inclusion, sustainability, economic growth · the report, titled: civil unrest, architecture of...

Inclusion,Sustainability,EconomicGrowth

BuildingOneAmericabuildingoneamerica.org

In America today there is a pervasive and politically destructive myth that economic progress and social justice for African Americans will inevitably lead to losses for already stressed white workers, their families, and the middle-class communities in which many live and send their children to school.

This dangerous myth, which our history of postwar, middle-class expansion has proven false1, is often as much perpetuated by the liberal left as the conservative right. Unless and until it is effectively challenged and discredited, it will continue to be a prevailing narrative driving much of our polarized political discourse. And it will remain a major obstacle to building the multiracial power needed to combat debilitating racial segregation in housing and schools; enduring discrimination in work and wages; rising economic inequality and shirking middle-class opportunity experienced by people of all colors and backgrounds. This proposal looks to the successful strategies, leaders and heroes of our recent past and the stark and shameful disparities of today to make a case for a new narrative and renewed effort to strengthen our organizations, broaden our alliances and further our ability to reverse the dangerous and destabilizing trends harming all Americans. Building One America and its allies in labor and civil rights propose a joint program of organizing, education, training, and action around policies to reduce economic inequality and advance racial justice in housing, schools and jobs, and to build power for our common mission of creating a society of inclusive middle-class opportunity.

The recent attention to both economic inequality and racial injustice should not be another excuse for divisive identity politics among middle and working-class Americans. Instead, it is an opportunity to be seized upon to build more, not less, solidarity among working people of all colors by addressing both racial justice and economic opportunity as labor and civil rights leaders did so powerfully a half century ago. No two groups have been more damaged by the rightward backlash in American politics than the institutions of labor and civil rights. Their once powerful alliance has fractured under sustained assault from the wealthiest and most reactionary forces in the land, resulting in diminished power and harmful reversals of some of the most important social, political and economic advances of the past 75 years.

This proposal argues that for our organizing to be powerful enough it must be deliberately multiracial and go beyond the urban activists and self identified progressives to include working-class African Americans and residents of increasingly diverse, middle-class suburbs, where many union members live today. While outrage around racial injustice and frustration over economic inequality has spawned tremendous new energy, the established institutions of labor and civil rights must not cede their responsibility to nascent movements and emerging leaders, no matter how dynamic or promising. Despite significant challenges and set backs, it is labor and civil rights, and much of the faith community, that have the history, organizational infrastructure, self-interest and values that make them as relevant and as essential today as ever.

1Thewagegapforblackandwhiteworkersnarrowedbetween1947and1973asAfricanAmericanemployment,unionization,andincomesincreased.Butwhiteworkerswagesrosesteadilyduringthissameperiodandonlystagnatedthenfellasunionsdeclined,blackworkerslostgroundandthewagegapagainwidened.

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Seizingthe‘moment’

RestoringtheHistoricandPowerfulAllianceofLaborandCivilRightsforRacialJusticeandEconomicOpportunity

IntroductionInarecentCenturyFoundationreport,ProfessorPaulJargowskyobserves:Overthepastyear,scenesofcivilunresthaveplayedoutinthedeterioratinginner-ringsuburbofFergusonandthetraditionalurbanghettoofinner-cityBaltimore…Theriotsandprotestshavesparkedanationalconversationaboutrace,violence,andpolicingthatislongoverdue.Somethingimportant,however,isbeingleftoutofthisconversation:namely,thatwearewitnessinganationwidereturnofconcentratedpovertythatisracialinnature,andthatthisexpansionandcontinuedexistenceofhigh-povertyghettosandbarriosisnoaccident.Thereport,titled:CivilUnrest,ArchitectureofSegregationtheConcentrationofPoverty,andPublicPolicy,goesontodocumentthatthenumberofpersonslivinginhigh-povertyneighborhoodsclimbed91%since2000(atrendwellunderwaybeforethe2008recession)andthatAfricanAmericans-andespeciallyAfricanAmericanchildren-havebeenandcontinuetobedisproportionatelyrepresentedintheseghettoswithenormous,destructiveandlong-lastingconsequencesforindividuals,families,communities,andthenation.BuildingOneAmericaarguesthatthecontinuedexistenceandaccelerationofracialsegregationandtheconcentrationofpovertyhaveplayedamajorroleindrivingeconomicinequalityforallAmericansandfuelingracialpolarization,whilestrengtheningareactionary,anti-workerpoliticalagendathatbenefitsWallStreetinvestorsandanti-unioncorporations.Itfurthersubmitsthatthelabormovementmustrestoreitshistoriccommitmenttoamultiracialworkingandmiddle-classstrugglethatisagainstsegregationandpovertyandforfullinclusionforallworkingpeople–includinglowincomeAfricanAmerican’s-inallindustries,tradesandleadershippositions.Anditmustdothisincoalitionwithlikemindedgroupsthatcanmobilizemultiracialgrassrootscommunityleadersfromcongregations,localgovernment,civilrightsorganizations,andlocalunionstodefendworkersinthepublicsectorwhilefightingforamassiveexpansionofinclusivemiddle-classjobs,especiallyinthebuildingandconstructiontrades.

