In the 1930's and 1940's, African American industrial workers in the southern United States, who constituted 80 percent of the...
GMAT Reading Comprehension : (RC) Questions
In the 1930's and 1940's, African American industrial workers in the southern United States, who constituted 80 percent of the unskilled factory labor force there, strongly supported unionization. While the American Federation of Labor (AFL) either excluded African Americans or maintained racially segregated unions, the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) organized integrated unions nationwide on the basis of a stated policy of equal rights for all, and African American unionists provided the CIO's backbone. Yet it can be argued that through contracts negotiated and enforced by White union members, unions—CIO unions not excluded—were often instrumental in maintaining the occupational segregation and other forms of racial discrimination that kept African Americans socially and economically oppressed during this period. However, recognizing employers' power over workers as a central factor in African Americans' economic marginalization, African American workers saw the need to join with White workers in seeking change despite White unionists' toleration of or support for racial discrimination. The persistent efforts of African American unionists eventually paid off: many became highly effective organizers, gaining the respect of even racist White unionists by winning victories for White as well as African American workers. African American unionists thus succeeded in strengthening the unions while using them as instruments of African Americans' economic empowerment.
The passage is primarily concerned with
1. Passage Analysis:
Progressive Passage Analysis
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| In the 1930's and 1940's, African American industrial workers in the southern United States, who constituted 80 percent of the unskilled factory labor force there, strongly supported unionization. | What it says: Black workers in the South really wanted to join unions in the 1930s-40s. They made up most of the unskilled factory workers. What it does: Sets up the basic situation - introduces the main group (African American workers) and their position (pro-union) Source/Type: Historical fact Connection to Previous Sentences: This is our starting point - no previous information to connect to Visualization: Southern Factory Workers in 1930s-40s: • African American unskilled workers: 80 out of 100 workers • White and other workers: 20 out of 100 workers • African American attitude toward unions: Strongly supportive What We Know So Far: African Americans dominated unskilled factory work in the South and wanted unionization What We Don't Know Yet: Which unions they joined, what happened with their unionization efforts, any obstacles they faced Reading Strategy Insight: This opening sentence gives us our main characters and their basic position. Expect the rest of the passage to develop what happened with their unionization efforts. |
| While the American Federation of Labor (AFL) either excluded African Americans or maintained racially segregated unions, the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) organized integrated unions nationwide on the basis of a stated policy of equal rights for all, and African American unionists provided the CIO's backbone. | What it says: African Americans had two union options: AFL (which discriminated against them) and CIO (which welcomed them as equals). Black workers became the foundation of the CIO. What it does: Explains the union landscape and shows where African Americans ended up Source/Type: Historical fact Connection to Previous Sentences: This directly answers the question raised by sentence 1 - we learned African Americans "strongly supported unionization," and now we see HOW they unionized (through the CIO, not AFL) Visualization: Two Union Options for African Americans: • AFL approach: Exclusion or segregated unions → African Americans stayed away • CIO approach: Integration + equal rights policy → African Americans flocked here • Result: CIO's membership backbone = African American workers What We Know So Far: 1. African Americans wanted to unionize 2. AFL discriminated, so they joined CIO instead 3. African Americans became CIO's most important members What We Don't Know Yet: How well this arrangement actually worked for African American workers Reading Strategy Insight: Feel confident here! This sentence logically follows from the first - it's showing us the natural next step in the story. |
| Yet it can be argued that through contracts negotiated and enforced by White union members, unions—CIO unions not excluded—were often instrumental in maintaining the occupational segregation and other forms of racial discrimination that kept African Americans socially and economically oppressed during this period. | What it says: Despite the CIO's equal rights policy, even CIO unions (controlled by white members) often actually helped maintain job discrimination against African Americans. What it does: Introduces a major complication/contradiction to the positive CIO story Source/Type: Author's analytical claim ("it can be argued") Connection to Previous Sentences: This contrasts sharply with sentence 2's description of CIO's "equal rights for all" policy. The word "Yet" signals this contradiction. Visualization: CIO's Policy vs. Reality: • Official CIO policy: Equal rights for all races • Actual CIO practice: White members negotiated contracts that maintained job segregation • Result for African Americans: Still faced discrimination even in "friendly" unions What We Know So Far: 1. African Americans wanted unionization and joined CIO 2. CIO had good policies but bad practices 3. Even "good" unions helped maintain discrimination What We Don't Know Yet: How African Americans responded to this disappointing situation Reading Strategy Insight: The author is setting up a problem that will need to be resolved. Expect the passage to address how African Americans dealt with this contradiction. |
