Ep. 224: How Black Americans Used the Sears Catalog to Fight Back Against Jim and Jane Crow Racism

Professor Louis Hyman is a historian of work and business at the ILR School of Cornell University, where he also directs the Institute for Workplace Studies in New York City. He has published two books on the history of personal debt (Debtor Nation and Borrow) and a history of how American work became so insecure (Temp).

Several months ago Louis wrote a series of Twitter posts which were read by millions of people about the "hidden history" of how African-Americans used the Sears catalog as a way of fighting back against Jim and Jane Crow white racism and white supremacy.

Professor Hyman explains how the consumer's republic was and remains a key battleground for civil rights and the color line, the many ways that black Americans used the Sears catalog as a way of participating in day-to-day resistance against segregation and other types of discrimination across the United States, and how Sears and America's suburban mall culture were sites where whiteness was both reproduced and defended. Louis also debunks the very popular (and empowering) myth that Sears was co-founded by a black man.

On this week's show, Chauncey DeVega reflects on Ralph Ellison's "Invisible Man" and  a recent experience with everyday racism. And in keeping with the theme of this week's show Chauncey also shares a wonderful story about the nationwide network of Sears retirees who gather on a regular basis to socialize, reconnect, and who are keeping the wonderful legacy of that American cultural and retail institution alive.

SELECTED LINKS OF INTEREST FOR THIS EPISODE OF THE CHAUNCEY DEVEGA SHOW 

• Louis Hyman homepage
• Ralph Ellison's “Invisible Man” as a Parable of Our Time
• Sears Is Dying, but Workers' Loyalty Lives On
• Butterfly Center Files For Restraining Order Against Trump’s ‘Unconstitutional’ Border Wall 
• The investigation into Trump’s inauguration money looks quite serious 
• “Prevent Any Type of Misappropriation of Funds”: Amid Scrutiny of Trump's Inauguration Spending, Democrats Introduce New Oversight Legislation 

IF YOU ENJOYED THIS WEEK'S SHOW YOU MAY LIKE THESE EPISODES OF THE CHAUNCEY DEVEGA SHOW AS WELL

Ep. 217: David Blight Explains How The Wisdom of Frederick Douglass Can Help to Save American Democracy

Ep. 200-2: Joe Feagin on Liberal White Racism and "Colorblind" America

Ep. 173: Bandy Lee Continues to Warn the World About Donald Trump's Mental Health

Ep. 163: Anti-Black Violence, Whiteness, and the Pleasures of Owning People

Ep. 152: Lance Dodes Warns That Donald Trump is Sociopathic

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Music at the end of this week's episode of The Chauncey DeVega Show is by JC Brooks & the Uptown Sound. You can listen to some of their great music on Spotify.