The Making of Black Detroit in the Age of Henry Ford

Contents

contents Acknowledgments xi Abbreviations Used in the Text xv Introduction 1 one With the Wind at Their Backs 15 Migration to Detroit two Henry Ford Ushers in a New Era for Black Workers 39 three The Politics of Inclusion and the Construction of a New Detroit 69 four Drawing the Color Line in Housing, 1915–1930 92 five The Politics of Unemployment in Depression-Era Detroit, 1927–1931 115 six Henry Ford at a Crossroads 144 Inkster and the Ford Hunger March seven Behind the Mask of Civility 172 Black Politics in Detroit, 1932–1935 eight Charting a New Course for Black Workers 199 nine Black Workers Change Tactics, 1937–1941 223 Epilogue 251 Notes 257 Bibliography 309 Index 335 This page intentionally left blank illustrations Henry Ford’s “Melting Pot” ceremony 28 James C. Price, first black salaried employee at Ford Motor Company 42 Overview of the River Rouge plant, Ford Motor Company 50 Henry Ford Trade School 58 Rev. Robert L. Bradby 77 Unemployment March, Detroit to Lansing, Michigan, May 1931 125 Henry Ford and Frank Murphy 136 Working on Ford’s Inkster Project 149 The Fords entertain African American women at their home, Fair Lane, Dearborn, Michigan 152 Senior Banquet, Inkster High School 155 Graph depicting African American employment at the River Rouge and within the Rouge Foundry 166 North Wall of Diego Rivera’s mural Detroit Industry at the Detroit Institute of Arts 170 Snow F. Grigsby 184 Letters by Rev. R. L. Bradby and Rev. William H. Peck supporting Maurice Sugar’s campaign for a seat on Detroit’s Common Council 198 Rev. Charles A. Hill 206 Labor organizers distribute uaw newspapers outside gates to River Rouge 211 Foundry worker at the River Rouge Plant 214 Black uaw-cio organizers 239 Shelton Tappes 244 Strike leaders during Ford Organizing Campaign 247 This page intentionally left blank ...