BuildingOneAmerica

Forthepast6years,BuildingOneAmericahasstruggledtobuildapowerbasestrongenoughandsustainableenoughtochallengesomeofthemostintractableandchronicproblemsplaguingAmerica:risinginequality,economicdisparitiesanddiminishingopportunitiesforpoor,middleandworkingclassAmericans.

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Atthecenterofthiscrisishasbeentheshiftingbutenduringlegacyofghettopovertyinoururbancenters,racialsegregationinhousingandschoolsandthedeepandgrowinggapineconomicmobilityandlifeoutcomeseffectingeducation,income,incarceration,andevenmortalityrates-alltoooftenpre-determinedbyplace,raceandclassandexacerbatedbyurbanabandonment,suburbansprawlandregionalfragmentation.WhileAfricanAmericanfamiliestrappedinourmostdistressedcommunitiesarethehardesthit,workingpeopleofallracesandbackgrounds(includingworkingclasswhitesandmanyrecentimmigrantgroups)inbothcitiesandmiddleclasssuburbsareallweakenedbythegrowingspatialandsocialdivisionsofoursociety.BOAhaseffectivelyandsuccessfullyexpandedthisconversationandbroadenedsupportforthisstrugglebyengagingalargerswathofAmericans,includingmiddleandworkingclasswhitesandotherethnicgroupswhohavebeendeeplyharmedbythesesameforcesofinequalityalongwithAfricanAmericanswhoarestilldisproportionatelyandadverselyimpactedbysegregation,discriminationandpoverty.MuchofBOA’sworkhasfocusedonincreasinglydiversemiddleandworkingclasssuburbswhereregionaldisparitiesandincreasedeconomicstressmotivatemiddle-classpeopleofallcolorstofindcommongroundaroundplace-basedissuesimpactingtheirfamiliesandcommunitieslikethequalityofschools,localtaxrates,publicsafety,basicservices,infrastructureimprovementsandjobs.WhileBOA’sconstituencyhashistoricallybeenfromcongregations,towns,andschooldistrictsledbyclergy,localelectedandcivicleaders,BOA’sworkhasincludedpowerfulrelationshipswithlaborunionsmostlyattheregionalandstatelevel.Ourrelationshipswithorganizedlaborhavebeenpractical,politicalandbasedonoursharedvalues.2Wehavedrawnonthemforfundingandasalliesfortheirinfluenceandpoliticalmuscle.Butwehavenotfullyexploredorfullydevelopedthisrelationshipandthepotentialforfargreaterpower,supportandstrategiccoordinationthatcouldcomefromamoreformalandongoingrelationshipbasedonsharedgoals,intersectinginterest,historyandpower.Withtherelationshipsbuiltovertheyearswithlaborunionsatthelocalandnationallevel,andwiththeincreasedattentionbeingpaidtotheissuesofeconomicinequalityandracialjustice,itseemsthatwehaveanopportunitytoseizethe‘moment’andbringtheseforcestogetherforabreakthrough.

2There’sbeenaconvergenceofinterestbetweenBOAandlaborunionsaroundissuesandpolitics.BOAadvocatesforvastlyincreasedinfrastructureinvestment,BOAfightsforschoolfundingthatrewardsdiversebutstrugglingschooldistrictsandBOAdefendsthepublicsectorandlocalgovernment.BOAtakesadeliberatelybipartisanapproachtodealingwithfederalandstatepolicymakers.Agrowingnumberofunionstakeasimilarviewas:a)laborleadersbecomeincreasinglyfrustratedwiththeanti-laborpositionsofmanyDemocratswhotakelaborsupportforgranted;b)RepublicansdominatemanystatelegislaturesandCongress;andbecausec)thepoliticalpolarizationandhardideologicallinesweseeatthenationalandstateleveltendtobemuchlessinlocalcommunities-especiallyinmiddleandworkingclasssuburbswheremanyunionmembersliveandarelessrigidaboutpartisanpolitics.AndBuildingOneAmerica’svisionforafullyinclusivesocietyandexpandingmiddle-classopportunityforallpeopleisconsistentwiththeAmericanlabormovement’shistoryandvalues.

