 | Brotherhoods of Color: Black Railroad Workers and the Struggle for Equality Subjects: Railroads -- United States -- Employees -- History; Afro-Americans -- Employment -- United States -- History; Discrimination in employment -- United States -- History; Race discrimination -- United States -- History; Since their inception nearly two centuries ago, railroads have provided black men (and some women) with steady employment. Paradoxically, though many track layers, porters, brakemen, firemen, waiters and redcaps were able to make a good living, the railroad industry was one of the most institutionalized forms of racism in the U.S. (e.g., blacks were legally represented by the same unions that forbade them membership), maintains Eric Arnesen, professor of history at the University of Illinois. Brotherhood of Color: Black Railroad Workers and the Struggle for Equality is Arnesen's exhaustive and illuminating work of scholarship. ( Feb.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved |
