The statement "labor control is a central theme of southern history" refers to the idea that the history of the American South is closely tied to the issue of controlling labor, particularly the labor of enslaved African Americans. The labor control is seen as a central theme in southern history as it has been a defining feature of the region's economy, society, and culture from the colonial period through the Civil War and beyond.
Slavery was a key institution in the southern economy, and it was essential for the production of the staple crops such as cotton, tobacco, and sugar. The Southern economy was based on agriculture, especially the cultivation of cotton, that required large numbers of workers, so slavery was key for the profitable farming. The labor of enslaved African Americans was the foundation of the region's wealth and power.
The labor control was also central to the development of southern society and culture. The social and economic systems that emerged in the South were built on the exploitation of enslaved labor. This led to a rigid racial hierarchy in which whites were at the top and enslaved blacks at the bottom. It also created the system of racial segregation and discrimination that persisted long after the abolition of slavery.
In short, the labor control is central theme of southern history refers to the fact that the history of the American South is closely tied to the issue of controlling labor, particularly the labor of enslaved African Americans, which was the foundation of the region's economy