The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1939-03-25

for Colored labor.
The Colored man often obtained bis
Job in competition with the white
worker. Not infrequently he was
given employment as a strike breaker
Outlines it was only as a strike
breaker that he was able to secure
employment The resentment of the
white worker, economic in origin, was
translated into racial hostility. Tn
to the period of the World War, Col.
ored workers were an insignificant
factor in the wearing apparel indus.
tries.
In 1917, in the city of Chicago, col.
ored girls were brought in by employ
ers to break a strike conducted by
Local of the international Ladies
Garment Workers Union. Through
the employment of colored labor the
strike was lost and the Colored girls
found permanent places in the trade.
The I.L.GW.U. did not adopt a
policy of vindictiveness. On the con-
trary-it devoted its energies and
efforts to enlighten the Colored girls
and to organize them.
The practice of employing Colored
girls was not confined to Chicago. 1t
was followed in New York, Philadel-
phia and other large cities. Colored
GIRLS, eager to secure employment,
were more docile and willing to work
for lower wages than the whites. In
Philadelphia, during the dress strike
of 1921, employers filled shop after
shop with Colored workers. Here, too
the International was scrupulously
fair and conciliatory. Union repre-
sentatives visited Colored educators,
editors and ministers, seeking their
cooperation and influence to persuade
| the Colored workers to join the
Union. 1t must be observed that dur
ing this period the hostile attitude Of
many white workers and the indiffer-
! ent attitude of certain trade unions
served to estrange Colored workers
from the American labor movement.
| Distrust of the white worker and fear
of the employer were perhaps the
strongest obstacles in the organization
of the Colored worker. In the needle
trades, and especially in the manutae-
ture of ladies' garments, the Colored
worker has found his place on a basis
of full equality with the white worker.
The International and our own Local
No. 62 are showing the way to a
proper understanding of the fate OF
the Colored man as worker. The
doors of our international are VIDE
omen to them. Thousands OF them
actually are members of our various
Locals and many are on our Execu-
tive Boards or serving as organizers
in the field. c.....
In 1885 a black Labor Committee
was formed in New York City. Many
Unions. including our own, are repre-
sented in it. This Committee, has
moved forward with amazing and Su us
tanned success in its intense and ntelh-
gent campaign of education among
the Colored workers. 1t has become a
particularly influential factor OF tne
labor movement in Harlem. Through
it's leadership it emphasized the ldent-
ity of interests of the black ana "hlVe
worker and cemented a closer rela-
tionship between its affiliated orgam-
cations and individual members.
The exploitation of the Coloreo
worker is fundamentally an economic
problem. Economic equality is a oaSle
! principle of trade union philosophy
Labor solidarity will not countenance
racial discrimination or oppression
The hopes of the race for security
self-expression and cultural oppor-
tunities lie within the ranks OF the
| American labor movement.