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A momentaboutthe‘moment’Americamayverywellbereachingacritical‘moment’–anhistoricaljuncturewherecultural,political,andhistoricalforcesseemtobeintersectingtocreatearareopeningwhereBuildingOneAmerica’scoreissuesofcombatingsegregationandexpandingeconomicopportunityarebackonthetableandinthepublicrealm.Buthistoryshowsusthatthese‘moments’canbedeceivingandevendangerouslymisleading.Evenifthesepowerfulculturalandpoliticalforcesconstituteatrue‘moment’inAmerica,theyinnowayguaranteeanyrealactionormeaningfulprogress.Infact,allthesepositivesignsandincreasedattentionfromthoseinpowermighthavetheunintendedeffectoflullingusintoinactionandinfectinguswiththehopeandfaiththatsomeoneelsewilldosomething.Wehaveseen‘moments’before–afterKatrina,RodneyKingandtheKernerReport…ortheelectionoffirstBlackPresident.

‘Moments’don’tcauseaction;theyonlycreateopportunitiesforactionandactionrequireshardworkandpoliticalpower.BuildingOneAmericahassomeimportantandpowerfulassetsandresourcesthatmakeituniquelysituatedtotakeadvantageofthe‘moment’.Wehaveonourboardandamongouralliessomeofthemostdynamicandhighlyrespectedcivilrightsleaders,academics,litigators,historiansandadvocateswhoare‘torchbearers’forthevisionofDr.MartinLutherKing.Wehaveabaseofgrassrootsandgrasstopsleadersincludingthoseinincreasinglydiversemultiracial,workingclass

suburbs.Wehavecapacityandexperienceineffectiveleadershiptrainingandorganizingandwehaveananalysisthatiscompelling,unifyingandfactbased.However,this‘moment’willflameoutunlessweapplythelessonsofallsuccessfulsocialmovements.Beingrightisnotenough.Theconvergenceofpoliticalandhistoricalforcesisnotenough,nomatterhowwellalignedtheymayseem,without:1)acompellingvisionandamoralcause;2)credible,trainedleadership3)well-financedandindependentpoliticalpower;and4)sustained,controversialandprovocativeactionsthat5)targetskeypublicpolicydecisionmakers.LaborandCivilRights-amutuallyreinforcingpowerrelationship

ArecentbookbyWilliamP.Jones-TheMarchonWashington:Jobs,Freedom,andtheForgottenHistoryofCivilRightshighlightsthepivotalroleoforganizedlaborinprovidingthepolitical,financialandinstitutionalpoweroftheAmericancivilrightsmovementandthecentralroleofA.PhilipRandolphinsustainingandorganizingthemovementoverthecourseofthreedecades.InexaminingthisallbutforgottenhistoryitbecomesclearthatitwasnotonlylaborthatprovidedmuchofthepoliticalandpeoplepowerforoneofAmerica’smosttransformationalsocialmovements.Civilrightsandblackledlabororganizations

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(particularlytheNationalNegroCongress,NAACP,theSleepingCarPortersUnion,theLeadershipConferenceonCivilandHumanRightsandlatertheNegroAmericanLaborCouncil)providedthecriticalsupportforagreatlyexpanded,multiracialindustriallabormovement.Despiteinternalresistance,friction,andtensionswithinlaborandthecivilrightscommunities,amutuallyreinforcingpowerrelationshipemerged,thankslargelytoRandolphandhisallies.Itpeakedsometimebetween1955and1964whenbothwereattheapexoftheirunityandnationalinfluence.Butshortlyafterthepassageof1964CivilRightsActabacklashbeganthatcontinuestothisday,abacklashthathaserodedthegains

andthepowerofbothmovements.Afterthemarchandtowardtheendofhislife,Randolphbecameincreasinglyconcernedwithtworelatedproblems-problemsthatweakenedAfricanAmericans’powerinunionsandhelpedcreatetheconditionsforthecurrentbacklash.First,newformsofautomationandlabor-savingtechnologiesincreasinglythreatenedmanyofthegainsoforganizedlaborforAfricanAmericans.ThesechangeshadalreadybeguntoshrinkthemanufacturingbasethatgrewduringandimmediatelyafterWorldWarII.Blacks,whohadnotyetbrokenthroughtheracial

barriersinmanyofthetrades,werenowrapidlylosinggroundinthemanufacturingindustriesthathadcreatedmiddle-classopportunitiesandunionizedmillionsofblackworkers.ThesuddenandprecipitouseconomicdisplacementoftheselasthiredfirstfiredworkerswouldleadtonewformsofJimCrow,thepoliticalandeconomicisolationofblackfamilies,andacorrespondingdeclineofapowerfullabormovement.Randolphpropheticallywarned:“Negroesmaywindupnotonlyasunskilledandunemployed,ifnotunemployable,butastheforgottenslumproletariatintheblackghettosofthegreatmetropolitancentersofthecountry,existingwithinthegreyshadowsofahopelesshope.”

