Solidarity Forever?
Race, Gender, and Unionism in the Ports of Southern California
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Lexington Books
Published:1st Mar '16
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
This hardback is available in another edition too:
- Paperback£39.00(9781498514361)
This book explores the struggles of Black and women longshore workers in Southern California, highlighting their fight against racism and sexism within the labor movement.
In Solidarity Forever?, the author delves into the experiences of Black and women longshore workers in Southern California, revealing their ongoing battles against racism and sexism within the labor movement. Through a combination of in-depth interviews, archived oral histories, and ethnographic observation, the book paints a vivid picture of the struggles faced by these workers as they sought equality and justice in a challenging environment. The narrative highlights their resilience and determination, showcasing how they navigated the complexities of union politics and societal expectations.
The International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) serves as a focal point for understanding the broader implications of these struggles. Founded on radical anti-racist principles, the ILWU stands out as one of the few unions that continue to uphold these values. However, the book argues that institutional and cultural forms of racial and gender inequality persist within union locals, leading to significant challenges. These challenges manifest in various ways, including internal discrimination lawsuits that drain financial resources and erode trust among members, ultimately threatening the union's strength and solidarity.
Solidarity Forever? emphasizes the importance of listening to marginalized voices within the labor movement. The future of organized labor in the United States hinges on the ability of unions to address the needs of workers of color, immigrant workers, and women. By highlighting these critical issues, the book advocates for a more inclusive and equitable labor movement that can truly represent all workers in the Global South and beyond.
Individual chapters draw extensively from oral histories and provide useful background biographical profiles for the longshore workers. . . .The individual stories and recollections are important. * The Northern Mariner/Le Marin du nord *
In examining racism and sexism within the labor movement, instead of selecting the obvious suspects, such as the construction trades, Jake Alimahomed-Wilson has brilliantly chosen to look at a union that is generally viewed as one of the most progressive in the country. Combining historical testimony that was collected years ago with contemporary interviews, he tells the story from the point of view of the people who have suffered from this form of discrimination, letting them speak—as they do, vividly—for themselves. The author points out that grappling with racism and sexism in the union requires more than a “color-blind” approach, where each individual is treated as if their race and gender is irrelevant. This issue makes the book of great contemporary relevance, as students on today’s university campuses are grappling for stronger answers to their experiences of exclusion and marginalization. -- Edna Bonacich, University of California, Riverside
Combining archival data, interviews and oral histories, and ethnographic observations, Solidarity Forever? provides a definitive study of how racism and sexism has been both reproduced and challenged within the International Longshore Workers Union in Southern California. It provides important lessons for the U.S. labor movement and is a ‘must read’ for scholars of labor, race, and gender. -- Ellen Reese, University of California, Riverside
ISBN: 9781498514347
Dimensions: 239mm x 159mm x 21mm
Weight: 499g
218 pages