The Production of Difference : Race and the Management of Labor in U.S. History

In 1907, pioneering labor historian and economist John Commons argued that U.S. management had shown just one "symptom of originality," namely "playing one race against the other." In this eye-opening book, David Roediger and Elizabeth Esch offer a radically new way of understanding the history of management in the United States, placing race, migration, and empire at the center of what has sometimes been narrowly seen as a search for efficiency and economy. Ranging from the antebellum period to the coming of the Great Depression, the book examines the extensive literature slave masters produced on how to manage and "develop" slaves; explores what was perhaps the greatest managerial feat in U.S. history, the building of the transcontinental railroad, which pitted Chinese and Irish work gangs against each other; and concludes by looking at how these strategies survive today in the management of hard, low-paying, dangerous jobs in agriculture, military support, and meatpacking. Roediger and Esch convey what slaves, immigrants, and all working people were up against as the objects of managerial control. Managers explicitly ranked racial groups, both in terms of which labor they were best suited for and their relative value compared to others. The authors show how whites relied on such alleged racial knowledge to manage and believed that the "lesser races" could only benefit from their tutelage. These views wove together managerial strategies and white supremacy not only ideologically but practically, every day at workplaces. Even in factories governed by scientific management, the impulse to play races against each other, and to slot workers into jobs categorized by race, constituted powerful management tools used to enforce discipline, lower wages, keep workers on dangerous jobs, and undermine solidarity. Painstakingly researched and brilliantly argued, The Production of Difference will revolutionize the history of labor race in the United States. In This Eye-opening Book, David Roediger And Elizabeth Esch Offer A Radically New Way Of Understanding The History Of Management In The United States, Placing Race, Migration, And Empire At The Center Of What Has Sometimes Been Narrowly Seen As A Search For Efficiency And Economy. Ranging From The Antebellum Period To The Coming Of The Great Depression, The Book Examines The Extensive Literature Slave Masters Produced On How To Manage And Develop Slaves; Explores What Was Perhaps The Greatest Managerial Feat In U.s. History, The Building Of The Transcontinental Railroad, Which Pitted Chinese And Irish Work Gangs Against Each Other; And Concludes By Looking At How These Strategies Survive Today In The Management Of Hard, Low-paying, Dangerous Jobs In Agriculture, Military Support, And Meatpacking. Roediger And Esch Convey What Slaves, Immigrants, And All Working People Were Up Against As The Objects Of Managerial Control. Managers Explicitly Ranked Racial Groups, Both In Terms Of Which Labor They Were Best Suited For And Their Relative Value Compared To Others. The Authors Show How Whites Relied On Such Alleged Racial Knowledge To Manage And Believed That The Lesser Races Could Only Benefit From Their Tutelage. These Views Wove Together Managerial Strategies And White Supremacy Not Only Ideologically But Practically, Every Day At Workplaces. Even In Factories Governed By Scientific Management, The Impulse To Play Races Against Each Other, And To Slot Workers Into Jobs Categorized By Race, Constituted Powerful Management Tools Used To Enforce Discipline, Lower Wages, Keep Workers On Dangerous Jobs, And Undermine Solidarity.--publisher's Description. Acknowledgments -- Introduction: Race In The History Of U.s. Management -- Facing South -- The Antebellum South And The Origins Of Race Management : African Slavery, Indian Removal, And Irish Labor -- Managing The Negro : The African Slave As Asset And Animal -- Facing West -- Frontiers Of Control : Infrastructure, Western Expansion, And Race Management -- Crossing Borders : Racial Knowledge And The Transnational Triumphs Of U.s. Management -- Changing The Whole Story -- Continuity And Change : Scientific Management, Race Management, And The Persistence Of The Foremen's Empire -- The Crisis Of Race Management : Immigrant Rebellions, Immigration Restrictions, And A New Focus On Black And Mexican Labor -- Afterword: Then And Now -- Notes -- Index. David R. Roediger, Elizabeth D. Esch. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Centering on race and empire, this book revolutionizes the history of management. From slave management to U.S. managers functioning as transnational experts on managing diversity, it shows how "modern management " was made at the margins. Even in "scientific" management, playing races against each other remained a hallmark of managerial strategy.