Inclusion,Sustainability,EconomicGrowth

BuildingOneAmericabuildingoneamerica.org

B u i l d i n g O n e N e w J e r s e y

To build power for our common mission of creating a society of inclusive middle class opportunity, Building One America proposes to our allies in the labor and civil rights movement a joint program of leadership training and action around policies to reduce economic disparities and advancing racial justice.

Our short-term plan is to focus the next six months on specific fundraising, training, and action. Our long-term vision is to be a catalyst along with our partners to help rebuild and extend the historic alliance between labor and civil rights that created an inclusive and expanding American middle class.

This alliance has fractured under a sustained assault from the wealthiest and most right-wing forces in the country resulting in diminished power and harmful reversals of some of the most important labor and civil rights advances of the past 75 years. Practicing the age-old strategy of divide and conquer, they have driven wedges between and among us and effectively attacked not just the public sector and organized labor but the confidence of many Americans in democratic government.

We can only effectively fight this by organizing. Our side will always be outbid in the political marketplace when money is the principal currency. Organizing is about building power through training grassroots leaders to develop strong relationships, create effective organizations, analyze significant opportunities and challenges, and win major issue campaigns that simultaneously advance racial justice, reduce economic inequality, and strengthen multiracial coalitions.

Building One America focuses this work on the regional and spatial dimensions of inequality, fighting against segregation by race and class, and for inclusive opportunity through fair housing, school and municipal funding, infrastructure investment, and jobs.

This proposal argues for a renewed effort to further our collective ability to reverse the dangerous and destabilizing national the trend of opportunity hoarding at the very top of our economic pyramid and instead to enlarge and make more inclusive opportunity for all Americans.

The recent national attention being paid to both economic inequality and racial injustice can and should be leveraged for a unified multiracial working class movement for justice and equality just as civil rights and labor launched the powerful campaign for jobs and freedom over a half-century ago.

Labor & Civil Rights

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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.Itfurthersubmitsthatthelabormovementmustrestoreitshistoriccommitmenttoamultiracialworkingandmiddleclassstrugglethatisagainstsegregationandpovertyandforfullinclusionforallworkingpeople–includinglowincomeAfricanAmerican’s-inallindustries,tradesandleadershippositions.Anditmustdothisincoalitionwithlikemindedgroupsthatcanmobilizemultiracialgrassrootscommunityleadersfromchurches,localgovernment,civilrightsorganizations,andlocalunionstodefendworkersinthepublicsectorwhilefightingforamassiveexpansionofinclusivemiddleclassjobs,especiallyinthebuildingandconstructiontrades.

BuildingOneAmerica

Forthepast6years,BuildingOneAmericahasstruggledtobuildapowerbasestrongenoughandsustainableenoughtochallengesomeofthemostintractableandchronicproblemsplaguingAmerica:risinginequality,economicdisparitiesanddiminishingopportunitiesforpoor,middleandworkingclassAmericans.Atthecenterofthiscrisishasbeentheshiftingbutenduringlegacyofghettopovertyinoururbancenters,racialsegregationinhousingandschoolsandthedeepandgrowinggapineconomicmobilityandlifeoutcomeseffectingeducation,income,incarceration,andeven

