“Freedom is never given; it is won.”

—A. Philip Randolph, labor and civil rights activist

Hi John,

The labor and the civil rights movements have a historic bond. Black workers have been at the heart of America’s labor movement, and their leadership continues today.

From the voting booth to the workplace, America’s families owe so much of our progress to Black labor leaders.

That’s why we’re celebrating the stories of activists who are on the front lines of fighting for economic, racial and social justice in 2024. They join the generations of great leaders in our movement, such as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Arlene Holt Baker, Bayard Rustin and A. Philip Randolph.

Our workers today have a message for you: Be brave.

“I ask you to rise up and use all your might to continue organizing. It takes all of us.”

—Chey Smith, Organizer, Laborers (LIUNA)

We hope the videos and profiles we’ve compiled to celebrate a new generation of Black labor leaders and activists across the country leave you as inspired as we are.

Happy Black History Month!

Team AFL-CIO

P.S. We’ve put together a list of recommended reading for the month to lift Black history and culture through reading, celebrating, scholarship and conversation. See the list.

Text WORK to AFLCIO (235246) to join our text action team. (Message and data rates may apply.)