Second,agrowingideologicalandstrategicdrifttowardblacknationalismandawayfrommultiracialcoalitionsamongmanyinthecivilrightsleadershipbolsteredanti-civilrightsforceswithinthelabormovementandweakenedtiesbetweenorganizedlaborandtheAfricanAmericanstruggle.3RandolphunderstoodthattoliberateblackpeoplefromthechainsofJimCrowandliftallworkingpeopletoamiddle-classlifewouldrequireapowerful,unifiedandraciallyintegratedlabormovement-alabormovementthatfullyincludedAfricanAmericansinalllevelsofleadershipandmembershipinallcraftsandindustries.TheclosertheAmericanlabormovementgottothatideal,themorepowerfulitbecameandthemoresuccessfulit3Theun-tetheringofthis“grandcoalition”ismostclearlyreflectedinthepopularrewritingofcivilrightshistoryanallianceofnorthernliberalwhitessupportingsouthernblackclergyandchurchmembers.

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becameatdefendingrightsandexpandingmiddle-classopportunityforallworkingmenandwomen.Andthisincludedthefightagainstsegregation,inequality,andracialoppression.Segregationandtheanti-unionagenda

Dr.MartinLutherKing,inreflectinguponthefierceresistancetodesegregationduringtheMontgomeryBusboycottwrotethat,“theunderlyingpurposeofsegregationwastooppressandexploitthesegregated,notsimplytokeepthemapart.”Thispowerfulinsightisnolesstruetodaythanitwasin1955.Kingsawthatwheretherewassegregationtherewasapowerfulprofitmotivebothinkeepingworkingpeopledividedanddisorganizedandinthemanyways,oftenunseen,thatracialsegregationcreatesopportunitiesfortheeconomicexploitationofworkers,voters,renters,homebuyers,commutersandconsumers.Today,therearecountlessinsidiouswaysinwhichourincreasinglydividedsocietyproducesnewandcreativeopportunitiesfortheexploitationofworkingpeopleandtheircommunities.Therearemillionsofdollarsmadeintheghetto’sfor-profitpovertyhousingmarket.Therearebillionsbeingmadeintheprivatizationofpublicsectorinstitutionsandgovernmentservices,includingthecharterschoolindustry,privateprisons,andprivatefor-profitcolleges.4Whiteflight,sprawl,andsuburbanfragmentationinmanyregionsfosteredadestructiveracetothebottomfortax-baseandjobs,resultinginnon-unioncommercialdevelopmentwithtaxgiveawaysandtheproliferationofalowwage,anti-unionbig-boxretailindustry.Ratherthancauseabacklashagainstasystemthatperpetuatesconcentratedpoverty,deepenssegregation,increasesdebtandlowersmiddle-classwages,corporate-backedmediaandpoliticalleadershavedoneanamazingjobatusingtheinevitablefailureofsegregatedschoolsanddeepcutsinlocalgovernmenttofurtherdemonizepublicsectorworkers,schoolteachersandthoselocalpoliticalleaderswhoarenotanti-unionoranti-government.Mostofourregionstodayaredividedintothreetypesofcommunities:1)deeplydistressedandraciallysegregatedghettosbothurbanandsuburban;2)increasinglydiverseworkingandmiddle-classcommunitiesthatarelargelyresidentialorolderindustrialsuburbs(wheremanyunionmemberslive);and3)‘hoarder’communities.Opportunityhoardersarethespectacularlyaffluentenclaveswheretherearenopoorchildren,wherethetaxbaseishighandthetaxareratesarelow.Youwillfindnocharterschoolsinthesecommunities,youwillfindveryfewpotholes,collapsingbridgesorbrokensidewalks.Andyouwillnotencounterbrutalorunaccountablepoliceofficerspreyingontheircitizens

4Andoveratrillioninmiddle-classwealthlosttothesubprimemortgagelendingindustry-disproportionatelyimpactingblackborrowersandfamiliesinsegregatedorraciallydiversecommunities.

