This book examines in depth the century-long struggle of Black laborers
in the iron and steel industry of western Pennsylvania. In the process
it shows how the fate of these Black workers mirrors the contemporary
predicament of the Black working class and the development of a
chronically unemployed underclass in America's declining industrial
centers. Dickerson argues that persistent racial discrimination within
heavy industry and the decline of major industries during the 1970s are
key to understanding the social and economic situation of
twentieth-century urban Blacks.
Through a blend of historical research and contemporary interviews, this
study chronicles the struggle of Black steelworkers to gain equality in
the industry and the setbacks suffered as American steelmaking succumbed
to foreign competition and antiquated modes of production. The plight of
western Pennsylvania's Black steelworkers reflects that of Black
laborers in Chicago, Gary, Detroit, Cleveland, Youngstown, Birmingham,
and other major American cities where heavy industry once flourished.