Inclusion,Sustainability,EconomicGrowth
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 middleclass 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,andincomes
increased.Butwhiteworkerswagesrosesteadilyduringthissameperiodandonlystagnatedthenfellasunionsdeclined,blackworkerslost
groundandthewagegapagainwidened.
BuildingOneAmerica
buildingoneamerica.org
Seizingthe‘moment’
RestoringtheHistoricandPowerfulAllianceofLaborandCivilRightsforRacial
JusticeandEconomicOpportunity
Introduction
InarecentCenturyFoundationreport,ProfessorPaulJargowskyobserves:Overthepast
year,scenesofcivilunresthaveplayedoutinthedeterioratinginner-ringsuburbofFerguson
andthetraditionalurbanghettoofinner-cityBaltimore…Theriotsandprotestshavesparked
anationalconversationaboutrace,violence,andpolicingthatislongoverdue.Something
important,however,isbeingleftoutofthisconversation:namely,thatwearewitnessinga
nationwidereturnofconcentratedpovertythatisracialinnature,andthatthisexpansion
andcontinuedexistenceofhigh-povertyghettosandbarriosisnoaccident.
Thereport,titled:CivilUnrest,ArchitectureofSegregationtheConcentrationofPoverty,and
PublicPolicy,goesontodocumentthatthenumberofpersonslivinginhigh-poverty
neighborhoodsclimbed91%since2000(atrendwellunderwaybeforethe2008
recession)andthatAfricanAmericans-andespeciallyAfricanAmericanchildren-have
beenandcontinuetobedisproportionatelyrepresentedintheseghettoswithenormous,
destructiveandlong-lastingconsequencesforindividuals,families,communities,andthe
nation.
BuildingOneAmericaarguesthatthecontinuedexistenceandaccelerationofracial
segregationandtheconcentrationofpovertyhaveplayedamajorroleindrivingeconomic
inequalityforallAmericansandfuelingracialpolarization,whilestrengtheninga
reactionary,anti-workerpoliticalagendathatbenefitsWallStreetinvestorsandanti-union
corporations.
Itfurthersubmitsthatthelabormovementmustrestoreitshistoriccommitmenttoa
multiracialworkingandmiddle-classstrugglethatisagainstsegregationandpovertyand
forfullinclusionforallworkingpeople–includinglowincomeAfricanAmerican’s-inall
industries,tradesandleadershippositions.
Anditmustdothisincoalitionwithlikemindedgroupsthatcanmobilizemultiracial
grassrootscommunityleadersfromcongregations,localgovernment,civilrights
organizations,andlocalunionstodefendworkersinthepublicsectorwhilefightingfora
massiveexpansionofinclusivemiddle-classjobs,especiallyinthebuildingand
constructiontrades.
BuildingOneAmerica
Forthepast6years,BuildingOneAmericahasstruggledtobuildapowerbasestrong
enoughandsustainableenoughtochallengesomeofthemostintractableandchronic
problemsplaguingAmerica:risinginequality,economicdisparitiesanddiminishing
opportunitiesforpoor,middleandworkingclassAmericans.
1
Atthecenterofthiscrisishasbeentheshiftingbutenduringlegacyofghettopovertyinour
urbancenters,racialsegregationinhousingandschoolsandthedeepandgrowinggapin
economicmobilityandlifeoutcomeseffectingeducation,income,incarceration,andeven
mortalityrates-alltoooftenpre-determinedbyplace,raceandclassandexacerbatedby
urbanabandonment,suburbansprawlandregionalfragmentation.
WhileAfricanAmericanfamiliestrappedinourmostdistressedcommunitiesarethe
hardesthit,workingpeopleofallracesandbackgrounds(includingworkingclasswhites
andmanyrecentimmigrantgroups)inbothcitiesandmiddleclasssuburbsareall
weakenedbythegrowingspatialandsocialdivisionsofoursociety.
BOAhaseffectivelyandsuccessfullyexpandedthisconversationandbroadenedsupport
forthisstrugglebyengagingalargerswathofAmericans,includingmiddleandworking
classwhitesandotherethnicgroupswhohavebeendeeplyharmedbythesesameforcesof
inequalityalongwithAfricanAmericanswhoarestilldisproportionatelyandadversely
impactedbysegregation,discriminationandpoverty.
MuchofBOA’sworkhasfocusedonincreasinglydiversemiddleandworkingclasssuburbs
whereregionaldisparitiesandincreasedeconomicstressmotivatemiddle-classpeopleof
allcolorstofindcommongroundaroundplace-basedissuesimpactingtheirfamiliesand
communitieslikethequalityofschools,localtaxrates,publicsafety,basicservices,
infrastructureimprovementsandjobs.
