Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man

were not in until you had the benefits. Ford’s policy was that
you had to work at least ninety days before they’d cover your
health insurance; this was the plant management saying to me,
we will provide you benefits after you have proven to me you
are worthy—work hard, show up on time, follow your super-
visor’s orders, and get along with your co-workers for ninety
days, and then you can get dental and medical coverage. You
can get your eyes checked, no problem. Your hernia could bust
and we will take care of you. We will take care of your kids’
teeth and eyes, and if you’ve got a woman, she can get glasses
and crowns on her teeth if she needs them, and any more babies
you have with your lady after this, we’re going to take care of
them, too. Your whole family will be covered. We are going to
provide you with a benefit package.
And you know something? All of this made perfect sense to
me. I was being challenged to show everybody at the plant that
I was serious, and ready and able to work hard for both the
salary and the right to have them pay my medical and dental
expenses—and as a man, I needed and wanted to prove that I
was up for the challenge and worthy of the reward. I agreed 100
percent with what the Ford Motor Company was saying to me,
and so I signed on the dotted line. I wanted to be a part of the
Ford family.
The first day I got paid, the supervisor came through and said,
“Here’s your check, appreciate you coming.” The check was
cool, but I wasn’t making an appointment at the doctor’s office