Reference no: EM133676809

Question

The strike at Pratt-Whitney and the other protests you've mentioned were forms of direct action, a strategy used by civil rights activists to challenge and change unjust laws and practices. Direct action can include strikes, sit-ins, boycotts, and other forms of protest. The hiring of twenty-five black carpenters at Fort Riley Kansas after a large protest rally shows the effectiveness of direct action in bringing about change. However, it also underscores the resistance to racial integration and equal opportunity in the workplace. The performance by Paul Robeson, a renowned African American singer and actor, in a segregated auditorium in Kansas City, despite his stated refusal to perform for segregated audiences, illustrates the pervasive nature of racial segregation during this period. The walkout by black employees of a local garment company and an Army mess hall in Kansas City were also forms of direct action against racial discrimination. However, the decision by the black workers to call off their strike to avoid delaying war production shows the difficult choices faced by workers in their struggle for civil rights and fair labor practices.