WhileBOA’sconstituencyhashistoricallybeenfromcongregations,towns,andschool
districtsledbyclergy,localelectedandcivicleaders,BOA’sworkhasincludedpowerful
relationshipswithlaborunionsmostlyattheregionalandstatelevel.Ourrelationships
withorganizedlaborhavebeenpractical,politicalandbasedonoursharedvalues.2We
havedrawnonthemforfundingandasalliesfortheirinfluenceandpoliticalmuscle.But
wehavenotfullyexploredorfullydevelopedthisrelationshipandthepotentialforfar
greaterpower,supportandstrategiccoordinationthatcouldcomefromamoreformaland
ongoingrelationshipbasedonsharedgoals,intersectinginterest,historyandpower.
Withtherelationshipsbuiltovertheyearswithlaborunionsatthelocalandnationallevel,
andwiththeincreasedattentionbeingpaidtotheissuesofeconomicinequalityandracial
justice,itseemsthatwehaveanopportunitytoseizethe‘moment’andbringtheseforces
togetherforabreakthrough.
2There’sbeenaconvergenceofinterestbetweenBOAandlaborunionsaroundissuesandpolitics.BOA
advocatesforvastlyincreasedinfrastructureinvestment,BOAfightsforschoolfundingthatrewardsdiverse
butstrugglingschooldistrictsandBOAdefendsthepublicsectorandlocalgovernment.BOAtakesa
deliberatelybipartisanapproachtodealingwithfederalandstatepolicymakers.Agrowingnumberofunions
takeasimilarviewas:a)laborleadersbecomeincreasinglyfrustratedwiththeanti-laborpositionsofmany
Democratswhotakelaborsupportforgranted;b)Republicansdominatemanystatelegislaturesand
Congress;andbecausec)thepoliticalpolarizationandhardideologicallinesweseeatthenationalandstate
leveltendtobemuchlessinlocalcommunities-especiallyinmiddleandworkingclasssuburbswheremany
unionmembersliveandarelessrigidaboutpartisanpolitics.AndBuildingOneAmerica’svisionforafully
inclusivesocietyandexpandingmiddle-classopportunityforallpeopleisconsistentwiththeAmericanlabor
movement’shistoryandvalues.
2
A momentaboutthe‘moment’
Americamayverywellbereachingacritical‘moment’–anhistoricaljuncturewhere
cultural,political,andhistoricalforcesseemtobeintersectingtocreatearareopening
whereBuildingOneAmerica’scoreissuesofcombatingsegregationandexpanding
economicopportunityarebackonthetableandinthepublicrealm.Buthistoryshowsus
thatthese‘moments’canbedeceivingandevendangerouslymisleading.
Evenifthesepowerfulculturalandpoliticalforcesconstituteatrue‘moment’inAmerica,
theyinnowayguaranteeanyrealactionormeaningfulprogress.Infact,allthesepositive
signsandincreasedattentionfromthoseinpowermighthavetheunintendedeffectof
lullingusintoinactionandinfectinguswiththehopeandfaiththatsomeoneelsewilldo
something.Wehaveseen‘moments’before–afterKatrina,RodneyKingandtheKerner
Report…ortheelectionoffirstBlackPresident.
‘Moments’don’tcauseaction;theyonlycreateopportunitiesfor
actionandactionrequireshardworkandpoliticalpower.
BuildingOneAmericahassomeimportantandpowerfulassets
andresourcesthatmakeituniquelysituatedtotakeadvantage
ofthe‘moment’.Wehaveonourboardandamongourallies
someofthemostdynamicandhighlyrespectedcivilrights
leaders,academics,litigators,historiansandadvocateswhoare
‘torchbearers’forthevisionofDr.MartinLutherKing.Wehavea
baseofgrassrootsandgrasstopsleadersincludingthosein
increasinglydiverse
multiracial,workingclass
suburbs.Wehavecapacityandexperienceineffective
leadershiptrainingandorganizingandwehavean
analysisthatiscompelling,unifyingandfactbased.
However,this‘moment’willflameoutunlessweapply
thelessonsofallsuccessfulsocialmovements.Being
rightisnotenough.Theconvergenceofpoliticaland
historicalforcesisnotenough,nomatterhowwellalignedtheymayseem,without:1)a
compellingvisionandamoralcause;2)credible,trainedleadership3)well-financedand
independentpoliticalpower;and4)sustained,controversialandprovocativeactionsthat
5)targetskeypublicpolicydecisionmakers.
