Jake Alimahomed-Wilson - Solidarity Forever?: Race, Gender, and Unionism in the Ports of Southern California

Solidarity Forever?

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Alimahomed-Wilson, Jake, author.

Title: Solidarity forever? : race, gender, and unionism in the ports of Southern California / by Jake Alimahomed-Wilson.

Description: Lanham : Lexington Books, [2015]. | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2015047502 (print) | LCCN 2016004112 (ebook) | ISBN 9781498514347 (cloth : alk. paper) | ISBN 9781498514354 (Electronic)

Subjects: LCSH: StevedoresCaliforniaHistory. | StevedoresLabour unionsCaliforniaHistory. | Minority labor union membersCaliforniaHistory. | Women labor union membersCaliforniaHistory. | Labor movementCaliforniaHistory. | RacismCaliforniaHistory. | SexismCaliforniaHistory.

Classification: LCC HD8039.L82 U6285 2015 (print) | LCC HD8039.L82 (ebook) | DDC 331.88/11387164dc23 LC record available at http://lccn.loc.gov/2015047502

TM The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information Sciences Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI/NISO Z39.48-1992.

Printed in the United States of America

I dedicate this book to my kids, Shanti and Samus. Im so lucky to be your pop.

I never realized that the hardest part of writing this book would be this section (the shortest section of the book). I am grateful to so many people who have, and continue to inspire, support, motivate, and encourage me.

First and foremost, my deepest appreciation and thanks go to my wife, Sabrina. Bri, over the past sixteen years you have been my partner, co-parent, research collaborator, supporter, friend, and primary source of intellectual and emotional inspiration. When we met at that transfer social in the dorm at Cal in 1999, I never would have dreamed how amazing my life could ever be. Here we are today; were still together after all these years; we still love hanging out with each other; were parents!; and we share the privilege of working alongside each other as professors, mentors, and researchers. So many things have changed for us over the years. We have gone through some really hard challenges together, but one thing that hasnt changed, nor will it ever change, is my deep love, respect, and admiration for you. We both know that our greatest accomplishmentShanti and Samuswont ever show up on our CV. There is nothing more important to me than being with you, Shanti, and Sa. Thank you, Sabrina, for supporting me in so many ways that made it possible for me not only to write this book but especially for all the happiness you bring me. I also want to thank my two kids, Shanti and Samus. You two bring your dad more joy than you will ever know. Thank you for learning the lyrics to Solidarity Forever! and for singing that song to me all those times after a long day of writing (followed by many fun trips to the beach). Thank you, Shanti, for encouragingly telling your pop: dont quit, Dad, you can do it. Samus, thank you for the warm hugs when I got home from the coffee shop all those times. Shanti and Sa, there is nothing more in the world that I will ever be prouder of than being your pop.

To my parents, Mary and Jay, I am so grateful for your lifelong encouragement and unyielding support of me. You have and continue to impact my life in so many ways. Youve always stood behind me in everything that I have done (even during those radical years). Without your time and commitment in helping my family, especially in the form of watching Shanti and Samus so that I could write, this book would have literally never happened. You are also responsible for teaching me the values that continue to impact the parent who I am today. I never realized that good parents continue to parent even when their children are grown. Mom and Dad, I continue to learn from you both. Thanks also to my two brothers, Justin and Ben, and their great families. I also appreciate all the support over the years from the Soderlund, Medby, and Harrison families.

I also want to extend my thanks to a few of my academic mentors. Sometimes I tell my students that I entered the academy through the back door. I didnt have a chance to get into a 4-year university after graduating high school, so my academic journey began as a community college student. During this time, I was searching for direction, purpose, and maybe even some inspiration in my life. Im incredibly lucky to have found all of these things from my first academic mentor, Dr. David C. Lane, Professor of Philosophy and Sociology at Mt. San Antonio College. Professor Lane impacted me like no other professor has in my ten years or so as a college student. Dave challenged me to always think deeper, more critically, and even more conscientiously. Somehow he made my ragtag group of friends and I believe that we could be more than just aimless community college students... maybe we could also aspire to be intellectuals like David Lane. Without Dr. Lanes positive influence, I dont think I would have ever wanted to become a professor (or more accurately, I wouldnt have believed that I could become one), nor would have I likely attended UC Berkeley, and I am certain I would not have ever learned to surf (Dave gifted me my first board and wetsuit when I was broke, and once again, looking for some inspiration during a tough point in my life).

As a transfer student at UC Berkeley, I was also profoundly
impacted by Professor Arnold Schultz. Arnold was the true gem of Cal. Arnold passed away a few years ago, but his impact on his students was notable. My time spent sitting on Arnolds living room floorat the time, Arnold was well into his eighties and had difficulty getting to and from campus, so he held class in his apartmentlistening to his lectures on Ecosystemology taught me that theories are meaningless without values, compassion, and a sense of social justice to implement and apply those theories.

As a graduate student, I was so fortunate to work with Professor Edna Bonacich, Professor of Sociology and Ethnic Studies at UC Riverside. After meeting Edna, I instantly knew that she would be the perfect mentor for me. For years, Edna worked with me, challenged me, and generously brought me in to work on some of her amazing projects. Without a doubt, Edna has had the most profound impact on my work than any other scholar I have ever read or worked with and for that I am grateful. Edna was also the chair my Ph.D. dissertation committee (from which some of this book was based off of) and I appreciate her for all the years of mentorship, support, and friendship. Thanks also to my other mentors at UC Riverside: Drs. Scott N. Brooks, Alfredo Mirande, Ellen Reese, and Scott Coltrane for all of their support and feedback on earlier versions of this project.