Prof. Meeropol Sets the Stage for Ragtime

CL201Feb06,2008

Prof. Meeropol set the stage for Ragtime, focusing in some depth on the changes in economic structure since the Civil War, and aspects of racism, linking the reading of The March to the reading of Ragtime. The main point was the transformation of the economy from being mainly a collection of small independent producers to being dominated by large corporations, monopolies and "Robber Barons". Henry Ford is the archetype in manufacturing while J. P. Morgan represents financial domination.

As I was walking up from the parking lot I spied Prof. Meeropol hurrying into Sleith, holding a sheaf of papers. Just as he made his way in, one sheet fell out of the bundle in his hand. Following behind him came a tall, blond man. He picked up the fallen sheet and became absorbed in reading it as I sidled up along the wall and peered around the corner, catching a brief glimpse of what was written on the paper. I could only make out a few disjointed words and phrases: "Reasons for the transition from Ancients to Corporate"... "Lumpy Capital Projects, e.g., Railways ... "role of Chinese labor"..."Segregation in Ford's factories: Reducing racial frictions or implementing racial stereotypes of specialization?"

Late for class due to the distraction, I wondered how the Professor would adapt. Sure enough, he hesitated briefly at one point, and his lecture ended early, but being the consummate speaker that he is, he threw out some extra questions for discussion. Is violence the only effective agent of social change? Idealistically, I would certainly hope not, but realistically, I can see hate and greed prevailing against reason quite universally.

My mind kept going back to the dropped page. In the intersection between economics and race there may be some answers to the violent aspects of race relations, specifically in the subtler violence of social theft embodied by exploitation. Perhaps Prof. Meeropol will comment on the dropped page, or Prof. Winthrop will shed light on the matter when he speaks on Ragtime in the next class meeting.