LaborandCivilRights-amutuallyreinforcingpowerrelationship
ArecentbookbyWilliamP.Jones-TheMarchonWashington:Jobs,Freedom,andthe
ForgottenHistoryofCivilRightshighlightsthepivotalroleoforganizedlaborinproviding
thepolitical,financialandinstitutionalpoweroftheAmericancivilrightsmovementand
thecentralroleofA.PhilipRandolphinsustainingandorganizingthemovementoverthe
courseofthreedecades.
Inexaminingthisallbutforgottenhistoryitbecomesclearthatitwasnotonlylaborthat
providedmuchofthepoliticalandpeoplepowerforoneofAmerica’smost
transformationalsocialmovements.Civilrightsandblackledlabororganizations
3
(particularlytheNationalNegroCongress,NAACP,theSleepingCarPortersUnion,the
LeadershipConferenceonCivilandHumanRightsandlatertheNegroAmericanLabor
Council)providedthecriticalsupportforagreatlyexpanded,multiracialindustriallabor
movement.
Despiteinternalresistance,friction,andtensionswithinlaborandthecivilrights
communities,amutuallyreinforcingpowerrelationshipemerged,thankslargelyto
Randolphandhisallies.Itpeakedsometimebetween1955and1964whenbothwereat
theapexoftheirunityandnationalinfluence.Butshortlyafterthepassageof1964Civil
RightsActabacklashbeganthatcontinuestothisday,abacklashthathaserodedthegains
andthepowerofbothmovements.
Afterthemarchandtowardtheendofhislife,
Randolphbecameincreasinglyconcernedwithtwo
relatedproblems-problemsthatweakenedAfrican
Americans’powerinunionsandhelpedcreatethe
conditionsforthecurrentbacklash.First,newforms
ofautomationandlabor-savingtechnologies
increasinglythreatenedmanyofthegainsof
organizedlaborforAfricanAmericans.Thesechanges
hadalreadybeguntoshrinkthemanufacturingbase
thatgrewduringandimmediatelyafterWorldWarII.
Blacks,whohadnotyetbrokenthroughtheracial
barriersinmanyofthetrades,werenowrapidlylosinggroundinthemanufacturing
industriesthathadcreatedmiddle-classopportunitiesandunionizedmillionsofblack
workers.
Thesuddenandprecipitouseconomicdisplacementoftheselasthiredfirstfiredworkers
wouldleadtonewformsofJimCrow,thepoliticalandeconomicisolationofblackfamilies,
andacorrespondingdeclineofapowerfullabormovement.
Randolphpropheticallywarned:“Negroesmaywindupnotonlyasunskilledand
unemployed,ifnotunemployable,butastheforgottenslumproletariatintheblackghettosof
thegreatmetropolitancentersofthecountry,existingwithinthegreyshadowsofahopeless
hope.”
Second,agrowingideologicalandstrategicdrifttowardblacknationalismandawayfrom
multiracialcoalitionsamongmanyinthecivilrightsleadershipbolsteredanti-civilrights
forceswithinthelabormovementandweakenedtiesbetweenorganizedlaborandthe
AfricanAmericanstruggle.3
RandolphunderstoodthattoliberateblackpeoplefromthechainsofJimCrowandliftall
workingpeopletoamiddle-classlifewouldrequireapowerful,unifiedandracially
integratedlabormovement-alabormovementthatfullyincludedAfricanAmericansinall
levelsofleadershipandmembershipinallcraftsandindustries.TheclosertheAmerican
labormovementgottothatideal,themorepowerfulitbecameandthemoresuccessfulit
3Theun-tetheringofthis“grandcoalition”ismostclearlyreflectedinthepopularrewritingofcivilrights
historyanallianceofnorthernliberalwhitessupportingsouthernblackclergyandchurchmembers.
4
becameatdefendingrightsandexpandingmiddle-classopportunityforallworkingmen
andwomen.Andthisincludedthefightagainstsegregation,inequality,andracial
oppression.
Segregationandtheanti-unionagenda
Dr.MartinLutherKing,inreflectinguponthefierceresistancetodesegregationduringthe
MontgomeryBusboycottwrotethat,“theunderlyingpurposeofsegregationwastooppress
andexploitthesegregated,notsimplytokeepthemapart.”Thispowerfulinsightisnoless
truetodaythanitwasin1955.
Kingsawthatwheretherewassegregationthere
wasapowerfulprofitmotivebothinkeeping
workingpeopledividedanddisorganizedandin
themanyways,oftenunseen,thatracial
segregationcreatesopportunitiesforthe
economicexploitationofworkers,voters,renters,
homebuyers,commutersandconsumers.
