Joseph Coles was a Black Democratic leader and former assistant director of the Detroit Commission on Community Relations. In this interview he describes the Sweet trials, the black political shift from Republican to Democratic Party, and the Detroit…
Father Dade was a priest at St. Cyprian’s Presbyterian Evangelical Church in Detroit. This interview discusses his involvement with the Ford Motor Co. and the black Church, the Ford organizing drive and the relationship of the UAW to black community.
Joseph Billups was one of the first members of Local 600. He worked at Ford and was fired numerous times for his union association. Mr. and Mrs. Billups discuss their roles with the Ford Hunger March of 1932, their participation with the Detroit…
Nick DiGaetano is a UAW Local 7 retiree. This interview discusses DiGaetano’s recollections of the ethnic groups among Detroit workers, the IWW-Industrial Workers of the World, and blacks in the auto plants and in the UAW.
Ray Hatcher was the Deputy Director of the Detroit Regional office of Housing and Urban Development Department. In this interview he describes his role with the Detroit Urban League in the early 1940’s, discrimination in housing and Sojourner Truth…
The Reverend Charles Hill was the late pastor of the Hartford Ave Baptist Church in Detroit. This interview recalls his involvement with the Ford Motor Co. and the black church, the Ford Organizing Drive and the role blacks in the unions. Reverend…
Robert Battle was the President of the Trade Union Leadership Council and second vice-president of the UAW Ford Local 600. This interview describes his work with the Ford Motor Company and the employment of blacks, Ford Organizing Drive, and origins…
Shelton Tappes was the Assistant Director for the UAW Fair Practices Department. In this interview Tappes recalls the Automobile industry before unionization, “Negro” jobs in the auto industry, and the Ford Organizing Drive. Tappes describes the role…
Snow Grigsby was a Black church and labor leader and a former post office employee. In this interview Grigsby recalls the race relations in Detroit following World War I and the organization and activities of the Detroit Civic League, particularly in…
William Lattimore recalls his involvement with the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service and the organization of Local 3 under the UAW. Lattimore also describes his role with the “Dirty Nickel” Strike of Dodge foundry workers, the black caucus…