In the Ruins of the Somewhat Racially Integrated Sloss Furnaces

(Birmingham, Alabama)

Men of all backgrounds came to this forge–
oppressors working beside the abused.
Now all on the same page of history;
more than metal was being fused.

But the sweatiest, grimiest labor went
to a select part of the company staff —
those with most to prove and least to lose:
the back rows in the group photograph.