Class, Race and the Civil Rights Movement

From the publisher:

Bloom analyzes the unique interaction between the economic and political systems in the South which he contends led to racial stratification. He then looks at the historical forces which ultimately undermined this order and led to the collapse of the old agricultural ruling class. These changes, Bloom contends, opened the doors for the evolution of a confident and militant black leadership. The greater militancy of the black population expanded the political and economic struggle and further undermined the old order accelerating the pace of change. Throughout his analysis, Bloom examines the interplay between race and class.

"Bloom develops three major themes in this challenging work. First, he argues that black-belt Southern planters, not lower-class whites, were responsible for erecting the structure of Southern racism in the early 20th century. Next, he suggests the rise of a white urban business class in the South after World War II effectively challenged planter domination and ultimately provided the social space for the emergence of black protest. Finally, Bloom maintains that blacks, both middle- and lower-class, created and energized the civil rights movement; at best, liberal whites played a minimal, supporting role. An intriguing look at the interplay of race and class, this work is both scholarly and jargon-free."
Library Journal