Automakers

On racial issues, GM traveled bumpy road from laggard to leader

A worker polishes the grille of a Buick in 1942. During World War II, GM and other carmakers hired a large number of African-Americans. By 1945, 15 percent of Detroit auto workers were black.
AS
By:
Arlena Sawyers
September 14, 2008 05:00 AM
None

Fewer black dealers
The number of black-owned GM dealerships has fluctuated over the past 2 decades, but the trend in recent years has been downward.
Black-owned dealerships
1986114
199177
199384
1997106
1999115
2004108
200886

Today, General Motors is a vigorous supporter of affirmative action. But it took a world war and a presidential order to prompt GM to integrate its work force in the early 1940s.

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