The Gospel of the Working Class: Labor's Southern Prophets in New Deal America (Working Class in American History)
Language: English
Published by University of Illinois Press, 2011
- Softcover
- Used

Seller: Wonder Book, Frederick, MD, U.S.A.Wonder Book
AbeBooks seller since November 1, 1997
Condition: Used - Very good
US$ 129.99
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketItem description from seller
Very Good condition. A copy that may have a few cosmetic defects. May also contain light spine creasing or a few markings such as an owner's name, short gifter's inscription or light stamp.
Seller Inventory # O09Q-00711
- Title
- The Gospel of the Working Class: Labor's Southern Prophets in New Deal America (Working Class in American History)
- Author
- Gellman, Erik S.; Jarod Roll
- Publisher
- University of Illinois Press
- Publication year
- 2011
- Condition
- Very Good
- Binding
- Soft cover
- Language
- English
- ISBN 10
- 0252078403
- ISBN 13
- 9780252078408
- Series
- Book 11 of 65: Working Class in American History
In this exceptional dual biography and cultural history, Erik S. Gellman and Jarod Roll trace the influence of two southern activist preachers, one black and one white, who used their ministry to organize the working class in the 1930s and 1940s across lines of gender, race, and geography. Owen Whitfield and Claude Williams, along with their wives Zella Whitfield and Joyce Williams, drew on their bedrock religious beliefs to stir ordinary men and women to demand social and economic justice in the eras of the Great Depression, New Deal, and Second World War.
Williams and Whitfield preached a working-class gospel rooted in the American creed that hard, productive work entitled people to a decent standard of living. Gellman and Roll detail how the two preachers galvanized thousands of farm and industrial workers for the Southern Tenant Farmers Union and the Congress of Industrial Organizations. They also link the activism of the 1930s and 1940s to that of the 1960s and emphasize the central role of the ministers' wives, with whom they established the People's Institute for Applied Religion.
This detailed narrative illuminates a cast of characters who became the two couples' closest allies in coordinating a complex network of activists that transcended Jim Crow racial divisions, blurring conventional categories and boundaries to help black and white workers make better lives. In chronicling the shifting contexts of the actions of Whitfield and Williams, The Gospel of the Working Class situates Christian theology within the struggles of some of America's most downtrodden workers, transforming the dominant narratives of the era and offering a fresh view of the promise and instability of religion and civil rights unionism.
"Synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author
"About the title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Wonder Book
Frederick, MD, U.S.A.
Shipping rates within U.S.A.
| Item | 5 to 9 business days | 3 to 6 business days |
|---|---|---|
| First item | US$ 0.00 | US$ 10.98 |
Payment methods
Store description
With 3 stores less than 1 hour outside the DC/Metropolitan area (1 in Gaithersburg, 1 in Frederick and 1 in Hagerstown, MD), we have the largest selection of books in the tri-state area. Wonder Book and Video has been in business since 1980 and online since 1997. We have over 1 Million books for sale on our website and another 1 Million books for sale in our 3 locations. Items on Abe are not necessarily in stock at our retail locations. Please do not call the stores to place orders for Abe Books sales. We have a very active online inventory and as such, we can receive multiple orders for the same item. We fill those orders on a first come first serve basis, but will refund promptly any items that are out of stock. Since 1980 it has always been about the books. ALL kinds of books from 95 cent children's paperbacks to five figure rare and collectibles. A merging of the old and new is where we started, and it is where we are today. Our retail stores have always been places where a reader can rush in looking for a title needed for a term paper that is due the next day, or where bibliophiles can get lost "in the stacks" for as long as they wish. In 2002 USAToday recognized us as "1 of 10 Great Old Bookstores", and we have been featured in numerous other newspaper and TV stories including Washington Post and CSpan. Members ABAA, ILAB.…
Association member
Members of these associations are committed to maintaining the highest standards. They vouch for the authenticity of all items offered for sale. They provide expert and detailed descriptions, disclose all significant defects and/or restorations, provide clear and accurate pricing, and operate with fairness and honesty during the purchase experience.Seller's business information
Wonder Book
Wonder Book and Video, 1550 Tilco Drive
Frederick, MD U.S.A. 21704
Terms of sale
We want you to be satisfied with the book you order. Our general description is conservative and the book should be as good or better than our general description may indicate.
RETURNS are cheerfully accepted up to 30 days. We ship out within 1-2 business days and U.S. Standard Shipments usually arrive within 6-9 business days, Priority 3-6. We want you to be satisfied with the book you order. Our general description is conservative and the book should be as good or better than our general description may indicate. We respond to every order inquiry within 2 business days, however our emails may occassionally get moved to spam/junk folders or refused from your internet/email provider. IF YOU HAVE EMAILED US AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE - PLEASE CHECK YOUR SPAM SETTINGS AND/OR ADD OUR EMAIL TO YOUR ADDRESS BOOK.
Shipping terms
STANDARD DOMESTIC U.S. SHIPPING IS FREE. Priority Shipping is only $6.99 for first item, $1 each additional. Orders ship within 2 business days. Shipping outside of U.S. is typically between $8-13 and takes between 8-15 business days. Heavier books may require additional shipping. Faster Needs Please Inquire.