.

A dedicated group of Black public-sector workers took on the mantle of activism from their government positions, striving to enhance public services while simultaneously advocating for their rights as employees. Despite the challenges posed by deindustrialization and a decline in union power, these workers and their unions were just beginning to make their mark. During the 1970s and 1980s, both Democratic and Republican administrations enacted policies that threatened the progress made by these workers, leading to significant funding cuts and a reduction in government services.

As federal officials justified their austerity measures by criminalizing Black urban residents, including those within the public sector, local officials responded to economic pressures by slashing government jobs and services. This combination of federal and local policies heightened insecurity in already hyper-segregated and over-policed low-income Black neighborhoods, compelling residents, especially women, to fend for themselves or go without the essential services that public-sector workers had fought hard to deliver in A New Working Class.