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mortalityrates-alltoooftenpre-determinedbyplace,raceandclassandexacerbatedbyurbanabandonment,suburbansprawlandregionalfragmentation.WhileAfricanAmericanfamiliestrappedinourmostdistressedcommunitiesarethehardesthit,workingpeopleofallracesandbackgrounds(includingworkingclasswhitesandmanyrecentimmigrantgroups)inbothcitiesandmiddleclasssuburbsareallweakenedbythegrowingspatialandsocialdivisionsofoursociety.BOAhaseffectivelyandsuccessfullyexpandedthisconversationandbroadenedsupportforthisstrugglebyengagingalargerswathofAmericans,includingmiddleandworkingclasswhitesandotherethnicgroupswhohavebeendeeplyharmedbythesesameforcesofinequalityalongwithAfricanAmericanswhoarestilldisproportionatelyandadverselyimpactedbysegregation,discriminationandpoverty.MuchofBOA’sworkhasfocusedonincreasinglydiversemiddleandworkingclasssuburbswhereregionaldisparitiesandincreasedeconomicstressmotivatemiddleclasspeopleofallcolorstofindcommongroundaroundplace-basedissuesimpactingtheirfamiliesandcommunitieslikethequalityofschools,localtaxrates,publicsafety,basicservices,infrastructureimprovementsandjobs.WhileBOA’sconstituencyhashistoricallybeenfromcongregations,towns,andschooldistrictsledbyclergy,localelectedandcivicleaders,BOA’sworkhasincludedpowerfulrelationshipswithlaborunionsmostlyattheregionalandstatelevel.Ourrelationshipswithorganizedlaborhavebeenpractical,politicalandbasedonoursharedvalues.1Wehavedrawnonthemforfundingandasalliesfortheirinfluenceandpoliticalmuscle.Butwehavenotfullyexploredorfullydevelopedthisrelationshipandthepotentialforfargreaterpower,supportandstrategiccoordinationthatcouldcomefromamoreformalandongoingrelationshipbasedonsharedgoals,intersectinginterest,historyandpower.Withtherelationshipsbuiltovertheyearswithlaborunionsatthelocalandnationallevel,andwiththeincreasedattentionbeingpaidtotheissuesofeconomicinequalityandracialjustice,itseemsthatwehaveanopportunitytoseizethe‘moment’andbringtheseforcestogetherforabreakthrough.

A momentaboutthe‘moment’Americamayverywellbereachingacritical‘moment’–anhistoricaljuncturewherecultural,political,andhistoricalforces2seemtobeintersectingtocreatearareopening1There’sbeenaconvergenceofinterestbetweenBOAandlaborunionsaroundissuesandpolitics.BOAadvocatesforvastlyincreasedinfrastructureinvestment,BOAfightsforschoolfundingthatrewardsdiversebutstrugglingschooldistrictsandBOAdefendsthepublicsectorandlocalgovernment.BOAtakesadeliberatelybipartisanapproachtodealingwithfederalandstatepolicymakers.Agrowingnumberofunionstakeasimilarviewas:a)laborleadersbecomeincreasinglyfrustratedwiththeanti-laborpositionsofmanyDemocratswhotakelaborsupportforgranted;b)RepublicansdominatemanystatelegislaturesandCongress;andbecausec)thepoliticalpolarizationandhardideologicallinesweseeatthenationalandstateleveltendtobemuchlessinlocalcommunities-especiallyinmiddleandworkingclasssuburbswheremanyunionmembersliveandarelessrigidaboutpartisanpolitics.BuildingOneAmerica’svisionforafullyinclusivesocietyandexpandingmiddleclassopportunityforallpeopleisconsistentwiththeAmericanlabormovement’shistoryandvalues.2Muchoftheforcebehindthis‘moment’isowedto:1)therenewedattentiontoracialinjusticeandghettopovertyspurredbythepolicekillingsinFergusonandothermetropolitanareas;2)therelatednationalattentionbeingpaidtothistragedyincludingsomethathavebeenunrelentinginexposingtherealityof

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whereBuildingOneAmerica’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,workingclasssuburbs.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(particularlytheNationalNegroCongress,NAACP,theSleepingCarPortersUnion,theLeadershipConferenceonCivilandHumanRightsandlatertheNegroAmericanLaborCouncil)providedthecriticalsupportforagreatlyexpanded,multiracialindustriallabormovement.

enduringracialandeconomicsegregation;3)theunprecedentedandunflatteringinternationalmediacoverageofU.S.racerelationsandrenewedchargesofAmerica’s“doublestandard”astheglobaldefenderofdemocracyandhumanrights;4)ThepoliticalclimateandexpectationssurroundingthefinalyearofAmerican’sfirstblackpresident,theupcomingelectionseasonaswellastherecentSupremeCourtdecisionandthereleaseoftheAdministration’sAffirmativelyFurtheringFairHousing(AFFH)Rule.

