Reinhold
Niebuhr
Social
Causes
Deeply
impacted by the poor condition of his parishners and the inhabitants of Detroit
itself, Reinhold became involved with social causes. One of his largest battles was against Henry Ford. Detroit boomed with industry in the early
1900s, especially the automobile industry.
People flooded the city hoping to find work in the new factories, many
owned by automobile tycoon Henry Ford.
Henry Ford was considered to be a humanitarian because he paid high
wages, kept a five-day workweek, and hired the handicapped. Niebuhr saw Ford differently. Ford could afford to pay high wages because
he made huge profits. His five-day workweek was allowed though Ford’s mass
production, which dehumanized workers and left no room for the older employees
or unions. To combat Ford, Niebuhr
spoke openly against Ford and his policies from the pulpit and in print. He
allowed union organizers to hold forums in his church despite protests of the
Detroit Board of Commerce. Niebuhr
helped displaced workers find jobs to which they were suited. His disgust with Ford was the beginning of
his rejection of the capitalist system[1].
With
World War I ongoing, the European immigrant supply was halted and the
automobile industry attracted many African American citizens with the promise
of factory jobs[2]. Reinhold quickly became involved in civil
rights for the morality of it. He influenced others, like Charles Williams, in
the Detroit community to become involved with the efforts for “workers rights,
justice for blacks and peace movements[3].”
As
World War I progressed, Reinhold Niebuhr began visiting stateside army camps
with a denomination commission. Niebuhr
did not become a chaplain as would seem appropriate of a minister of his
time. He temporarily expressed regrets
at his decision, but was soon disillusioned with World War I and war in
general. He was a declared pacifist by
1923[4].
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