A Historical Perspective of Minorities in the Labor Force

Minorities and ethnic groups have always been an important part of the American labor force. In many instances, groups were allowed, or even encouraged, to immigrate to the United States to fill specific labor needs. Perhaps the most obvious example is the involuntary immigration of Africans, who provided slave labor for southern plantations as early as the seventeenth century. Later, Asians and Hispanics were sought to mine resources, farm land, and build railroads.

African-Americans

Since 1619, with the arrival of the first slave ships to North American shores, African-Americans have been part of the labor force. While virtually all worked as unpaid slaves on southern plantations, a few were allowed to work for pay in order to purchase their freedom and that of their families, an effort that often took many years. In addition to farm...