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Despiteinternalresistance,friction,andtensionswithinlaborandthecivilrightscommunities,thankslargelytoRandolphandhisallies,amutuallyreinforcingpowerrelationshipemerged.Itpeakedsometimebetween1955and1964whenbothwereattheapexoftheirunityandnationalinfluence.Butshortlyafterthepassageof1964CivilRightsActabacklashbeganthatcontinuestothisday,abacklashthathaserodedthegainsand

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

barriersinmanyofthetrades,werenowrapidlylosinggroundinthemanufacturingindustriesthathadcreatedmiddleclassopportunitiesandunionizedmillionsofblackworkers.ThesuddenandprecipitouseconomicdisplacementoftheselasthiredfirstfiredworkerswouldleadtonewformsofJimCrow,thepoliticalandeconomicisolationofblackfamilies,andacorrespondingdeclineofapowerfullabormovement.Randolphpropheticallywarned:“Negroesmaywindupnotonlyasunskilledandunemployed,ifnotunemployable,butastheforgottenslumproletariatintheblackghettosofthegreatmetropolitancentersofthecountry,existingwithinthegreyshadowsofahopelesshope.”

Second,agrowingideologicalandstrategicdrifttowardblacknationalismandawayfrommultiracialcoalitionsamongmanyinthecivilrightsleadershipbolsteredanti-civilrightsforceswithinthelabormovementandweakenedtiesbetweenorganizedlaborandtheAfricanAmericanstruggle.3RandolphunderstoodthattoliberateblackpeoplefromthechainsofJimCrowandliftallworkingpeopletoamiddleclasslifewouldrequireapowerful,unifiedandraciallyintegratedlabormovement-alabormovementthatfullyincludedAfricanAmericansinalllevelsofleadershipandmembershipinallcraftsandindustries.TheclosertheAmericanlabormovementgottothatideal,themorepowerfulitbecameandthemoresuccessfulitbecameatdefendingrightsandexpandingmiddleclassopportunityforallworkingmenandwomen.Andthisincludedthefightagainstsegregation,inequality,andracialoppression.

3Theun-tetheringofthis“grandcoalition”ismostclearlyreflectedpopularrewritingofcivilrightshistoryaslargelyacoalitionofnorthernliberalwhitessupportingsouthernblackclergyandchurchmembers.

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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,increasesdeptandlowersmiddleclasswages,corporate-backedmediaandpoliticalleadershavedoneanamazingjobatusingtheinevitablefailureofsegregatedschoolsanddeepcutsinlocalgovernmenttofurtherdemonizepublicsectorworkers,schoolteachersandthoselocalpoliticalleaderswhoarenotanti-unionoranti-government.Mostofourregionstodayaredividedintothreetypesofcommunities:1)deeplydistressedandraciallysegregatedghettosbothurbanandsuburban;2)increasinglydiverseworkingandmiddleclasscommunitiesthatarelargelyresidentialorolderindustrialsuburbs(wheremanyunionmemberslive);and3)‘hoarder’communities.Opportunityhoardersarethespectacularlyaffluentenclaveswheretherearenopoorchildren,wherethetaxbaseishighandthetaxareratesarelow.Youwillfindnocharterschoolsinthesecommunities,youwillfindveryfewpotholes,collapsingbridgesorbrokensidewalks.Andyouwillnotencounterbrutalorunaccountablepoliceofficerspreyingontheircitizenswithimpunitytogeneratemunicipalrevenue.Youwillalsonotfindmanyunionmemberslivinginthesecommunitiesandfewpeopleofcolor.Thisdeeplydividedsocietyweliveintodayhasbeenadisasterforworkingpeopleandforthelabormovement.Ithascreatedinnumerablewaystofleecethemiddleclassandoppressthepoor,andthesocialandeconomictensionscreatedbythesedivisionshavebeenturnedagainstunionizedworkers,especiallythoseinthepublicsectorandbuildingtrades.ProgramsfortheurbanpoorlikeSection8,deepsubsidiesforhighpovertyschoolsandurbanrevitalizationstokeresentmentandreinforceracialstereotypesamongmiddleclass

4Andoveratrillioninmiddleclasswealthlosttothesubprimemortgagelendingindustry-disproportionatelyimpactingblackborrowersandfamiliesinsegregatedorraciallydiversecommunities.

