Immediately, Young went to work for Ford Motor Company, where he became involved in the labor union struggle and the Civil Rights Movement. His social activism grew as he expanded his involvement in organizations considered progressive and some dissident including the Progressive Party, the AFL-CIO and the National Negro Labor Council (NNLC), which Young had founded. These activities made him some powerful enemies and got him “blacklisted” which was problematic as he sought other employment in the U. S. Postal Service.

Memories of his father’s political leanings weighed heavily on Young and he used those as an introduction into the world of politics. The elder Young was an avid reader, who kept up with local (Detroit) and national politics, and was a Republican until the Depression. He switched to the Democrats after the New Deal reforms took hold and turned around the economic condition of the country. (Blacks were still at the bottom of the economic ladder and even though the nation improved, the relative position of Blacks remained constant—at the bottom).

After his military service, Young returned to civilian life in 1946, resuming his union activities, as though life had never stopped—just paused for the military. (He married Marion McClellan in 1947). This time around, he worked for the United Auto Workers and organized for the Congress of Industrial Organizations’ United Public Workers. His activities in the unions were also supported because of the great migration of Blacks who left the South for “northern opportunities” especially in the booming automobile industry. The influx of Blacks seeking “greener pastures” gave Young an ideal constituency for union membership, and as Blacks flourish, so did his power base.

A natural alliance was created between politics and that union, and Young was right in the middle of the alliance. In addition, the Black church was also pivotal and became the third side of the triangular alliance—the union, politics and the church. (Historically, the church had always been the hub of any meaningful activity in the Black community). The Black church monitored both the political and union activities, acting as the check-and-balance of the triangular association.

In 1948, Young lost one of his positions as director of the AFL-CIO and ended up supporting the Progressive Party’s candidate for President, who was regarded as an agent for the Communist Party. Young later regarded his choice as a major mistake since it also drew unwanted attention to him by the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC). Gradually, his union support was eroding and his NNLC was disbanded. He was called to testify before the HUAC and was forthright in his testimony insisting that he was fighting for the rights for all people. He testified, “I am fighting against un-American activities such as lynching ......”

Last update: 07-03-2008 00:39

Published in : News, Legends

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