Abstract

Few industries are working more assiduously than aircraft and related aerospace companies to expand Negro employment opportunities in the U.S. Yet it is the unusual aerospace company which has been able to raise its percentage of Negroes to 8 or 10 per cent of a particular facility. The reasons why this is so tells a great deal about problems of Negro employment, upgrading and intra plant movement, and variations from industry to industry or plant to plant. The aerospace industry employed an average of 1,298,000 persons in 1966. Plants of this industry are located in all major regions of the country. Four-fifths of the product of these plants are purchased by the Department of Defense, the National Aeronautical and Space Agency, and other governmental bodies. Commencing in World War II, the pressure of these government agencies has been heavy on the industry, first to open jobs to Negroes, then by affirmative action to increase Negro participation in the better jobs. The progress has been great, but disappointing to those who might expect a greater percentage of Negroes. These article discusses the reasons behind this sad image.