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taxpayerswhileenrichingout-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.Today’smodernyetamazinglyinvisibleapartheidstate

Inthesesamecommunities,eachwiththeirownself-reinforcing,corporatefundedversionofananti-collective-bargainingethos,thereisperhapsanevenmoremystifyingandstunningcollectivedelusiongoingon:analmostcompleteacceptanceofshockinglevelsofracialsegregationandpovertyconcentrationinschoolsandhousingacrossmetropolitanregions.Inmanyregionsthenumberofhighpovertyneighborhoodsisgrowing,asarethenumbersofpoorpeoplelivinginhighpovertyneighborhoods,disproportionatelyAfricanAmericansandchildren.Municipalities,neighborhoods,andschooldistrictsareoftencompletelyseparate,andstillverymuchunequal,61yearsaftertheBrowndecisionand47yearsaftertheFairHousingActbannedresidentialdiscriminationbasedonrace.

5Buildingtradeunionshavemadesignificantprogressovertheyearsindiversifyingtheirworkforceandleadershipbuttheconstraintsinthejobmarketespeciallysincetherecessionmakeitverydifficultforthisindustryandtheirunionstobecomeasinclusiveastheycanandshouldbe.

Unionworkinconstructionandthebuildingtradesaresomeofthebestjobsforopeningapathtothemiddleclassforlow-incomeworkersofallcolors.Amuchgreaterexpansionofworkinthesefieldstomeettherealchallengesofthecountry’sinfrastructureneedswouldgreatlyexpandmiddleclassdiversityandreducepovertyamongallpeople.A2013studyfromtheEconomicPolicyInstitutebyAlgernonAustinshowedthatdespitetheperceptionsandhistoryofracialexclusioninmanybuildingtradeindustries,investmentsininfrastructurestilldisproportionatelybenefitAfricanAmericanandLatinoworkerseitherthroughdirectemploymentorthroughindirectbutrelatedeconomicactivity.

Astrengtheningoffederalandstaterulessuchasexecutiveorder11246andtheOfficeofFederalContractComplianceProgramswouldgoalongwaytowardaddressingracialjusticeandincomeinequityinAmerica.Anditwouldhelptocreateamuchbroaderandmorediversebaseofsupportfororganizedlaborandforaddressingthemassivepent-updemandforpubliclyfinancedinfrastructure.

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Perhapsmoststunningtosomeistheparticularbrandofblindnessanddenial,notofthefarrightconservativesortheRepublicanestablishment,butoftheliberalsandprogressiveswhoseconcernforthepoorandsupportforfailed,politicallyunpopularandveryexpensivesocialprogramsseemsonlytoreinforcethestatusquo.Theyarecompliciteitherthroughtheirinabilityorunwillingnesstonameitortheircollusioninsupportingtheoutlaweddreamthatseparatecansomedaybeequal.ThisbafflingrefusaltorecognizeandnamewhatThurgoodMarshal,King,RandolphandtheSupremeCourtallrecognized,thatseparatewillneverbeequal,isperhapsthemainreasonthelabormovementhasbeenunabletoeffectivelyfightback.Withoutdirectlyaddressingracialsegregationandtheimpactonchildrenwhohavebeenrelegatedtocommunitieswithdeeplevelsofgenerationalpoverty,weleaveourselveswithnorealanswertothedysfunction,pathology,violence,andinevitablepatternsoffailurethatfolkslivinginghettosarealltoowellawareof.Bypretendingsegregationisnothappeningorthatitissomehow‘voluntary’weerodeourowncredibilitywiththosewhoknowbetter,andworse,wesendamessagethatitistheisolated’sfault,furtherreinforcingareactionaryanalysisandtheraciststereotypesthatfeedthecurrentpoliticalclimate.Moreover,ourunwillingnesstonameandchallengethismorallyrepugnantsystemputsusatanunnecessaryanddangerousmoraldisadvantage.Takingandholdingthemoralhighgroundisnottellingouropponentsthateverythingisallrightintheghetto.Nordoesitmeantomimictheirrhetoricaboutstandardsandaccountability.Accusingouropponentsofbeing‘union-busters’ornotcaringaboutteachersandfirefightersdoesn’tembarrassthem,doesn’tmakethemfeelbadanditdoesn’tattractalliesorbroadenourbaseofsupportamongstrugglingmiddleclasspropertytaxpayers.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.ButtherehasbeenprogressasAfricanAmericansatthelocalandevennationallevelleadmorebuilding

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tradesunions.However,alltheseunionshaveonethingincommontoday,whichistheyarelosingpowerandareunderattack.Tobuildsolidarity,bothRandolphandKingrepeatedlypointedouttotheirrespectivemembersandalliesthatthesamepoliticianswhoattackedunionswerethesameoneswhoopposedcivilrights.

