Politics and Beyond Labor
A strong believer in democratic participation, Roy Reuther ran voter registration drives and UAW-related political campaigns. In 1960, he was appointed head of the Kennedy National Voter's Registration Committee, where he helped increase voter participation in low-turnout areas. His efforts gave the labor movement a strong voice in elections and elevated workers' rights to a key campaign issue. When Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act in 1964, it was no suprise Roy Reuther had the honor of standing by the President's side in recognition of his work with getting out the vote.
Closer to home, Roy became concerned with the housing crisis unfolding in post-war Detroit. With limited municipal services, the city of Detroit decided to demolish certain housing units for redevelopment. The demolitions were met with protests and anger from residents, who argued that the redevelopment project was unnecessary. These photos from the Roy Reuther Papers document this critical moment in Detroit history.
While Roy's life was filled with activities to promote social justice and equality, he discovered an enjoyment of sketching and painting in his later life. During rare times of quiet, he would practice sketching photographs of people.