Hi John,

February is Black History Month. And while we celebrate Black labor leaders and union members, both past and present, who have advanced real change, we won’t ignore the moment we find ourselves in right now.

It already has been an extraordinarily difficult year for people of color, as the White House rolls back critical initiatives to protect diversity and inclusion, erases hard-fought civil rights protections, and fires Black federal workers who keep our country running. These attacks on our families and communities place an even heavier weight on the ongoing fight to end systemic racism and achieve economic justice.

But there is a reason that the civil rights movement and labor movement rose together at the same time a generation ago. Together, we will not despair—we will stand in our power and our agency.

As the renowned labor leader Bayard Rustin once said, “To be afraid is to behave as if the truth were not true.” And we know our truth.

This year marks the 100-year anniversary of the founding of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters (BSCP), the first Black labor union in America to become part of the American Federation of Labor (AFL). We recall BSCP members’ courage, and use it as we work to build a country that ensures dignity for all working people.

We’re proudly highlighting Black workers this month who continue to stand in the tradition of activism in the labor movement. See our Black History Month profiles we’ve featured on our blog so far.

Together, we will advance the march toward progress.

Join us.

In Solidarity,

Team AFL-CIO