It’snodifferenttoday.Politicalleadersandtheirfinancialbackerswhoaretheenemiesofintegrationarealsotheenemiesoflabor.Theattackonpublicschoolsandteachersisonlythemostrecentandobviousexample.Andtheattackonpublicsectorworkershashadracialovertonesfordecades.TherecentassaultonunionsinWisconsinandthedesperateresponsefromlaborisaglaringexampleofhowanti-unionattackshavefurtherisolatedunionsfromtheirhistoricallybroadbase6andtheirbafflinginabilitytocasttheircauseasamoraloneconnectedtocivilrightsandthemiddleclass.BuildingOneAmerica’sexperienceoverthepast6yearsisthatourownbaseofchurches,universities,civilrightsexpertsandadvocatesandlocalelectedleadersisjustnotpowerfulenoughonitsown.ItisinBOA’sinteresttobemorecloselyalignedwithpowerfullaborunionsandtheirleadersandwebelieveitisinthelabormovement’sinteresttoworkwithBOAtofightforracialjusticeandeconomicopportunity.BuildingOneAmericaisproposingtolaunchastrategicandcoordinatedcampaignaimedatrestoringthetiesbetweenlaborandcivilrights,trainingasignificantnumberofnewleaderstobeeffectiveinthepublicarenaandmovepeopleintosustainedandcoordinatedactionaroundacampaignforracialjusticeandeconomicopportunityforallAmericans.ThiswouldbedirectedandcoordinatedbyBuildingOneAmericaanditspartnersandalliesinthelaborandcivilrightsmovement,workingwithlocalclergy,localelectedleaders,andlocalunionleadersinstatesandregions.Nationally,itwouldneedsupportfromnationallaborunionsandsomefoundationandseektocoordinatewithcivilrightsorganizationsespeciallymembersoftheCoalitionofBlackTradeUnionists,theA.PhilipRandolphInstituteandtheLeadershipConferenceonCivilandHumanRights.LeadersofthesegroupsaredirectoutgrowthsoftheCivilRights/Laborallianceandtheyoccupypowerfulpositionsinmajorunionsacrossthecountry.Theytooare‘torchbearers.’TodothisBOAisproposingthefollowingprogram

! December2015andJanuaryandFebruary2016(aroundMLKdayandthroughoutBlackHistoryMonth)BOAwillhostaseriesofregionalforumsaimedatcelebratingandrestoringthehistoricrelationshipbetweenlaborandcivilrights.Theseeventswillbeusedto:

1.Recruitandconsolidate-consolidateourmemberchurchesandelectedleadersandattractnewmembers.Itwillemphasizerecruitinglocalunionswhohavebeenalliestobecomemembersandrecruitnewalliesfromthelabormovementanduniversitiesincludingunionswhorepresentteachers,publicsectorandbuildingtradesworkers.

6OnMarch9nearly1,500mostlyblackBlackLivesMatterprotestersdemonstratedinsidetheWisconsinstatecapitolovertheshootingofanunarmedbiracialteenagerbyawhitepoliceofficer.ThesamedayGovernorWalkermadeWisconsinthe25thstatetoadopta“right-to-work”lawdespiteprotestfromthousandsofunionmembersandtheirmostlywhiteactivistsupporterswhoshoweduponlydaysbefore.

