Black Firefighters and the FDNY

The book chronicles the long struggle of African Americans in New York City to secure equitable employment in the fire department, a key route to middle-class stability. It spans over a century, highlighting the persistent fight against both overt and institutional racism faced by Black firefighters. David Goldberg illustrates how these individuals contributed to affirmative action initiatives while also addressing the resistance from white counterparts, which influenced working-class conservatism and challenged the notion of American meritocracy.