My name is Diane Jackson. I am an African American adjunct faculty member here at Ferris State. I teach sociology, and this is my eighth year in this capacity. The Torch Staff has asked me to write a piece on Black Labor. I find it ironic that during Black History Month, in these postmodern times, we live in, Ferris continues to pursue their values in its history and commitment to learning. So, I will begin this article with a definition of what labor is and why learning about Black labor is important.
The sociological definition of labor is a social activity that is physical, emotional, economic and natural. Labor will always have some division type to who has power and who lacks power. I must point out that there is always a hierarchy in labor: those who control it and those who are controlled by it. It is the classic Marxist ideology that people in positions of power exploit those with less power.
Now that I have explained the general concept of labor, this article focuses on Black labor, which means discussing how African Americans have contributed to the United States. There has been a slew of ways Black labor was managed in our country from slavery to the civil rights movement. Below are just a few.
In each type of social process, I would like to point out one outstanding African American you may or may not have heard about.
Slavery: Isaac Myers created the Colored Caulkers Trade Union Society, along with other societies that promoted a “fair chance…to have the highest rate of wages that our labor is worth.”
Industrialization: A. Philip Randolph, one of the greatest Black labor leaders in U.S. history has been quoted as saying, “Freedom is never granted: It is won. Justice is never given: It is exacted. Freedom and justice must be struggled for by the oppressed of all lands and races...”
Organized Labor: Hattie Canty empowered workers and fought for fair wages in the Culinary Workers Union in Las Vegas, “No Contract, No Peace”
Civil Rights: Bayard Rustin was one of Martin Luther King Jr.’s closest advisors who oversaw putting together the march on Washington in 1963 that focused on pay equity and equal rights.
“We are all one. And if we don’t know it, we will learn it the hard way.” —Bayard Rustin.
Ferris has a rich tradition of helping people succeed by helping its employees and, most importantly, students overcome barriers to success. We continue to do so by following our values and building our Bulldog community.