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withimpunitytogeneratemunicipalrevenue.Youwillalsonotfindmanyunionmemberslivinginthesecommunitiesandfewpeopleofcolor.Thisdeeplydividedsocietyweliveintodayhasbeenadisasterforworkingpeopleandforthelabormovement.Ithascreatedinnumerablewaystofleecethemiddle-classandoppressthepoor.Andthesocialandeconomictensionscreatedbythesedivisionshavebeenturnedagainstunionizedworkers,especiallythoseinthepublicsectorandbuildingtrades.ProgramsfortheurbanpoorlikeSection8,deepsubsidiesforhighpovertyschoolsandurbanrevitalizationstokeresentmentandreinforceracialstereotypesamongmiddle-classtaxpayerswhileenrichingout-of-townownersandWallStreetinvestorsofthefor-profithousingindustry,charterschools,anddevelopmentagencieswhileatthesametimecreatingandsustainingalocalclassofoftenanti-unionnot-for-profitadvocates.Suburbs,andespeciallythenewerexurbswheremanyoftheregion’sjobshavemigratedto,havebecomeincreasinglyhostiletoorganizedlabor.Developmentpatterns,municipalcompetitionandpoliticaltrendsinnewersuburbsfuelanacceptanceofanon-unionlowwageworkforceandanearcompletesurrendertoananti-unionenvironmentinmostretailandcommercialindustries,aswellasallresidentialandmostcommercialconstruction.Whilepublicsectorunions,andespeciallyteachers,havebeenthebuttoftheattacks,buildingandconstructiontradeunionsarealsopunishedandweakenedasgovernmentspendingforinfrastructureisdeliberatelyandseverelyrestrained.5Theobstructionistswhoblockfundingforroadsandbridgesarethesameoneswhoattackpublicsectorunionsandsupporttheprivatizationofgovernment.Bykeepingpublicspendingforbadlyneededinfrastructureatnearstarvationlevels,buildingtradeunionsareweakenedpoliticallyandeconomically.Theirdefenseagainsteffortstogutprevailingwagestandardsiserodedandothereffortstoreducetheirleverageinboththepublicandprivatesectormarketsarediminished.Moreover,bykeepingwhatshouldactuallybeanexpandinglabormarketsostifled,unionmembersareoftenforcedtocompetewitheachotherforashrinkingjobmarketandwithmoreandmorenon-union,low-wageworkers.5Manybuildingtradeunionshavemadesignificantprogressovertheyearsindiversifyingtheirworkforceandleadershipbuttheconstraintsinthejobmarket,especiallysincetherecession,makeitverydifficultforthisindustryandtheirunionstobecomeasinclusiveastheycanandshouldbe.

Unionworkinconstructionandthebuildingtradesaresomeofthebestjobsforopeningapathtothemiddle-classforlow-incomeworkersofallcolors.Amuchgreaterexpansionofworkinthesefieldstomeettherealchallengesofthecountry’sinfrastructureneedswouldgreatlyexpandmiddle-classdiversityandreducepovertyamongallpeople.A2013studyfromtheEconomicPolicyInstitutebyAlgernonAustinshowedthatdespitetheperceptionsandhistoryofracialexclusioninmanybuildingtradeindustries,investmentsininfrastructurestilldisproportionatelybenefitAfricanAmericanandLatinoworkerseitherthroughdirectemploymentorthroughindirectbutrelatedeconomicactivity.

Astrengtheningoffederalandstaterulessuchasexecutiveorder11246andtheOfficeofFederalContractComplianceProgramswouldgoalongwaytowardaddressingracialjusticeandincomeinequityinAmerica.Anditwouldhelptocreateamuchbroaderandmorediversebaseofsupportfororganizedlaborandforaddressingthemassivepent-updemandforpubliclyfinancedinfrastructure.

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Today’smodernyetamazinglyinvisibleapartheidstate

Inthesesamecommunities,eachwiththeirownself-reinforcing,corporatefundedversionofananti-collective-bargainingethos,thereisperhapsanevenmoremystifyingandstunningcollectivedelusiongoingon:analmostcompleteacceptanceofshockinglevelsofracialsegregationandpovertyconcentrationinschoolsandhousingacrossmetropolitanregions.Inmanyregionsthenumberofhighpovertyneighborhoodsisgrowing,asarethenumbersofpoorpeoplelivinginhighpovertyneighborhoods,disproportionatelyAfricanAmericansandchildren.Municipalities,neighborhoods,andschooldistrictsareoftencompletelyseparate,andstillverymuchunequal,62yearsaftertheBrowndecisionand47yearsaftertheFairHousingActbannedresidentialdiscriminationbasedonrace.Perhapsmoststunningtosomeistheparticularbrandofblindnessanddenial,notofthefarrightconservativesortheRepublicanestablishment,butoftheliberalsandprogressiveswhoseconcernforthepoorandsupportforfailed,politicallyunpopularandveryexpensivesocialprogramsseemsonlytoreinforcethestatusquo.Theyarecompliciteitherthroughtheirinabilityorunwillingnesstonameitortheircollusioninsupportingthediscreditedandrepudiateddreamthatseparatecansomedaybeequal.ThisbafflingrefusaltorecognizeandnamewhatThurgoodMarshal,King,RandolphandtheSupremeCourtallrecognized,thatseparatewillneverbeequal,isperhapsthemainreasonthelabormovementhasbeenunabletoeffectivelyfightback.Withoutdirectlyaddressingracialsegregationandtheimpactonchildrenwhohavebeenrelegatedtocommunitieswithdeeplevelsofgenerationalpoverty,weleaveourselveswithnorealanswertothedysfunction,pathology,violence,andinevitablepatternsoffailure

