The arrival of several hundred Guatemalan-born workers in a Morganton; North Carolina; poultry plant sets the stage for this dramatic story of human struggle in an age of globalization. When laborers' concerns about safety and fairness spark a strike and; ultimately; a unionizing campaign at Case Farms; the resulting decade-long standoff pits a recalcitrant New South employer against an unlikely coalition of antagonists. Mayan refugees from war-torn Guatemala; Mexican workers; and a diverse group of local allies join forces with the Laborers union. The ensuing clash becomes a testing ground for "new labor" workplace and legal strategies. In the process; the nation's fastest-growing immigrant region encounters a new struggle for social justice. Using scores of interviews; Leon Fink gives voice to a remarkably resilient people. He shows that; paradoxically; what sustains these global travelers are the ties of local community. Whether one is finding a job; going to church; joining a soccer team; or building a union; kin and linguistic connections to the place of one's birth prove crucial in negotiating today's global marketplace. A story set at the intersection of globalization and community; two words not often linked; The Maya of Morganton addresses fundamental questions about the changing face of labor in the United States.
#963495 in Books The University of North Carolina Press 1998-11-09Ingredients: Example IngredientsOriginal language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.50 x .75 x 6.25l; 1.18 #File Name: 0807847410311 pages
Review
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful. Pathfinding if not ground-breakingBy M. E. JonesI bought this because it's a required text for an Indiana University graduate course in US History I'm currently taking (American Dissent!!!--the history of reform movements in our country; 1800-1970s). I wrote an entire paper on this book (and got an A from a full prof); so here goes:Jeffrey is WELL qualified to write this paper (I scoped that out; please take my word for it: she's earned her academic historian bona fides). Over the past 40 years; women's contribution to the Abolition movement finally has been documented; but primarily for the stand-out white New England females who went on to champion Women's Rights.Jeffrey's great contribution is to document the commitment and activity of "ordinary" women in that great movement; including free black women and those as far west as Ohio. She goes into great detail as to their contributions; a little too much detail at one point (for me) in describing the 'new" anti-slavery fairs of the antebellum period.The book also is notable for its intelligent observations of how their religious- and humanitarian-based work for the Abolition of slavery caused the involved women eventually to question their OWN position in society; since at the time they not only could not vote; but had absolutely NO rights of citizenship. They could not even speak in a public forum without censure. Scary stuff; almost unbelievable--but it's true; it was that way at that time.Jeffrey also notes that the majority of female "silent army" abolitionists did NOT; as a body; segue into the movement for Women's Rights equality; and this astonished me. There certainly was overlap--which Jeffrey explains quite well--but for the most part; apparently and according to Jeffrey; the movement for Women's Rights was subscribed to with commitment and activity at a lesser extent than was the Abolition of slavery.When one considers it took another 50 yrs to realize women's right to vote; it makes sense; had as many women subscribed to the movement for the equality of women; it would have taken far less time.Altogether: excellent text for upper undergrad and graduate studies; though not one I'd have otherwise read.
