1881 Atlanta washerwomen strike facts for kids

The Atlanta washerwomen strike of 1881 was a big event in Atlanta where women who washed clothes for a living, called washerwomen, stopped working to ask for better pay. This strike started in July 1881 and was mostly led by African American women. They wanted more money for their hard work and more control over how they did their jobs. The strike ended in August and was quite successful for them.

Why the Washerwomen Went on Strike

After the American Civil War, many African American women in Atlanta worked as washerwomen, also known as laundresses. This was the most common job for African American women in the city. They often earned very little, sometimes only $4 to $8 a month.

In July 1881, some of these washerwomen decided to form a group called the Washing Society. They held their first meeting in a local church. There, they chose leaders and decided on a fair price for their washing services. At first, only 20 washerwomen joined. But in just three weeks, the Washing Society grew to include 3,000 members! They went from door to door and got support from many churches in the city.

On July 19, the Washing Society announced they were going on strike. They demanded higher wages. They also wanted a set price of $1 for every twelve pounds of laundry. Most importantly, they wanted more control over their work.

The Strike Begins

The strike started just a few weeks before a big event called the International Cotton Exposition. This was like a world's fair that was expected to bring many visitors to Atlanta. The city's white leaders and business owners were not happy about the strike.

The Atlanta Constitution newspaper at first didn't take the strike seriously. But as the strike continued, they had to admit how strong the washerwomen were. Many striking women were arrested or had to pay fines. The Atlanta City Council even threatened to make the washerwomen pay a special business tax. Some landlords also raised the rent for striking washerwomen. Despite these challenges, the strike kept going. It even inspired other domestic workers in the city, like waiters, to ask for better pay.

In early August, about 500 striking women met at Wheat Street Baptist Church to talk about the strike. Soon after, on August 3, the washerwomen sent a message to Mayor James W. English. They said they would pay a $25 license fee to "control the washing for the city." But they made it clear they would keep striking if their demands for higher wages were not met. After this, the city agreed to let the washerwomen have more control over their work and charge higher prices. In return, the washerwomen paid the $25 license fee.

What Happened After

The Atlanta washerwomen's strike was one of several strikes by domestic workers in the Southern United States during this time. There had been earlier strikes in Galveston, Texas in 1877 and Jackson, Mississippi in 1866. However, the Atlanta strike was the largest.

While some washerwomen did get higher wages, many still faced low pay. Even so, this strike was very important. It showed the power of African American women, especially during a difficult time known as the Jim Crow era. It proved how much black labor, especially domestic work, mattered to the city.