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Full resolution (TIFF) - On this page / på denna sida - IV. Economics - 19. The War Boom—and Thereafter - 5. ... And Afterwards?
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424 An American Dilemma
when job opportunities were scarce, happened to be successful In driving him
3Ut. In all probability, there would have been rather few Negroes in the
automobile industry if it had not been for Henry Ford. It is even possible
that the Negro would not have a foothold at all in Northern manufacturing
industries at the present time had it not been for the labor shortage during
the First World War.
Assuming for the purpose of our discussion that the War ends with a real
peace—not a state of armed truce—and that this peace seems likely to last
for a while, this will mean a reduction in the production of arms and ships.
There are certain factors in this situation which, to some extent, may tend
to minimize the employment losses for the Negro. The very fact that he
has not gotten so much of a place in armament production, but rather has
made his most significant gains in certain consumption and service industries,
may possibly help him then and make the immediate employment losses
smaller for him than for the white workers. Also, the over-population in
agriculture may for a time make itself less severely felt, since so much
labor has been drawn to urban industries during the present emergency.
It is probable, as well, that many of the demobilized soldiers from agricul-
tural areas will never return to the farms.
These temporary advantages, however, will be counteracted by other
forces. The one armament industry which has the best chances of being
maintained, in some measure, after the War is airplane production, where
the Negro, so far, has not been allowed to get more than a toehold. The
shipyards, which have treated the Negro much better, are more likely to
decline.**® The War has brought about many revolutionary changes in
production techniques. These new experiences will probably help to bring
about a new mechanization trend as soon as production managers get the
time to think of reorganization of production other than that necessitated
by the exigencies of the War. Now they are doing everything possible to
produce quickly. After the War they will again emphasize economy of pro-
duction. A speed-up of the mechanization trend will involve new threats
to the unskilled worker. Again, the Negro will be one of the principal
sufferers.
Of paramount importance will be the general level of employment. The
Negroes’ hope of becoming integrated into American industry is much
greater if the American economy is geared to a full utilization of its
productive forces. Should there be widespread unemployment for a pro-
tracted period, it will tend to be concentrated on the Negro. Widespread
idleness will tend to increase the interest of the white workers in keeping
the Negro out. Long-time unemployment always makes for all kinds of
sodo-psychological tensions. The Negro, as usual, will be a convenient
object for those who have been kept brooding long enough to feel the
need for some spectacular action. White workers in service industries who
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