Book · 2021 · History
Franchise
The Golden Arches in Black America
Why people recommend it
Franchise by Marcia Chatelain is a nonfiction book that examines the history of fast food in African American communities and its complex relationship with civil rights and economic development. On The Ezra Klein Show in 2004, Annie Lowrey discussed the title when asked to provide book recommendations to listeners. She highlighted that the work focuses specifically on McDonald's and the franchising phenomenon, detailing its growth within Black communities and its impact on Black consumers. Lowrey spoke positively about the publication, noting that it came out a few years prior and praising its overall quality and relevance to economic and social history. The volume explores how business ownership and corporate expansion intersected with political activism and urban change throughout the twentieth century. Through detailed historical research, the author illustrates how fast-food chains became central institutions in many neighborhoods, shaping local economies and community spaces in lasting ways. Lowrey brought up the publication to illustrate structural economic dynamics and the historical factors influencing contemporary American society. Her endorsement drew attention to the ways commercial enterprises operated within segregated urban landscapes and how residents negotiated corporate presence.
Who recommended it
- Annie Lowrey Recommended
Annie Lowrey — 1 mention
“however there's a really great book that came out a few years ago called franchise the golden arches in Black America by Marsha shelene and it's about McDonald's and franchising specifically about the growth of McDonald's and its role in Black communities and with black consumers”