Black labor leaders have played a crucial role in shaping fair working conditions in the U.S., despite facing racism and sexism. Nannie Helen Burroughs was a pioneer in this movement, establishing the National Association of Wage Earners to support Black women workers in the early 20th century. Her efforts, along with those of other labor activists, laid the foundation for workplace rights that continue to be fought for today. This article explores the contributions of these leaders and how their work still influences labor rights movements.
Nannie Helen Burroughs: A Champion for Black Women Workers
During the early 1900s, Black women were often forced into low-paying jobs such as domestic work and sharecropping, where they faced harassment and unfair treatment. Nannie Helen Burroughs sought to change this by creating the National Association of Wage Earners. Though she attempted to register the organization as a union under the American Federation of Labor (AFL), she was rejected.
Instead of giving up, Burroughs founded her own employment agency in Washington, D.C., where she provided training and advocacy for domestic workers. She also established a school for Black women to learn skills like stenography—fields that were typically closed off to them. Her goal was to give Black women credentials that would demand respect from employers.
Struggles and Sacrifices for Change
Funding was one of Burroughs’ biggest challenges. Since neither white nor Black men were willing to support her without requiring changes to her vision, she often struggled to provide for her students. She resorted to hunting and selling crops to keep her school running. Despite these hardships, her determination never wavered.
Her work laid the groundwork for future Black labor leaders who continued the fight for equal rights in the workplace. As Rutgers University professor Danielle Phillips-Cunningham notes, Black activists have historically had to create their own organizations to advance labor rights.
The Role of Black Labor Movements in Civil Rights
Black labor groups were key players in the broader Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s. A. Philip Randolph, for example, spent over a decade fighting for better wages and working conditions for the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. He was also instrumental in organizing the 1963 March on Washington, where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous “I Have a Dream” speech.
King himself was deeply involved in labor activism. He was on his way to support a sanitation workers’ strike in Memphis when he was assassinated in 1968. Unfortunately, many people today do not recognize his contributions to labor rights, despite their significance.
Post-Civil Rights Era: Gains and Ongoing Challenges
After the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was passed, more job opportunities became available to Black workers, especially in public sector jobs like the postal service and sanitation. Title VII of the Act prohibited discrimination based on race and gender, helping to integrate labor unions and workplaces.
One of the most influential Black women labor leaders after Burroughs was Dorothy Lee Bolden. She founded the National Domestic Workers Union in 1968, which grew into a political powerhouse supporting over 10,000 workers. Her influence was so strong that even former U.S. President Jimmy Carter acknowledged the power of her organization in Georgia politics.
Although the national group no longer exists, its impact remains. Today, Bolden’s work still influences labor movements, including political campaigns like those of Stacey Abrams and Senator Raphael Warnock in Georgia.
Modern-Day Black Labor Leaders and Continuing Struggles
Today, Black labor leaders continue to push for workplace equality. Service Employees International Union (SEIU) President April Verrett and National Education Association (NEA) President Becky Pringle are among the most prominent figures leading the movement.
Despite these advancements, Black workers—especially women—still earn less than their white counterparts and face workplace discrimination at higher rates. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Black employees remain more likely to be union members than other racial groups, showing their continued commitment to labor rights.
Phillips-Cunningham warns that efforts to improve workplace diversity and inclusion are under threat, particularly under administrations that oppose such programs. However, she remains hopeful, citing unions like SEIU that are actively organizing, educating workers, and challenging unfair policies.
The fight for labor rights among Black workers has a long history, starting with pioneers like Nannie Helen Burroughs and continuing with modern activists. Despite significant progress, Black employees, particularly women, still face economic disparities and workplace discrimination. The work of past and present labor leaders proves that change is possible but requires constant effort. As long as dedicated activists continue to advocate for fair wages, workplace protections, and equal opportunities, the movement for labor rights will remain strong.
