Auto industry Quote by Bell Hooks
“When I think about the auto-industry and how it was one of the industries that brought all of these black men from the South to Michigan and other places to make more money than they could ever make in the cotton fields or the agricultural world of the South... what's happening now is all of that is closing down, and we know that it's going to reopen in Southern places, focusing on Mexican and other migrant workers to come and work cheaply and get none of the benefits.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Decline of the American Auto Industry, 2015
The author highlights how the auto industry's collapse displaced Black workers who once migrated for better wages, and warns that new low‑wage labor will replace them without benefits.
In simple terms: Auto industry loss hurts Black workers; future labor will be cheap and unprotected.
Advocate for fair labor practices and economic justice.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- community organizing
- policy advocacy
- union negotiations
- educational outreach
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What policies could protect displaced workers?
- How can communities rebuild economic stability?
Economic shifts may be mitigated by new industries or technology.