thatfolkslivinginghettosarealltoowellawareof.Bypretendingsegregationisnothappeningorthatitissomehow‘voluntary’weerodeourowncredibilitywiththosewhoknowbetter,andworse,wesendamessagethatitistheisolated’sfault,furtherreinforcingareactionaryanalysisandtheraciststereotypesthatfeedthecurrentpoliticalclimate.Moreover,ourunwillingnesstonameand

challengethismorallyrepugnantsystemputsusatanunnecessaryanddangerousmoraldisadvantage.Takingandholdingthemoralhighgroundisnottellingouropponentsthateverythingisallrightintheghetto.Nordoesitmeantomimictheirrhetoricaboutstandardsandaccountability.Accusingouropponentsofbeing‘union-busters’ornotcaringaboutteachersandfirefightersdoesn’tembarrassthem,doesn’tmakethemfeelbadanditdoesn’tattractalliesorbroadenourbaseofsupportamongstrugglingmiddle-classpropertytaxpayers.

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Takingthemoralhighgroundiscallingopponentswhattheyare:enemiesofworkingpeopleandperpetuatorsoflethalapartheidinAmerica.Thatwouldgetpeople’sattention,putourenemiesonthedefensive,andsendtheiralliesrunningforcover.Somepeoplemightthinkthatsucharacializedapproachwouldbetoopolarizingandtoodivisive.Dr.KingnevermincedworkswhenitcametodescribingtheimmoralityanddeadlinessofJimCrowsegregation.Histacticsnamedandexposedthosewhodefendedandperpetuateditandblamedthosewhohadthepowertodismantleitbutchosenotto.ThisdidnotpittheCivilRightsmovementagainstallofwhiteAmerica,itpitthesegregationistagainsttheUnitedStatesofAmerica-andthesegregationistslost.HowBOAcanplayaroleinrestoringthesetieswhilebuildingsupportforourwork

Whilelabor’senormousroleinthecivilrightsstrugglehasbeenpurgedordiminishedinpopularcultureandevenscholarlyhistory,unionsthemselveshavenotforgotten.TheytakegreatprideintheirroleintheMarchonWashington,inthesuppliestheysenttoSelmaandthecheckstheywrotetotheSouthernChristianLeadershipConference.Thisisespeciallytrueofmostpublicsectorsunions:Teachers,Municipal,Transportation,andPostalWorkers.ButitisalsotrueofTeamsters,GarmentWorkers,HotelWorkers,RetailWorkers,CommunicationWorkers,FoodandCommercialWorkersandtheAuto,SteelandMineworkers.TheBuildingTradeshavehadamoreproblematicpastwithcivilrightsalthoughfewunionshaveanunblemishedhistorywhenitcomestorace.ButeveninthebuildingtradestherehasbeenprogressasAfricanAmericansatthelocalandevennationallevelleadmoreunionsandoccupypositionsofpower.However,alltheseunionshaveonethingincommontoday,whichistheyarelosingpowerandareunderattack.Tobuildsolidarity,bothRandolphandKingrepeatedlypointedouttotheirrespectivemembersandalliesthatthesamepoliticianswhoattackedunionswerethesameoneswhoopposedcivilrights.

It’snodifferenttoday.Politicalleadersandtheirfinancialbackerswhoaretheenemiesofintegrationarealsotheenemiesoflabor.Theattackonpublicschoolsandteachersisonlythemostrecentandobviousexample.Andtheattackonpublicsectorworkershashadracialovertonesfordecades.TherecentassaultonunionsinWisconsinandthedesperateresponsefromlaborisaglaringexampleofhowanti-unionattackshavefurtherisolatedunionsfromtheirhistoricallybroadbase6andtheirbafflinginabilitytocasttheircauseasamoraloneconnectedtocivilrights,racialjusticeandthemiddle-class.

