Skip to main content

Eldridge Cook, African-American GM Manager, discusses his career at the Fisher Body plant in Lansing, MI

Thumbnail for Eldridge Cook, African-American GM Manager, discusses his career at the Fisher Body plant in Lansing, MI
View
@ Michigan State University. Libraries

Cook, Eldridge

Description

Cookie talks about college and teaching in Mississippi, coming to Lansing in 1963 and 1964 to work summers in the factory and returning south to teach in the fall. In 1965, Cookie permanently hired into Fisher. He describes a workplace with few minorities and one black supervisor. Cookie comments on the 1970 UAW strike, discrimination and race. He recalls applying and being tested for supervision but was told he failed the test. In 1971 he felt he was forced onto supervision to help GM comply with new laws. Cookie recalls that some workers would not accept their paychecks from a black. He talks about cooking a roast in the paint ovens, area dinners, the salaried dining room and retirement.
Contributors:
McQuaid, CherylNicholson, EarlCoulter, MarilynSmith, JerriJudy, GaryUnited Auto Workers Local 602/General Motors Oral History ProjectVincent Voice Library
Rights:
In Copyright
View Original At:

Record Contributed By

Michigan State University. Libraries

Record Harvested From

Michigan Service Hub

Keywords

  1. African American Automobile Industry Workers
  2. African Americans
  3. Automobile Factories
  4. Automobile Industry
  5. Career In Automobile Industry And Trade
  6. Cook, Eldridge
  7. Discrimination
  8. Discrimination In Employment
  9. Diversity In The Workplace
  10. Interviews
  11. Middle Managers, Retired
  12. Miscellanea
  13. Racism In The Workplace
  14. Strikes And Lockouts

Related Content

Lyle McFadden, an African American, discusses his 40-year career as a UAW production worker and plant security officer at the Fisher Body plant in Lansing, MI Calvin Sturdivant, an African American, discusses his 40 year career as a UAW production and skilled trades worker at the Fisher Body plant in Lansing, MI Milton Vann, an African American, discusses his career as a production worker and UAW member at the Fisher Body plant in Lansing, MI Marilyn Coulter, an African American, discusses her career as a production worker and union activist at the Fisher Body plant in Lansing, MI James (Jimmy) Howlett, an African American, discusses his career as a production worker and UAW member at the Fisher Body plant in Lansing, MI Fonnie Price, an African American, discusses his career as a UAW production worker, skilled trades millwright, then GM maintenance manager at the Fisher Body plant in Lansing, MI Earl Nicholson Sr., an African American, discusses his career as a UAW production worker and GM manager at the Fisher Body plant in Lansing, MI Derrick Quinney, an African American, discusses his career as a production worker and UAW member at the Fisher Body plant in Lansing, MI Willie Fuller, an African American, discusses his career as a production worker and UAW member at the Fisher Body plant in Lansing, MI Hattie Greene, an African American, discusses her 40-year career as a production worker and UAW member at the Fisher Body plant in Lansing, MI Willie Campbell, an African American, discusses his career as a UAW production worker and skilled trades millwright at the Fisher Body plant in Lansing, MI Strikes; Chevrolet Gear & Axle Company; Detroit Richard Hegmon, an African American, discusses his memories as a resident of the Fisher Body neighborhood Sam McGhee, an African American, discusses his career as UAW production worker and plant security officer at the Fisher Body plant in Lansing, MI Monte Jackson, an African American, discusses his career as a production worker and UAW member at the Fisher Body plant in Lansing, MI Roberta Cannon, an African American, discusses her career as a production worker at the Fisher Body plant in Lansing, MI Beverly McKelvey, an African American, discusses her career as a production worker and UAW member at the Fisher Body plant in Lansing, MI Craig Johnson, an African American, discusses his career as a production worker and UAW member at the Fisher Body plant in Lansing, MI Samuel Warren, an African American, discusses his career as a production worker and UAW member at the Fisher Body plant in Lansing, MI Walter Bennefield, an African American, discusses his career as a UAW production worker and GM production manager at the Fisher Body plant in Lansing, MI
Download JSON