Travels of a T-Shirt p.1-140

    In Travels of a T-shirt, Rivoli uses an ordinary cotton t-shirt to explain the reality of globalization. Part 1 and 2  of the book show the shirt’s journey from American cotton farms to Chinese factories. It shows how economics, politics, and labor affect global trade in ways most consumers never even consider.

    Part 1, King Cotton, focuses on how the U.S. dominates in the global cotton industry. Rivoli explains how American cotton farmers have remained competitive for over 200 years with technology and efficient farming methods. She challenges the idea of a “free market” by showing how government policies protect U.S. farmers and give them an advantage over producers in poorer countries. 

    One of the more unsettling points in Part 1 is Rivoli’s discussion of slavery and its connection to the cotton industry. She explains how cotton production in the U.S. originally depended heavily on enslaved labor. The explosive growth of cotton in the 19th century was only possible because millions of enslaved people were forced to work on plantations under brutal conditions. The wealth generated by cotton helped build American industry, while enslaved people and their future generations were denied opportunities and compensation.

    Part 2, Made In China, shifts the focus to manufacturing and labor. Rivoli explains why textiles production moved to China and the availability of low-cost labor and factory efficiency. Sweatshops and their harsh work environment often provide important opportunities for economic mobility, especially for young women. This section shows that globalization can create both hardship and opportunity. It forced me to confront the uncomfortable reality that the low prices we enjoy are tied to difficult working conditions elsewhere.