Black and White: Land, Labor, and Politics in the South

The work opens with a powerful premise: the social and economic struggles of the post‑Reconstruction South are rooted not in isolated racial animosities, but in the broader clash between concentrated land ownership and the laboring masses. Drawing on personal observations and a wealth of contemporary data, the author argues that monopolized acreage and mechanized agriculture squeeze small farmers into tenant or share‑cropper roles, while urban overcrowding fuels crime and despair.

Interwoven with historical anecdotes—from slave imports in 1619 to the contributions of Black soldiers in early American wars—the narrative highlights how poverty and oppression cut across color lines. By framing the “negro question” as part of a national conflict between capital and labor, the book calls for a unified, class‑based response that could reshape Southern politics and improve conditions for all workers.