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2.Educateandagitate–itwillhaveguestspeakersincludingcivilrightsleaders,laborleadersandhistorianswhocantellthestoryofthelaborandcivilrightsallianceaswellasspeakersandorganizerswhocanprovideaunifyinganalysisofwhatworkingpeopleofallracesfacetoday,whoisbehinditandwhattheycanandmustdoaboutit.3.Raisemoney–BOAwillusetheseeventstosecureduesfromitsowncurrentandnewmembersandsecurecontributionsandmembershipfeesfromunionsandotherallies.4.Recruitandtrainleaders–OneofBOA’smostvaluablesassetsisitsleadership-trainingprogram.Theseforumswillbeusedtopromotethatprogram,recruitpotentialtrainees,andsecuretheircommitmenttoafive-dayprograminthespring.5.Seekinputandgetbuy-intoapolicyagenda–Eachforumwillpresentthemostsalientandrelevantpolicyagendaforthatstateandregion.Thiswilllikelyinclude:

o Supportforstatelevelschoolandmunicipalfundingformulasthatpromotediverseandinclusiveschools,andneighborhoodsandprotectmiddleclassjobs.

o Federalandstatehousingpoliciesandpracticesthatpromotemobilityandregionalopportunityandreducesegregationandpovertyconcentration.

o Supportforamassiveexpansionofinfrastructureinvestmentatthestateandfederalleveltopromoteinclusivejobsandincentivizeinclusivecommunities.

o Fairandprogressiverevenuegenerationandallocationtoreduceregionalandeconomicdisparities,supportdiversecommunitiesandschools,andtosaveandcreateinclusivemiddleclassjobs.

6.MobilizeandCalltoAction-Theforumswillpreparepeopletomoveintoactionaroundtheissueagenda.! February,March,andApril–leadersattendBuildingOneAmericaLeadershipTrainingInstitute

BOA’sgreatesttoolforrecruitingleaders,alliesandmembersisalsoitsmosteffectivemeansforpreparingthemfororganizing,fightingandwinning-thattoolisBOA’sleadershiptrainingprogram.Thereisademandforthistrainingacrossthecountryandespeciallyamongemergingleadersinincreasinglydiversecommunitiesandinstitutionssuchaschurches,laborunionsandlocalgovernmentswhereawidepowergapoftenexistsbetween‘oldguard’andnewleaderswhotendtobemorereflectiveofchangingdemographics.Thetrainingisdesignedtoprepareindividualswithstrongleadershippotentialtobemorepowerfulandeffectiveadvocatesforthemselvesandtheirorganizations.Moreover,itpreparesthemtoworktogetherincoordinatedcampaignswithBuildingOneAmericaanditsalliesinthelabormovement.Thetrainingitselffocusesontheprinciples,tactics,strategies,andtechniquesofleadershipandpowerinthepublicarenaincludingtopicssuchasorganizingtobuildpower,oneonones,listeningforself-interest,analyzingandimpactingpowerstructures,andlaunchingandwinningstrategiccampaigns.

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SeveralofBOA’snationalleadersareexperiencedandseasonedtrainersandcancalluponanetworkofcolleaguestoserveasadditionalfacultywhereneeded.Moreover,theverytrainingprocessitselfhelpsdevelopnewtrainersandcommunityorganizers.Usually,traininghasbeenorganizedinintensive,weeklongsessions.However,lastyearBuildingOneAmericaexperimentedwithhavingweekendsessionsoverafour-weekperiodwithoutstandingresultsand100%attendanceatallsessions.In2016BOAproposestoconductleadershiptraininginthisforminsupportofeachofitsaffiliatesandprospectivechapterstofurtherbuildthebaseofmembersandalliesandprepareleadersforasustainedfightaroundacoordinatedcampaign.! May,JuneandJuly–Localandregionalactions

Leadersholdpublicmeetingsandconductactionsinkeylegislativeandcongressionaldistrictstobuildsupportforaunifiedandcoordinatedcampaignaroundinfrastructureinvestment,goodandinclusivejobs,fairhousing,andfairschoolfunding.Whiletheseactionswillleveragethepoliticalvolatilityandelectoralcompetitioninkeydistrictsandstatestheywillbeissuedrivenandnotelectoralorpartisanpoliticalactivity.Thescopeandlevelofexpectationsoftheissuescampaignwilldependlargelyonthesuccessofthewinterandspringfundraisingandleadershipandmembershiprecruitmentefforts.Ideally,therewillbeatleastonestaffpersonperstateandthenumberofstatesthatparticipatebeyondPennsylvania,Ohio,andNewJerseywilldependonnationalfundingfromlaborunionsandfoundations.Conclusion

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