Still Fighting: The Relationship Between Contemporary Preemption in the South and the Continued Struggle for Black Worker Rights

Post-Reconstruction Black Codes implemented throughout the South stunted economic mobility of workers and replicated free labor system slavery (Nittle, 2021). While these laws were abandoned or outlawed over time 2021; PBS, 2017), use contemporary preemption in Southern states acts as a de facto continuation by barring legislation, often from progressive cities municipalities, that seeks to strengthen rights protections for region. In order properly understand unique racial, political, entanglement between twenty-first century oppression workers, one must first explore origins history worker South. This examination provides backdrop modern attempts suppress like Alabama Tennessee. A closer look at deep political divisions legislatures urban municipalities their offer arguments, though unfounded insufficient, favor preemption, outline challenges advocates face when addressing problem. Despite its challenges, it is critical organizers continue fighting using creative strategies reaffirm advancement workers.