Today,therearecountlessinsidiouswaysin
whichourincreasinglydividedsocietyproduces
newandcreativeopportunitiesfortheexploitationofworkingpeopleandtheir
communities.Therearemillionsofdollarsmadeintheghetto’sfor-profitpovertyhousing
market.Therearebillionsbeingmadeintheprivatizationofpublicsectorinstitutionsand
governmentservices,includingthecharterschoolindustry,privateprisons,andprivate
for-profitcolleges.4
Whiteflight,sprawl,andsuburbanfragmentationinmanyregionsfosteredadestructive
racetothebottomfortax-baseandjobs,resultinginnon-unioncommercialdevelopment
withtaxgiveawaysandtheproliferationofalowwage,anti-unionbig-boxretailindustry.
Ratherthancauseabacklashagainstasystemthatperpetuatesconcentratedpoverty,
deepenssegregation,increasesdeptandlowersmiddle-classwages,corporate-backed
mediaandpoliticalleadershavedoneanamazingjobatusingtheinevitablefailureof
segregatedschoolsanddeepcutsinlocalgovernmenttofurtherdemonizepublicsector
workers,schoolteachersandthoselocalpoliticalleaderswhoarenotanti-unionorantigovernment.
Mostofourregionstodayaredividedintothreetypesofcommunities:1)deeplydistressed
andraciallysegregatedghettosbothurbanandsuburban;2)increasinglydiverseworking
andmiddle-classcommunitiesthatarelargelyresidentialorolderindustrialsuburbs
(wheremanyunionmemberslive);and3)‘hoarder’communities.Opportunityhoarders
arethespectacularlyaffluentenclaveswheretherearenopoorchildren,wherethetax
baseishighandthetaxareratesarelow.Youwillfindnocharterschoolsinthese
communities,youwillfindveryfewpotholes,collapsingbridgesorbrokensidewalks.And
youwillnotencounterbrutalorunaccountablepoliceofficerspreyingontheircitizens
4Andoveratrillioninmiddle-classwealthlosttothesubprimemortgagelendingindustry-
disproportionatelyimpactingblackborrowersandfamiliesinsegregatedorraciallydiversecommunities.
5
withimpunitytogeneratemunicipalrevenue.Youwillalsonotfindmanyunionmembers
livinginthesecommunitiesandfewpeopleofcolor.
Thisdeeplydividedsocietyweliveintodayhasbeenadisasterforworkingpeopleandfor
thelabormovement.Ithascreatedinnumerablewaystofleecethemiddle-classand
oppressthepoor,andthesocialandeconomictensionscreatedbythesedivisionshave
beenturnedagainstunionizedworkers,especiallythoseinthepublicsectorandbuilding
trades.
ProgramsfortheurbanpoorlikeSection8,deepsubsidiesforhighpovertyschoolsand
urbanrevitalizationstokeresentmentandreinforceracialstereotypesamongmiddle-class
taxpayerswhileenrichingout-of-townownersandWallStreetinvestorsofthefor-profit
housingindustry,charterschools,anddevelopmentagencieswhileatthesametime
creatingandsustainingalocalclassofoftenanti-unionnot-for-profitadvocates.
Suburbs,andespeciallythenewerexurbswheremanyoftheregion’sjobshavemigrated
to,havebecomeincreasinglyhostiletoorganizedlabor.Developmentpatterns,municipal
competitionandpoliticaltrendsinnewersuburbsfuelanacceptanceofanon-unionlow
wageworkforceandanearcompletesurrendertoananti-unionenvironmentinmostretail
andcommercialindustries,aswellasallresidentialandmostcommercialconstruction.
Whilepublicsectorunions,andespeciallyteachers,havebeenthebuttoftheattacks,
buildingandconstructiontradeunionsarealsopunishedandweakenedasgovernment
spendingforinfrastructureisdeliberatelyandseverelyrestrained.5
Theobstructionistswhoblockfundingforroadsandbridgesarethesameoneswhoattack
publicsectorunionsandsupporttheprivatizationofgovernment.
Bykeepingpublicspendingforbadlyneededinfrastructureatnearstarvationlevels,
buildingtradeunionsareweakenedpoliticallyandeconomically.Theirdefenseagainst
effortstogutprevailingwagestandardsiserodedandothereffortstoreducetheirleverage
inboththepublicandprivatesectormarketsarediminished.Moreover,bykeepingwhat
shouldactuallybeanexpandinglabormarketsostifled,unionmembersareoftenforcedto
competewitheachotherforashrinkingjobmarketandwithmoreandmorenon-union,
low-wageworkers.