| However, recognizing employers' power over workers as a central factor in African Americans' economic marginalization, African American workers saw the need to join with White workers in seeking change despite White unionists' toleration of or support for racial discrimination. | What it says: African American workers understood that employers (bosses) were their biggest problem, so they decided to work with white unionists anyway, even though those white unionists were often racist. What it does: Explains African American workers' strategic thinking and response to the problem raised in sentence 3 Source/Type: Historical interpretation of African American workers' reasoning Connection to Previous Sentences: This directly addresses the dilemma from sentence 3 - if unions discriminated, why did African Americans stay? This sentence gives us their reasoning. Visualization: African American Workers' Strategic Calculation: • Biggest enemy: Employers (company bosses) - 90% of the problem • Lesser problem: Racist white union members - 10% of the problem • Strategy: Partner with the 10% problem to fight the 90% problem • Logic: Better to have discriminatory allies than face employers alone What We Know So Far: 1. African Americans faced discrimination from employers AND unions 2. They strategically chose to work with unions despite discrimination 3. They saw employers as the bigger threat than racist union members What We Don't Know Yet: Whether this strategy actually worked Reading Strategy Insight: This sentence shows sophisticated strategic thinking - African Americans weren't passive victims but active strategists making calculated decisions. |
| The persistent efforts of African American unionists eventually paid off: many became highly effective organizers, gaining the respect of even racist White unionists by winning victories for White as well as African American workers. | What it says: The strategy worked! African American union members became skilled organizers and earned respect from white racists by helping white workers win benefits too. What it does: Shows the positive results of the strategy described in sentence 4 Source/Type: Historical outcome/result Connection to Previous Sentences: This is the payoff for the strategy described in sentence 4 - African Americans chose to work with white unionists "despite" racism, and this sentence shows why that choice was smart. Visualization: African American Success in Unions: • Before: Racist white unionists looked down on African American members • African American approach: Became expert organizers who helped EVERYONE win • After: Even racist whites had to respect African American organizers • Key insight: Helped white workers = gained white respect What We Know So Far: 1. African Americans made a strategic choice to work within discriminatory unions 2. They became highly skilled union organizers 3. They won respect by helping all workers, including whites What We Don't Know Yet: The overall impact of this success Reading Strategy Insight: Feel relieved here! The passage is showing us a success story after building up the challenges. This is resolution, not new complexity. |
| African American unionists thus succeeded in strengthening the unions while using them as instruments of African Americans' economic empowerment. | What it says: African American workers achieved a win-win: they made the unions stronger AND used those stronger unions to improve their own economic situation. What it does: Provides the final summary/conclusion of the success story Source/Type: Author's concluding assessment Connection to Previous Sentences: This is a clean summary of the entire progression: from wanting unionization (sentence 1) through strategic choices (sentence 4) to ultimate success (sentence 5) and now the final outcome. Visualization: Final Outcome - Double Victory: • For the unions: Became stronger organizations (gained skilled African American organizers) • For African Americans: Gained economic empowerment (better jobs, wages, working conditions) • Method: African Americans used their organizing skills to benefit everyone What We Know Now - Complete Story: 1. African Americans wanted unionization → joined CIO 2. Faced discrimination even in "friendly" unions 3. Made strategic decision to work within system 4. Became excellent organizers who helped all workers 5. Achieved both union strength and their own economic advancement Reading Strategy Insight: This final sentence ties everything together beautifully - it's not introducing new complexity but showing how all the previous elements led to this double success. The word "thus" signals this is a logical conclusion, not new information. |
2. Passage Summary:
Author's Purpose:
To explain how African American workers in the 1930s and 1940s successfully navigated a discriminatory union system to achieve both stronger unions and their own economic advancement.
Summary of Passage Structure:
The author builds their explanation by walking us through a strategic success story:
- First, the author establishes that African American workers strongly wanted to join unions and found a welcoming home in the CIO, which had policies supporting equal rights.
- Next, the author introduces a major problem - even the supposedly friendly CIO unions actually helped maintain job discrimination against African Americans.
