Detroit, once a symbol of progress in the American economy, has become the failure story of 20th century America. A main factor consisted in racial discrimination towards black people, bringing consequences such as racial division on the society and class inequality. However, racial discrimination did not exclusively brought capitalism towards Black Detroiters lives, but also oligarchy played a role.
In the 1940s, Detroit’s economy boomed, becoming the 4th largest industrial job market in the country, attracting not exclusively workers across the country, but the world (Sugrue 19). Unfortunately, this would last long, following the outbreak of World War II with the immigrant workforce on decline, and the influx of Black migration, residents …show more content…
Initially, several companies hesitated to hire Black workers, with exceptions such as Ford, among the pioneers of Black employment source in Detroit. Hiring 12% of total workers, with the philosophy of Henry Ford’s paternalism and the capitalist approach, allocated Black workers into service and dangerous jobs. (Sugrue 25). Regardless of Ford’s effort to help the Black workforce, the panorama was not bright. Even both, supply and demand of jobs, were high enough to hire several workers, Black workers did not have the same ability to gain jobs as their White counterparts, focusing to gain employment as housekeepers and service workers.
Behind the reality of Black underemployment, recruiting process in manufacturing plants was an issue. Job inquiries from Black workers were always rejected, regardless of the availability of positions. Factory managers practiced an oligarchic recruitment, that allowed White workers to enjoy the benefit of working. However, this practice was common in selective plants, and did not reflect as a company in general. For example, every Big Three company, did have a fixed share of Black workers in selected plants and some that had barely or none. (Sugrue …show more content…
This did not simply mean an investment, but the opportunity to make the American Dream a reality. However, real estate agents have not seen any potential to invest in the Black community. First measure was taken by giving the lowest rating in every Black neighborhood regardless of class. Even a middle-class Black was forced to settle in those neighborhoods without consent and desire. With poor maintenance, old and substandard complexes, no potential for improvements and increasing infringement of hazards, the panorama on every Black community seemed
In the 1940s, Detroit’s economy boomed, becoming the 4th largest industrial job market in the country, attracting not exclusively workers across the country, but the world (Sugrue 19). Unfortunately, this would last long, following the outbreak of World War II with the immigrant workforce on decline, and the influx of Black migration, residents …show more content…
Initially, several companies hesitated to hire Black workers, with exceptions such as Ford, among the pioneers of Black employment source in Detroit. Hiring 12% of total workers, with the philosophy of Henry Ford’s paternalism and the capitalist approach, allocated Black workers into service and dangerous jobs. (Sugrue 25). Regardless of Ford’s effort to help the Black workforce, the panorama was not bright. Even both, supply and demand of jobs, were high enough to hire several workers, Black workers did not have the same ability to gain jobs as their White counterparts, focusing to gain employment as housekeepers and service workers.
Behind the reality of Black underemployment, recruiting process in manufacturing plants was an issue. Job inquiries from Black workers were always rejected, regardless of the availability of positions. Factory managers practiced an oligarchic recruitment, that allowed White workers to enjoy the benefit of working. However, this practice was common in selective plants, and did not reflect as a company in general. For example, every Big Three company, did have a fixed share of Black workers in selected plants and some that had barely or none. (Sugrue …show more content…
This did not simply mean an investment, but the opportunity to make the American Dream a reality. However, real estate agents have not seen any potential to invest in the Black community. First measure was taken by giving the lowest rating in every Black neighborhood regardless of class. Even a middle-class Black was forced to settle in those neighborhoods without consent and desire. With poor maintenance, old and substandard complexes, no potential for improvements and increasing infringement of hazards, the panorama on every Black community seemed