5Manybuildingtradeunionshavemadesignificantprogressovertheyearsindiversifyingtheirworkforce
andleadershipbuttheconstraintsinthejobmarket,especiallysincetherecession,makeitverydifficultfor
thisindustryandtheirunionstobecomeasinclusiveastheycanandshouldbe.
Unionworkinconstructionandthebuildingtradesaresomeofthebestjobsforopeningapathtothe
middle-classforlow-incomeworkersofallcolors.Amuchgreaterexpansionofworkinthesefieldstomeet
therealchallengesofthecountry’sinfrastructureneedswouldgreatlyexpandmiddle-classdiversityand
reducepovertyamongallpeople.A2013studyfromtheEconomicPolicyInstitutebyAlgernonAustin
showedthatdespitetheperceptionsandhistoryofracialexclusioninmanybuildingtradeindustries,
investmentsininfrastructurestilldisproportionatelybenefitAfricanAmericanandLatinoworkerseither
throughdirectemploymentorthroughindirectbutrelatedeconomicactivity.
Astrengtheningoffederalandstaterulessuchasexecutiveorder11246andtheOfficeofFederalContract
ComplianceProgramswouldgoalongwaytowardaddressingracialjusticeandincomeinequityinAmerica.
Anditwouldhelptocreateamuchbroaderandmorediversebaseofsupportfororganizedlaborandfor
addressingthemassivepent-updemandforpubliclyfinancedinfrastructure.
6
Today’smodernyetamazinglyinvisibleapartheidstate
Inthesesamecommunities,eachwiththeirownself-reinforcing,corporatefundedversion
ofananti-collective-bargainingethos,thereisperhapsanevenmoremystifyingand
stunningcollectivedelusiongoingon:analmostcompleteacceptanceofshockinglevelsof
racialsegregationandpovertyconcentrationinschoolsandhousingacrossmetropolitan
regions.Inmanyregionsthenumberofhighpovertyneighborhoodsisgrowing,asarethe
numbersofpoorpeoplelivinginhighpovertyneighborhoods,disproportionatelyAfrican
Americansandchildren.Municipalities,neighborhoods,andschooldistrictsareoften
completelyseparate,andstillverymuchunequal,61yearsaftertheBrowndecisionand47
yearsaftertheFairHousingActbannedresidentialdiscriminationbasedonrace.
Perhapsmoststunningtosomeistheparticularbrandofblindnessanddenial,notofthe
farrightconservativesortheRepublicanestablishment,butoftheliberalsand
progressiveswhoseconcernforthepoorandsupportforfailed,politicallyunpopularand
veryexpensivesocialprogramsseemsonlytoreinforcethestatusquo.Theyarecomplicit
eitherthroughtheirinabilityorunwillingnesstonameitortheircollusioninsupporting
thediscreditedandrepudiateddreamthatseparatecansomedaybeequal.
Thisbafflingrefusaltorecognizeandnamewhat
ThurgoodMarshal,King,RandolphandtheSupreme
Courtallrecognized,thatseparatewillneverbe
equal,isperhapsthemainreasonthelabor
movementhasbeenunabletoeffectivelyfightback.
Withoutdirectlyaddressingracialsegregationand
theimpactonchildrenwhohavebeenrelegatedto
communitieswithdeeplevelsofgenerational
poverty,weleaveourselveswithnorealanswerto
thedysfunction,pathology,violence,andinevitable
patternsoffailurethatfolkslivinginghettosare
alltoowellawareof.
Bypretendingsegregationisnothappeningorthat
itissomehow‘voluntary’weerodeourown
credibilitywiththosewhoknowbetter,andworse,
wesendamessagethatitistheisolated’sfault,
furtherreinforcingareactionaryanalysisandthe
raciststereotypesthatfeedthecurrentpolitical
climate.
Moreover,ourunwillingnesstonameandchallengethismorallyrepugnantsystemputsus
atanunnecessaryanddangerousmoraldisadvantage.Takingandholdingthemoralhigh
groundisnottellingouropponentsthateverythingisallrightintheghetto.Nordoesit
meantomimictheirrhetoricaboutstandardsandaccountability.Accusingouropponents
ofbeing‘union-busters’ornotcaringaboutteachersandfirefightersdoesn’tembarrass
them,doesn’tmakethemfeelbadanditdoesn’tattractalliesorbroadenourbaseof
supportamongstrugglingmiddle-classpropertytaxpayers.
7
Takingthemoralhighgroundiscallingopponentswhattheyare:enemiesofworking
peopleandperpetuatorsoflethalapartheidinAmerica.Thatwouldgetpeople’sattention,
putourenemiesonthedefensive,andsendtheiralliesrunningforcover.
