While movements for African American labor rights have led to historic victories and progress in Black communities and nationwide, the fight for true justice continues.
With the Trump administration currently working to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts in the federal government and terminate African American employees, activists and labor fights are ramping up with urgency.
“We are being challenged because there has been war declared on us. And that war that has been declared, has been a war of the last several years. A war on every progress not only that we have made, that this nation has made since 1964,” said Marc Morial, president of the National Urban League, referring to the 1964 Civil Rights Act in a keynote discussion during the annual Black History Month luncheon hosted by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) at The Westin in Northwest, D.C.
For its 2025 theme, ASALH, the creators of Black History Month, is examining “African Americans and Labor.” During the chat digging further into the theme — moderated by Howard University’s Dr. Greg Carr and featuring Christine Sampson-Clark of the National Education Association — Morial emphasized the challenges the Trump administration presents today, not just for Black employees, but all workers.
“So the question for us: Are we built for the moment,” Morial asked, offering a call to action to the crowd. “In this town, we see hard-working federal civil servants who’ve given their life and their career being indiscriminately being thrown to the side.”
Following ASALH’s theme, The Washington Informer has spent the month reporting on Black labor leaders, innovators, and workers. As February comes to a close (though Black History is 365 days a year at The Informer), we’re examining Black labor movements and their critical contributions to the nation and world.
Celebrated civil rights leader the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spent his career in activism — quite literally until the very end — uplifting Black laborers.
“It is in this area (politics) of American life that labor and the Negro have identical interests. Labor has grave problems today of employment, shorter hours, old age security, housing and retraining against the impact of automation,” King said in September 1962 at a United Auto Workers District 65 Convention, according to the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). “The Congress and the administration are almost as indifferent to labor’s program as they are toward that of the Negro. Toward both they offer vastly less than adequate remedies for the problems which are a torment to us day after day.”
In his final days, King was committed to the Memphis Sanitation Workers Strike of 1968.
“You are demanding that this city will respect the dignity of labor. So often we overlook the work and the significance of those who are not in professional jobs, of those who are not in the so-called big jobs. But let me say to you tonight that whenever you are engaged in work that serves humanity and is for the building of humanity, it has dignity and it has worth,” King said in spring 1968.
He was in Memphis when he was assassinated (April 4, 1968) and delivered his famed and prophetic “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” sermon the day before his death, offering encouraging words for the fight ahead.
“Let us rise up tonight with a greater readiness. Let us stand with a greater determination. And let us move on in these powerful days, these days of challenge to make America what it ought to be,” King said.
Almost six decades later, the civil rights leader’s words remain an inspiration for the labor fight ahead.
In learning their stories, African American labor movements of the past can offer insight and hope for current activists working to address challenges facing Black and marginalized employees. Moreover, armed with the knowledge of the past and plans for the future, all Americans can join in the justice fight.
As King said on April 3, 1968: “We have an opportunity to make America a better nation.”