- Then, the author explains how African American workers responded strategically by choosing to work with white unionists anyway, recognizing that employers were their bigger enemy than racist union members.
- Finally, the author shows how this strategy paid off - African Americans became skilled organizers who earned respect by helping all workers and ultimately achieved both union strength and their own economic empowerment.
Main Point:
African American workers successfully turned a discriminatory situation to their advantage by becoming excellent union organizers who helped everyone, which allowed them to strengthen the unions while also improving their own economic conditions.
3. Question Analysis:
This is a primary purpose question asking us to identify what the passage is "primarily concerned with." We need to find the answer choice that best captures the author's main goal throughout the entire passage, not just a detail from one section.
Connecting to Our Passage Analysis:
Our passage analysis reveals a clear structure that moves through several key elements:
- African American workers wanted unionization and had two organizational options
- The AFL discriminated against them while the CIO welcomed them
- Even the CIO maintained discriminatory practices despite good policies
- African American workers strategically chose to work within the system anyway
- This strategy ultimately succeeded, benefiting both the unions and African American workers
The passage analysis shows that the author spends significant time contrasting the AFL's exclusionary approach with the CIO's integrationist approach. This contrast is established early and provides the foundation for understanding why African American workers made the choices they did.
Prethinking:
Based on our passage analysis, the author's primary concern appears to be showing how two different labor organizations (AFL vs. CIO) treated African American workers very differently during the 1930s and 1940s. The AFL "either excluded African Americans or maintained racially segregated unions" while the CIO "organized integrated unions nationwide on the basis of a stated policy of equal rights for all." This contrast drives the entire narrative about why African Americans became the "backbone" of the CIO rather than joining the AFL.
Why It's Wrong:
- The passage actually shows that unions were ultimately beneficial to African American workers, not that they "failed to address" their concerns
- The final sentence explicitly states that African Americans "succeeded in strengthening the unions while using them as instruments of African Americans' economic empowerment"
- This choice ignores the successful resolution described in the passage's conclusion
Common Student Mistakes:
- Did you focus only on the middle part where discrimination is mentioned?
→ Read the entire passage - the author shows initial problems but then explains how they were overcome - Are you confusing "acknowledging problems" with "demonstrating failure"?
→ The author mentions discrimination but shows how African Americans successfully worked around it
Why It's Wrong:
- While this captures part of the passage's message, it's not the primary concern
- The passage spends more time contrasting AFL and CIO approaches than arguing about benefits to African Americans
- This choice misses the comparative structure that drives the passage's organization
Common Student Mistakes:
- Are you focusing on the conclusion rather than the overall structure?
→ Look at how much space the author devotes to comparing AFL vs. CIO treatment - Is this choice too narrow to be the "primary" concern?
→ Consider which theme runs throughout the entire passage, not just the ending
Why It's Right:
- The passage explicitly contrasts AFL's exclusionary practices with CIO's integrationist policies
- This comparison provides the structural foundation for the entire passage
- The author uses this contrast to explain why African Americans chose the CIO and how that choice played out
Key Evidence: "While the American Federation of Labor (AFL) either excluded African Americans or maintained racially segregated unions, the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) organized integrated unions nationwide on the basis of a stated policy of equal rights for all"
Why It's Wrong:
- This focuses on explaining success factors rather than the primary comparative structure
- The passage mentions reasons for success but this isn't the main organizational principle
- This choice treats success explanation as primary when it's actually supporting the larger comparative framework
Common Student Mistakes:
- Are you focusing on the later sentences about African American organizers' effectiveness?
→ Consider whether this is the main theme or just part of the larger story about organizational differences - Does "giving reasons for success" capture the passage's primary structural approach?
→ Look for the organizing principle that runs throughout, not just one section's focus
Why It's Wrong:
- The passage doesn't question any explanation for African American attitudes toward unionization
- The author presents African American support for unionization as a straightforward fact, not something to question
- There's no skeptical or questioning tone about explanations for worker attitudes
Common Student Mistakes:
- Are you confusing "explaining complex factors" with "questioning explanations"?
→ The author explains why African Americans made certain choices but doesn't question those explanations - Does the phrase "it can be argued" suggest questioning?
→ This phrase introduces evidence about discrimination, not questioning of worker attitudes