Herbert G. Ruffin II, associate professor of African American studies, was interviewed by San Francisco-based public media organization KQED for an article titled, "How a Ford Factory in Milpitas Changed the Face of a Town." The piece highlighted how a Ford factory built in 1955 in Milpitas, California, reshaped the city’s trajectory. It also addressed the challenges African American workers faced, including being barred from buying or renting homes in nearby towns.
"At every point in time as this is being developed … [there were always] these barriers that would be thrown out there," Ruffin said in the interview. “You can’t build this here because of sewage. You can’t do this because of this. You can’t do this because of that.”