Focusing on the intersection of racism and labor movements post-World War II, the book offers a thorough analysis of how these historical factors contribute to today's political polarization in America. Michael Goldfield presents a well-researched narrative that makes complex themes accessible, providing not only insights into the roots of current issues but also proposing a constructive roadmap for overcoming division in the future.
The Southern Key explains the reasons for the failure of the US South to unionize-especially during the 1930s and 1940s-and why this is the crucial to understanding the evolution of American politics since that era. It is argued, primarily, that the failure of the labor movement to fully confront white supremacy led to its ultimate failure in the South, and that this regional failure has led to the nationwide decline in labor unionism, growing inequality,and the perpetuation of white supremacy.