6OnMarch9,2015nearly1,500mostlyblackBlackLivesMatterprotestersdemonstratedinsidetheWisconsinstatecapitolovertheshootingofanunarmedbiracialteenagerbyawhitepoliceofficer.ThesamedayGovernorWalkermadeWisconsinthe25thstatetoadopta“right-to-work”lawdespiteprotestfromthousandsofunionmembersandtheirmostlywhiteactivistsupporterswhoshoweduponlydaysbefore.ContrastthatwithOhio,whereAFL-CIOSecretary-TreasurerPierretteTalleyengagedAfricanAmericanand

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BuildingOneAmerica’sexperienceoverthepast6yearsisthatourownbaseofchurches,universities,civilrightsexpertsandadvocatesandlocalelectedleadersisjustnotpowerfulenoughonitsown.ItisinBOA’sinteresttobemorecloselyalignedwithpowerfullaborunionsandtheirleadersandwebelieveitisinthelabormovement’sinteresttoworkwithBOAtofightforracialjusticeandeconomicopportunity.BuildingOneAmericaisproposingtolaunchastrategicandcoordinatedprogramaimedatrestoringthetiesbetweenlaborandcivilrights,trainingasignificantnumberofnewleaderstobeeffectiveinthepublicarenaandmovepeopleintosustainedandcoordinatedactionaroundcampaignsforracialjusticeandeconomicopportunityforallAmericans.ThiswouldbedirectedandcoordinatedbyBuildingOneAmericaanditspartnersandalliesinthelaborandcivilrightsmovement,workingwithlocalclergy,localelectedleaders,andlocalunionleadersinstatesandregions.Nationally,itwouldneedsupportfromnationallaborunions(andpossiblysomefoundations)whileitseektocoordinatewithcivilrightsorganizationsespeciallymembersoftheCoalitionofBlackTradeUnionists,theA.PhilipRandolphInstituteandtheNationalAssociationfortheAdvancementofColoredPeople.LeadersofthesegroupsaredirectoutgrowthsoftheCivilRights/Laborallianceandtheyoccupypowerfulpositionsinmajorunionsacrossthecountry.Theytooare‘torchbearers.’TodothisBOAhasinitiatedthefollowingprogram

LaborCivilRightsForums

In2016,BOAhostedaseriesofregionalforumsinOhioandNewJerseyaimedatcelebratingandrestoringthehistoricrelationshipbetweenlaborandcivilrights.TheseeventsincludedlaborleadersandcivilrightsleadersfromthosestatesandregionsaswellasleadersfromtheCoalitionofBlackTradeUnionist(CBTU),theA.PhilipRandolphInstitute,theNAACPandotherguestspeakers.Theirpurposewastoeducate,agitate,andorganize.TheseforumstoldthestoryofAmerica’slaborandcivilrightsalliancewhileprovidingaunifyinganalysisofthecriticalchallengesworkingpeopleofallracesfacetoday.Eachforumpresentedthemostsalientandrelevantpolicyagendafortheirstateandregionincluding:o Supportforstatelevelschoolandmunicipalfundingformulasthatpromotediverseand

inclusiveschools,andneighborhoodsandprotectmiddle-classjobs.o Federalandstatehousingpoliciesandpracticesthatpromotemobilityandregional

opportunityandreducesegregationandpovertyconcentration.o Supportforamassiveexpansionofinfrastructureinvestmentatthestateandfederal

leveltopromoteinclusivejobsandincentivizeinclusivecommunities.o Fairandprogressiverevenuegenerationandallocationtoreduceregionaland

economicdisparities,supportdiversecommunitiesandschools,andtosaveandcreateinclusivemiddle-classjobs.

civilrightsleadersinthesuccessfulfightagainstGovernorKasich’santiunionattack,reframingthefightasaracialjusticeaswellasaneconomicstruggle.

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o Increaseintheminimumwageandfightbackagainsteffortstoweaken(andadvanceeffortstostrengthen)collectivebargainingrights.