Somepeoplemightthinkthatsucharacializedapproachwouldbetoopolarizingandtoo
divisive.Dr.Kingnevermincedworkswhenit
cametodescribingtheimmoralityand
deadlinessofJimCrowsegregation.Histactics
namedandexposedthosewhodefendedand
perpetuateditandblamedthosewhohadthe
powertodismantleitbutchosenotto.Thisdid
notpittheCivilRightsmovementagainstallof
whiteAmerica,itpitthesegregationistagainst
theUnitedStatesofAmerica-andthe
segregationistslost.
HowBOAcanplayaroleinrestoringthesetieswhilebuildingsupportforourwork
Whilelabor’senormousroleinthecivilrightsstrugglehasbeenpurgedordiminishedin
popularcultureandevenscholarlyhistory,unionsthemselveshavenotforgotten.They
takegreatprideintheirroleintheMarchonWashington,inthesuppliestheysenttoSelma
andthecheckstheywrotetotheSouthernChristianLeadershipConference.Thisis
especiallytrueofmostpublicsectorsunions:Teachers,Municipal,Transportation,and
PostalWorkers.ButitisalsotrueofTeamsters,GarmentWorkers,HotelWorkers,Retail
Workers,CommunicationWorkers,FoodandCommercialWorkersandtheAuto,Steeland
Mineworkers.TheBuildingTradeshavehadamoreproblematicpastwithcivilrights
althoughfewunionshaveanunblemishedhistorywhenitcomestorace.Buttherehas
beenprogressasAfricanAmericansatthelocalandevennationallevelleadmorebuilding
tradesunions.However,alltheseunionshaveonethingincommontoday,whichisthey
arelosingpowerandareunderattack.
Tobuildsolidarity,bothRandolphandKingrepeatedlypointedouttotheirrespective
membersandalliesthatthesamepoliticianswhoattackedunionswerethesameoneswho
opposedcivilrights.
It’snodifferenttoday.Politicalleadersandtheirfinancialbackerswhoaretheenemiesof
integrationarealsotheenemiesoflabor.Theattackonpublicschoolsandteachersisonly
themostrecentandobviousexample.Andtheattackonpublicsectorworkershashad
racialovertonesfordecades.TherecentassaultonunionsinWisconsinandthedesperate
responsefromlaborisaglaringexampleofhowanti-unionattackshavefurtherisolated
unionsfromtheirhistoricallybroadbase6andtheirbafflinginabilitytocasttheircauseasa
moraloneconnectedtocivilrightsandthemiddle-class.
6OnMarch9,2015nearly1,500mostlyblackBlackLivesMatterprotestersdemonstratedinsidethe
Wisconsinstatecapitolovertheshootingofanunarmedbiracialteenagerbyawhitepoliceofficer.Thesame
dayGovernorWalkermadeWisconsinthe25thstatetoadopta“right-to-work”lawdespiteprotestfrom
thousandsofunionmembersandtheirmostlywhiteactivistsupporterswhoshoweduponlydaysbefore.
ContrastthatwithOhio,whereAFL-CIOSecretary-TreasurerPierretteTalleyengagedAfricanAmericanand
8
BuildingOneAmerica’sexperienceoverthepast6yearsisthatourownbaseofchurches,
universities,civilrightsexpertsandadvocatesandlocalelectedleadersisjustnotpowerful
enoughonitsown.ItisinBOA’sinteresttobemorecloselyalignedwithpowerfullabor
unionsandtheirleadersandwebelieveitisinthelabormovement’sinteresttoworkwith
BOAtofightforracialjusticeandeconomicopportunity.
BuildingOneAmericaisproposingtolaunchastrategicandcoordinatedcampaignaimed
atrestoringthetiesbetweenlaborandcivilrights,trainingasignificantnumberofnew
leaderstobeeffectiveinthepublicarenaandmovepeopleintosustainedandcoordinated
actionaroundacampaignforracialjusticeandeconomicopportunityforallAmericans.
ThiswouldbedirectedandcoordinatedbyBuildingOneAmericaanditspartnersand
alliesinthelaborandcivilrightsmovement,workingwithlocalclergy,localelected
leaders,andlocalunionleadersinstatesandregions.Nationally,itwouldneedsupport
fromnationallaborunionsandsomefoundationandseektocoordinatewithcivilrights
organizationsespeciallymembersoftheCoalitionofBlackTradeUnionists,theA.Philip
RandolphInstituteandtheNationalAssociationfortheAdvancementofColoredPeople.
