LITERANISTA Dialogue on Multicultural Books, Tech & Life

Literanista February 9, 2010

Working in the Shadows: A Year of Doing the Jobs (Most) Americans Won’t Do by Gabriel Thompson

In a new book, Working in the Shadows: A Year of Doing the Jobs (Most) Americans Won’t Do, labor activist Gabriel Thompson chronicles his year spent alongside low-wage Latino immigrants in the lettuce fields of Arizona, at an Alabama chicken plant, and as a delivery boy in New York City.  Thompson’s book “shines a bright light on the underside of the American economy, exposing harsh working conditions, union busting, and lax government enforcement—while telling the stories of workers, undocumented immigrants and desperate US citizens alike, forced to live with chronic pain in the pursuit of $8 an hour.”

I’m usually suspicious of the ability of privileged outsiders to speak for marginalized communities, but Thompson seems to be very aware of his role and limitations.

This project underscores the need for immigration reform so we can finally move the millions of exploited immigrant workers out of the shadows.

Thompson’s Blog

Interview on NPR)

via Faizahm’s tumblr