Here is a summary of a very intriguing take on the impact our the National Recovery Act, labor laws and other new deal legislation had on blacks in America. The basic point is that blacks were opposed to this legislation because they knew it would result in keeping them out of the good-paying “union” jobs – and they were essentially bought out – and then became big supporters of the welfare state – by promises of benefits from the state (WPA work, later affirmative action). Tip of the hat to Volokh, which has a great cartoon from a new-deal era black newspaper decrying the NRA. Really interesting.