LeadersofthesegroupsaredirectoutgrowthsoftheCivilRights/Laborallianceandthey
occupypowerfulpositionsinmajorunionsacrossthecountry.Theytooare‘torchbearers.’
TodothisBOAisproposingthefollowingprogram
! In2016,BOAwillhostaseriesofregionalforumsaimedatcelebratingandrestoring
thehistoricrelationshipbetweenlaborandcivilrights.
Theseeventswillbeusedto:
1.Recruitandconsolidate-consolidateourmembercongregations,organizations
andelectedleadersandattractnewmembers.Itwillemphasizerecruitinglocalunions
whohavebeenalliestobecomemembersandrecruitnewalliesfromthelabor
movementandotherpeoplebasedinstitutions.
2.Educateandagitate–itwillhaveguestspeakersincludingcivilrightsleaders,labor
leadersandhistorianswhocantellthestoryofAmerica’slaborandcivilrightsalliance
aswellasspeakersandorganizerswhocanprovideaunifyinganalysisofwhatworking
peopleofallracesfacetoday,whoisbehinditandwhattheycanandmustdoaboutit.
3.Raisemoney–BOAwillusetheseeventstosecureduesfromitsowncurrentand
newmembersandsecurecontributionsandmembershipfeesfromunionsandother
allies.
4.Recruitandtrainleaders–OneofBOA’smostvaluablesassetsisitsleadershiptrainingprogram.Theseforumswillbeusedtopromotethatprogram,recruitpotential
trainees,andsecuretheircommitmenttoafive-dayprograminthespring.
5.Seekinputandgetbuy-intoapolicyagenda–Eachforumwillpresentthemost
salientandrelevantpolicyagendaforthatstateandregion.Thiswilllikelyinclude:
civilrightsleadersinthesuccessfulfightagainstGovernorKasich’santiunionattack,reframingthefightasa
racialjusticeaswellasaneconomicstruggle.
9
o Supportforstatelevelschoolandmunicipalfundingformulasthatpromote
diverseandinclusiveschools,andneighborhoodsandprotectmiddle-class
jobs.
o Federalandstatehousingpoliciesandpracticesthatpromotemobilityand
regionalopportunityandreducesegregationandpovertyconcentration.
o Supportforamassiveexpansionofinfrastructureinvestmentatthestateand
federalleveltopromoteinclusivejobsandincentivizeinclusivecommunities.
o Fairandprogressiverevenuegenerationandallocationtoreduceregional
andeconomicdisparities,supportdiversecommunitiesandschools,andto
saveandcreateinclusivemiddle-classjobs.
o Increaseintheminimumwageandfightbackagainsteffortstoweaken(and
advanceeffortstostrengthen)collectivebargainingrights.
6.MobilizeandCalltoAction-Theforumswillpreparepeopletomoveintoaction
aroundtheissueagenda.
! Late2016–leadersattendBuildingOneAmericaLeadershipTrainingInstitute
BOA’sgreatesttoolforrecruitingleaders,alliesandmembersisalsoitsmosteffective
meansforpreparingthemfororganizing,fightingandwinning-thattoolisBOA’s
leadershiptrainingprogram.Thereisademandforthistrainingacrossthecountryand
especiallyamongemergingleadersinincreasinglydiversecommunitiesandinstitutions
suchascongregations,laborunionsandlocalgovernmentswhereawidepowergapoften
existsbetween‘oldguard’andnewleaderswhotendtobemorereflectiveofchanging
demographics.
Thetrainingisdesignedtoprepareindividualswithstrongleadershippotentialtobemore
powerfulandeffectiveadvocatesforthemselvesandtheirorganizations.Moreover,it
preparesthemtoworktogetherincoordinatedcampaignswithBuildingOneAmericaand
itsalliesinthelaborandcivilrightsmovements.Thetrainingitselffocusesonthe
principles,tactics,strategies,andtechniquesofleadershipandpowerinthepublicarena
includingtopicssuchasorganizingtobuildpower,oneonones,listeningforself-interest,
analyzingandimpactingpowerstructures,andlaunchingandwinningstrategiccampaigns.
SeveralofBOA’snationalleadersareexperiencedandseasonedtrainersandcancallupon
anetworkofcolleaguestoserveasadditionalfacultywhereneeded.Moreover,thevery
trainingprocessitselfhelpsdevelopnewtrainersandcommunityorganizers.
! 2016-2017–Localandregionalactions
Leadersholdpublicmeetingsandconductactionsinkeylegislativeandcongressional
districtstobuildsupportforaunifiedandcoordinatedcampaignaroundinfrastructure
investment,goodandinclusivejobs,fairhousing,andfairschoolfunding.
