The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1939-08-26

| Chapei MIL, Nortn SaroiinA
1889 $500 434 PIP.
The authors OF this book have
concentrated their attention on three
basic industries. iron and steel.
meat packing and railroad car shops
and have shown clearly the part OF
the Negro in these industries and
in the unions which are connected
with them. 1t is a book which
should be read by all thoughtful
Negroes but which probably will
not because most thoughtful Ne
gToes have YET TO realize the part
which Negro labor will play in the
future OF the Race. The last section
OF The book, The Negro Community
and the Union Movement" is es-
peclslly provocative but chiefly so
in light of the discussion OF Negro
labor and the unions which have
preceded it.
The picture Of the Negro lsborer
in these three industries is a fairly
consistent one: he is kept for the
most part in the unskilled or semi
skilled jobs; he is denied the ad
vsntages fseniority; in lean years
he finds himself Disseminated
against in favor OF the white work
er; he is used as strike-breaker only
to be discharged after the stike is
over; hL meets segregation and in
equality in the unions mot the CT.
o.; he is pitted against the native
white worker and used ar in
strument by the employer against
the union.
In all OF these fields the most
active unionization drives followed
The granting OF The NRA codes and
its protection of the workers right
10 organize Since the passing OF
the NRA the NRLB. has played
some part in protecting the rights
Of the workers although a lack Of
means reinforcing decisions has
weakened its position.
The coming of the CLIO. and in
dustrial unionism is OF particular
significance to Negro worers be-
cause The CLIO has followed a con-
sistent policy or organizing Negroes
with no discrimination shown. Its
task has not been an easy one faced
as it is with a mass OF divergent
views among Negroes and whites
and a mutual distrust in many in
stances. Yet large numbers OF both
groups are beginning to see the i'm
portance of working together for
benefit which will not come to
either group alone. Large numbers
of Negroes in steel have gone in
under the CLIO. banner and of
them Mr.. Cayton writes;
an the final analysis, the ques-
ton is largely up to the Negro work
ers themselves since the national
and local organizations have adopt
ed policy of equality"
In the meat-pscking industry the
situation is complicated by the
presence of the AT, Of L., the CT.
o. and the company unions The
CLIO. union is the most liberal ac-
cording to Mr.. Mitchell and has
been the cause OF a breakdown Of
some OF the prejudice practiced by
the other unions. Mr.. Mitchell
states further:
The meat-packing industry is an
example Of the harm to the or
gained labor movement which has
resulted from the split between the
AT. of L. and the CLIO. Negro
workers can by their numbers and
importance determine whether the
AT OF L. or the CLIO. will be VIC
torious and even whether the in
dustry can be organized at ALL"
- In the railroad car shops Negro
workers are at a disadvantage be-
cause the union which is gaining
most ground among them has seq
regated set-up necessitating that the
appeals of workers pass through a
white committee.
There is a separate discussion OF
the Birmingham district which
shows the greatly increased union
activity after the NRA particularly
on the part OF the CLOS United
Mine Workers. The attitude Of
southern white and Negro workers
seems to be that union is their only
means OF coping with their prob
lens and each group for the most
part favors mixed unionism. Others
in the community do not always
take this stand, but despite the dan
gers involved in such contacts OF
while and Negro. e,etere--ea-
a whole is a hopeful one.
The final section contributed by
Mr.. Cayton is an indictment OF the
Negro intellectual for his economic
selfishness and failure TO realize
at all the problems facing the Ne
gro masses. or them he writes:
There is of course. some agita-
ton for extended civil rights, but
these protests are seldom carried
TO the point where the fight would
endanger the cmforts Of their posi-
ton or cast reflection on their re-
spectability."
Negro workers have allowed a
handful OF highly romantic. race
conscious, upper-cisss Negroes to
lead them into accepting the myth
OF a black economy" according to
MIR. Cayton. The Negro press and
the Negro church have been equally
apathetic where the fate Of the Ne
gro worker was concerned. They,
too, have aligned themselves with