BuildingOneAmericaLeadershipTrainingInstitute

BOA’sgreatesttoolforrecruitingleaders,alliesandmembersisalsoitsmosteffectivemeansforpreparingthemfororganizing,fightingandwinning-thattoolisBOA’sleadershiptrainingprogram.Thereisademandforthistrainingacrossthecountryandespeciallyamongemergingleadersinincreasinglydiversecommunitiesandinstitutionssuchascongregations,laborunionsandlocalgovernmentswhereawidepowergapoftenexistsbetween‘oldguard’andnewleaderswhotendtobemorereflectiveofchangingdemographics.Thetrainingisdesignedtoprepareindividualswithstrongleadershippotentialtobemorepowerfulandeffectiveadvocatesforthemselvesandtheirorganizations.Moreover,itpreparesthemtoworktogetherincoordinatedcampaignswithBuildingOneAmericaanditsalliesinthelaborandcivilrightsmovements.Thetrainingitselffocusesontheprinciples,tactics,strategies,andtechniquesofleadershipandpowerinthepublicarenaincludingtopicssuchasorganizingtobuildpower,oneonones,listeningforself-interest,analyzingandimpactingpowerstructures,andlaunchingandwinningstrategiccampaigns.BOA’strainingisrootedintheAlinskytradition.However,unlikeotherorganizingandtrainingnetworks,BOAisunapologeticinprovidingananalysisaroundrace,placeandclassthatcallsformuchmorestructuralpolicyprescriptionsthanaretypicallypromotedbyprogressivesandurbanactiviststoday.Throughitstraining,BOAseekstobuildmulti-racial,workingclasspowertoadvanceaunifiednarrativeandaunifyingagendaaimedatbothracialjusticeandeconomicinequality.SeveralofBOA’snationalleadersareexperiencedandseasonedtrainersandBOAcancalluponanetworkofcolleaguestoserveasadditionalfacultywhereneeded.Moreover,theverytrainingprocessitselfhelpsdevelopnewtrainersandorganizers.Summer2017–NationalLabor/CivilRightsSummitBOAhasheldanationalsummiteverytwoyearsinWashington,DCwithparticipationfrommembersofCongressandWhiteHouseofficialsalongwithBOApolicyexperts,civilrightsadvocatesandhundredsoflocalleadersincludingelectedleadersfromdiversesuburbsandcities,clergy,civilrightsleadersandlaborleaders.Thesesummitshavefocusedonissuesandpoliciestopromoteandsupportsustainableracialandeconomicinclusioninhousing,schools,andjobs.BOAproposesthatitsnextnationalsummitbedeliberatelyfocusednotonlyonthepoliciesbutthepowerneededtobreakthroughonthecriticalissuesofsocialinclusionandmiddle-classexpansion.Thepresidentialelectionswillbebehindusafteratumultuouspoliticalyearinwhichrisingincomeinequalityandtheparallelbutintersectingissuesofracewillhavebeenfront,center,andjustbelowthesurface.BOAproposestoleveragethesepowerfulpoliticalandeconomicthemesandengagesomeofthemostimportantpeople’sinstitutionsinourcountryincludinglabor,faith,civilrights,andlocalgovernmentfromkeyregionsaroundthecountry.Theconferencewillsupportabroad-basedpeoplesmovementaimedatbuildingpower,advancinganewandunifying

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civilrightsnarrativeandtakingactionaroundanissueagendatocombateconomicinequality,racialsegregationandtopromoteinclusivecommunitiesandjobs.Conclusion

Well-fundedfar-rightpoliticscontinuestoblockeffortstofixourinfrastructure,createjobs,oraddressournation’smostprofoundproblemsfromracialsegregationtoclimatechange.Growinginequalitiesandpersistentinjusticehavegivenrisetoprotests,mediaattentionandelectoralinsurgencies,bothprogressiveandreactionary.Withoutsustainedorganizingforamultiracialworkingandmiddle-classmovementforjustice,such'moments'canproducemorebacklashthanprogress.Justasthelaborandcivilrightsmovementscametogetherinthe1950stoactonthecriticalopportunitiesoftheirtimeweneedtoacttogetheronthecriticalopportunitiesofourtimetomovetowardgreaterinclusiveness,economicjusticeandpower.BuildingOneAmericacountsamongitsadvisors,boardmembers,andleaderssomeofthenation’stopresearchers,academics,advocates,litigators,authors,andspeakers.Ithassomeofthebestorganizers,experiencedintheAlinskytraditionandskilledintheartofeffectiveleadershiptraining.Andithaslongstandingrelationshipswithleadersofsomeofthemostprominentanddeeplyrootedcivilrightsorganizations.BuildingOneAmericahasbeenabletotaketheserelationships,skills,andresourcesandeffectivelybringthemtobearorganizingamultiracialandregionalpowerbaseagainsttheintractableissuesofsegregation,concentratedpoverty,andeconomicinequality.Withadeepercommitmentandastrongeralliancewithorganizedlaborandcivilrightsgroupswebelievewecanmoresuccessfully,meaningfullyandenduringlytakefulladvantageofthe‘moment’weareintodayinAmerica.