Long Hot Summer: The Biography of a Labor Worker Born in the sweltering fields of Shaw, Mississippi, in the waning days of segregation, Marion Phillips, Sr. worked alongside his family in a world defined by cotton dust and relentless heat. With only $200 a year to sustain a large plantation household, Marion's stakes in a dice game became the catalyst for a life-altering journey; his $130 win financed a move to Orange, Texas, where opportunity flickered amid the docks and shipyards. Over more than three decades as a longshoreman, Marion's broad shoulders and calloused hands became symbols of endurance, hauling cargo under the blistering Gulf Coast sun. Yet his strength was matched only by his generosity: when hobos leapt from passing trains in search of a drink, he quietly handed them water and bread, earning a silent reputation as a beacon of compassion. His family's humble home-dubbed "the shack by the railroad tracks"-witnessed moments of circus trains pausing for curious children, tragic collisions that tested their faith, and the soft lullaby of steel wheels rocking father and daughter to sleep. In this deeply personal tribute, Pamela Knight-an honorably discharged U.S. Marine veteran, singer, and devoted daughter-paints a vivid portrait of her father's unwavering integrity. She recounts his unyielding work ethic: the den he added onto their house, the bedroom he built for growing children, the concrete carport poured by his own hands. Through meticulously researched historical context, Marion's untold stories emerge: the camaraderie of longshoremen's unions, the struggle for fair wages during an era of discrimination, and the quiet heroism that shaped generations. More than a labor history, Long Hot Summer is an intimate memoir of sacrifice, love, and resilience. It explores how one man's determination to lift his family out of poverty resonated far beyond the docks-instilling in his children a sense of purpose, faith, and dignity. Perfect for readers of social history, African American biographies, and family memoirs, this is a celebration of a life lived with grace under pressure and a testament to the enduring power of storytelling in preserving legacy.