Whiletheseactionswillleveragethepoliticalvolatilityandelectoralcompetitioninkey
districtsandstatestheywillbeissuedrivenandnotelectoralorpartisanpoliticalactivity.
Thescopeandlevelofexpectationsoftheissuescampaignwilldependlargelyonthe
successofthewinterandspringfundraisingandleadershipandmembershiprecruitment
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efforts.Ideally,therewillbeatleastonestaffpersonperstateandthenumberofstates
thatparticipatebeyondPennsylvania,Ohio,andNewJerseywilldependonnational
fundingfromlaborunionsandfoundations.
! Summer2017–NationalLabor/CivilRightsSummit
BOAhasheldanationalsummiteverytwoyearsinWashington,DCwithparticipationfrom
membersofCongressandWhiteHouseofficialsalongwithBOApolicyexperts,civilrights
advocatesandhundredsoflocalleadersincludingelectedleadersfromdiversesuburbs
andcities,clergy,civilrightsleadersandlaborleaders.Thesesummitshavefocusedon
issuesandpoliciestopromoteandsupportsustainableracialandeconomicinclusionin
housing,schools,andjobs.BOAproposesthatitsnextnationalsummitbedeliberately
focusednotonlyonthepoliciesbutthepowerneededtobreakthroughonthecritical
issuesofsocialinclusionandmiddle-classexpansion.Thepresidentialelectionswillbe
behindusafteratumultuouspoliticalyearinwhichrisingincomeinequalityandthe
parallelbutintersectingissuesofracewillhavebeenfront,center,andjustbelowthe
surface.
BOAproposestoleveragethesepowerfulpoliticalandeconomicthemesandengagesome
ofthemostimportantpeople’sinstitutionsinourcountryincludinglabor,faith,civilrights,
andlocalgovernmentfromkeyregionsaroundthecountry.Theconferencewilllauncha
broad-basedpeoplesmovementaimedatbuildingpower,advancinganewandunifying
civilrightsnarrativeandtakingactionanissueagendathatflowsfromthatnarrativeto
combateconomicinequality,racialsegregationandtopromoteinclusivecommunitiesand
jobs.
Conclusion
Well-fundedfar-rightpoliticscontinuestoblock
effortstofixourinfrastructure,createjobs,or
addressournation’smostprofoundproblems
fromracialsegregationtoclimatechange.
Growinginequalitiesandpersistentinjusticehave
givenrisetoprotests,mediaattentionand
electoralinsurgencies,bothprogressiveand
reactionary.Withoutsustainedorganizingfora
multiracialworkingandmiddle-classmovement
forjustice,such'moments'canproducemore
backlashthanprogress.Justasthelaborandcivil
rightsmovementscametogetherinthe1950stoactonthecriticalopportunitiesoftheir
timeweneedtoacttogetheronthecriticalopportunitiesofourtimetomovetoward
greaterinclusiveness,economicjusticeandpower.
BuildingOneAmericacountsamongitsadvisors,boardmembers,andleaderssomeofthe
nation’stopresearchers,academics,advocates,litigators,authors,andspeakers.Ithas
someofthebestorganizers,experiencedintheAlinskytraditionandskilledintheartof
effectiveleadershiptraining.Andithaslongstandingrelationshipswithleadersofsomeof
themostprominentanddeeplyrootedcivilrightsorganizations.
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BuildingOneAmericahasbeenabletotaketheserelationships,skills,andresourcesand
effectivelybringthemtobearorganizingamultiracialandregionalpowerbaseagainstthe
intractableissuesofsegregation,concentratedpoverty,andeconomicinequality.Witha
deepercommitmentandastrongeralliancewithorganizedlaborandcivilrightsgroupswe
believewecanmoresuccessfully,meaningfullyandenduringlytakefulladvantageofthe
‘moment’weareintodayinAmerica.
Budget
NJ Grassroots Fundraising and Dues
40,000
OH Grassroots Fundraising and Dues
40,000
PA Grassroots Fundraising and Dues
40,000
General Fundraising and Dues from members outside of PA, OH, NJ
10,000
Board Contributions
10,000
Local and Regional Foundations
30,000
Training and Consulting Fees
20,000
National support from national Labor and Foundations (Match Local and
General Fundraising)
190,000
Total Income
380,000
Expenses
Full Time Director
100,000
Full Time Assistant or Co-Director
80,000
Staff Support and Financial Management
50,000
Part Time Fundraising Director
50,000
Travel
20,000
Office and Supplies
20,000
Electronic and Communication Support
20,000
Debts and Liabilities
20,000
Total
360,000
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