During the tumultuous 1960s … I … as a Black white-collar worker, willingly and conscientiously took an active part in America’s leading social preoccupation … an experiment called “integration” … Today, I am compelled to assess my total experience and perhaps the experiences of other Blacks by saying … integration was a bitch in the 1960s … and … it still is a bitch today!
Timeless .. essential .. universal understanding for anyone.
My father, brought a copy of this book home in 1974 … and gave it to me. I was 10 years old. The edition was copyright 1969. Perhaps he gave it to me because of the cartooning (I was into that) or, perhaps he realized it was an essential lesson I would understand.
The most important lessons it taught me were … (and I hope Mr. Floyd will feel I got it right)
1. you don’t bring someone into the group only to isolate them with unique references, prodcedures, patronization, or identification.
2. (And I think Shelby Steele might agree) You do not place someone in a position based on their race … you place someone based on their skills and commitment to excellence. The minute you place someone on the job for any reason OTHER than an objective assessment of skill, you sentence them to perpetual separation, disdain, disrespect (on a human level) and elimination by their coworkers.
3. We often hold and apply culture stereotypes which, in fact, cannot be applied universally. Each person is unique … there can be no assumptions as to upbringing, education, political or religious beliefs … nor should there be exclusion of those unique cultural characteristics of an individual (unless they are inconducive to the workplace).
This book delivers these lessons (and others) with humor, gentle sarcasm … and a hint of anger and disappointment (which serve to make us realize the consequences of misguided selective policies).
Age 10 is a GREAT age to begin learning these lessons. The copy I STILL HAVE, was $1.95. But, it is essential for anyone - at any age - of ANY race, religion, or cultural uniqueness (which today includes sexual preference).
The bottomline … this book is STILL relevant TODAY!!! almost 30 years later. I haven’t seen the new edition yet … perhaps the cartoons now show computers on the office desks which weren’t there in 1969 … if not, it really doesn’t matter - you won’t notice.
Buy this book and share it until the pages begin falling out. And as you move from place to place in life and sell your old books, keep this one always.
LizGraphix
Los Angeles, CA
LizGraphix-
Your insight into the issues surrounding Integration is a Bitch, are head-on, and your analysis is quite sound… In a perfect world, race would never play a role in policy or any decision making, but we do not (yet) live in a perfect world! I think we’ve all a role to play in getting us there. Thanks for your contribution.