A comprehensive look into politics and the laundry industry in the 1930. If you're a big fan of history, then this is a book you'd enjoy. Starting off as a dissertation, a fascinating historical read that is very well researched regarding laundry workers trying to gain equality in the workplace. It's a lot of information, but interesting and well researched.

In the past, I haven't reviewed books that I haven't read. But, I have changed my mind. Firstly, I think that the fact that I couldn't finish a book is a valid criticism, and this is where we give feedback to the publisher. Secondly, I need to get my score up. I will not post this anywhere else but here. My rating will be based on what other people would think about this work.

I read about 20% of this book. While this is an interesting work, I couldn't get motivated to read it.

Originally written as a doctoral dissertation, the author had to cut the manuscript to half its size for it to be published. Even at half its size, it was a comprehensive look at the laundry industry, weaving in politics, technology, and fights for equality for women and African Americans. A little dry in some parts, repetitive in others but still a good read.

The history of labour is always inexorably linked with that of gender and race and the history of textiles and laundry serves as a focal point for these issues, particularly in North American 20th century history. A Matter of Moral Justice is another essential entry into the understanding of this time period and rightfully recovers the legacies of Black working class women in labour reform, as other feminist scholars have done with these intersections.

The work is strong and well-researched, and suffers a bit from being overly academic in its narration at parts. Carson handles the various identity elements in a way that does not preclude this work from being one of value, but I would have liked Carson to reflect more on her own Whiteness (and being a white woman) while conducting and writing this research. She also ends the book with a very white-woman centric 'all in this together' vibe that was inaccurate and in bad taste. With that, I still believe there is significant value to this book and scholars interested in labour history, gender history, and Black history will find it informative, though should proceed with some caution as one should with all research done by out-of-group researchers.

Interesting book but the title is a bit of a misnomer I think. The book description focuses on black women but somehow the book ends with an homage to a white woman? Whose work and legacy is no doubt important but it’s very contradictory to what seemed to be the focus. Also, the title is very generic, would never think we would be talking about laundry workers. That being said, it’s well researched and there are some very important details and stories in here but there’s only so much I can read about laundry work before I just skim through the rest of the pages (which I did).

Carson has written a fantastic history of remarkable women and a remarkable movement. Adelmond and Robinson's stories are inspiring and emblematic of the struggles of so many women of color as they fought to gain security and equality in the workplace. Carson's research is remarkable and she succeeds brilliantly in bringing to life the stories of these women workers, as well as their fight within the broader labor movement. Her critiques of the male-dominated CIO are a necessary corrective to the dominant narrative about progressivism in the CIO. While certainly more committed to social justice than their AFL counterparts, Carson shows that the CIO was not necessarily the bastion of progress presented in the common historical narrative. Carson offers a brilliant feminist corrective. This is an important contribution to labor scholarship and a refreshingly inclusive study.