Marginalization of African-Americans in Commercial Fishing in Georgia

Ben G. Blount
Department of Anthropology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602-1619, 706-542-1483, FAX: 706,542-3998, bblount@arches.uga.edu

At the turn of the century, the shrimp fishery in Georgia was composed almost exclusively of African-Americans. One generation later, approximately 1925-30, African-Americans were a distinct minority in the fishery, working mostly as strikers. By the end of the century, they had virtually disappeared from the fishery altogether. The blue crab fishery is following a similar pattern, only 50 years later. In 1975, most of the crabbers were African-Americans, but only a few remain at the close of the century. In each case, half a century apart, the major proximate factor that led to the change appeared to be advances in technology, but the ability to finance the technology may also have played a key role. African-Americans were less able to make the economic investments necessary. Cultural factors may also have contributed to the decline, especially a deep-seated reluctance on the part of African-Americans to take the risks associated with increased reliance on technology and a move from subsistence-level to commercialization.