In this conversation, Dr. Joe Trotter discusses his book 'Building the Black City,' which explores the significant contributions of Black workers in shaping urban environments and communities. He emphasizes the dual role of Black individuals as both laborers in predominantly white cities and as creators of their own spaces that serve their communities. The discussion highlights the importance of Black institutions in fostering community, collaboration, and social change, while also addressing the complexities of working-class experiences. Dr. Trotter aims to reshape perceptions of Black communities as active builders rather than passive occupants.

Takeaways

• Dr. Trotter's book is a sequel to 'Workers on Arrival.'
• 'Building the Black City' highlights Black creativity and agency.
• Black workers built their own communities despite systemic inequalities.
• The book challenges traditional views of city building.
• Black institutions played a crucial role in community development.
• Working-class families have diverse experiences and challenges.
• The importance of multi-class collaboration in Black communities.
• Black neighborhoods were intentionally built, not accidental.
• Churches served as community centers beyond spiritual needs.
• Dr. Trotter's work aims to inspire and empower working-class families.

"I hope working families will be encouraged...," Dr. Trotter said.

About Dr. Joe William Trotter Jr.

Dr. Joe William Trotter Jr. is the Giant Eagle University Professor of History and Social Justice and former Chair of the History Department at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. He is the founder and director of Carnegie Mellons Center for Africanamerican Urban Studies and the Economy (CAUSE), president-elect of the Urban History Association, and a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Building the Black City: The Transformation of American Life (University of California Press, 2024) is his most recent book. It expands our understanding of Black urban history and labor as a sequel to an earlier book he wrote, Workers on Arrival: Black Labor in the Making of America (2019).

Dr. Trotter earned his BA from Carthage College and his MA and PhD from the University of Minnesota. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in African American history, U.S. urban history, labor history, and working-class studies. His scholarship and lectures have reached audiences across the United States and internationally, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Russia, the Netherlands, and the Middle East.

In addition to his teaching and writing, Dr. Trotter has served in leadership roles with numerous professional organizations, including the Organization of American Historians, American Historical Association, Southern Historical Association, and the Labor and Working-Class History Association, where he is a past president.

The book, Building the Black City: The Transformation of American Life can be found on Amazon, at the University of California Press, Apple Books, Abe Books, and the Political Science Quarterly.

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