Maida Springer Kemp facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Maida Springer Kemp
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| Born |
Maida Stewart
May 12, 1910 Rio Sidra, Panama
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| Died | March 29, 2005 (aged 94) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US
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| Nationality | Panamanian-American |
| Other names | Maida Springer |
| Education | Ruskin Labor College |
| Occupation | Labor organizer |
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Maida Springer Kemp (born Stewart; May 12, 1910 – March 29, 2005) was an American labor organizer. This means she worked to improve conditions and pay for workers. She focused a lot on the clothing industry in America. She also did important work in Africa for the AFL-CIO, a large group of labor unions.
People called her "Mama Maida" because she helped new unions grow. She created education programs and helped connect American and African labor leaders. In 1945, she became one of the first African-American women to represent American workers in another country when she visited England. Maida was also very active in the Civil Rights Movement, fighting for equal rights for all people. She also championed women's rights around the world throughout her life.
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Early Life and Family
Maida Stewart was born on May 12, 1910, in Panama. Her parents were Harold and Adina Stewart. Her father was from Barbados and worked on the Panama Canal project.
When Maida was seven, her family moved to Harlem, New York. She went to St. Mark's Catholic School there. After her parents divorced, Maida was raised by her mother, who was very involved in politics. Their home was a meeting place for activists. Maida heard many stories about racism, which deeply influenced her. Henrietta Vinton Davis, an important female activist, was a big inspiration to Maida.
From 1923 to 1926, Maida attended the Bordentown School in New Jersey. In 1927, she married Owen Springer. The couple faced tough times during the Great Depression, a period when many people lost their jobs and money. Their son, Eric, was born in 1929. Owen's work slowed down, and his pay dropped. So, Maida decided to start working in garment factories to help support her family.
Starting a Career in Unions
In 1933, Maida met A. Philip Randolph, a famous civil rights and labor leader. He became a lifelong friend and mentor to her. That same year, she joined the Dressmakers' Union Local 22. This union was part of the International Ladies' Garment Workers' Union (ILGWU), which helped workers in the clothing industry.
With the help of people like Chris Zimmerman, Maida began to rise in the union. She worked with David Dubinsky, the union president, to make big changes for American workers. The National Industrial Recovery Act of 1933, a new law, also helped unions grow. In 1933, the ILGWU went on strike. They demanded better working conditions and fair pay. Thanks to their efforts, union membership grew quickly.
Working for Workers' Rights
From 1934 to 1942, Maida worked tirelessly for Local 22. She was on the union's executive board and education committee. She also worked as a "shop representative." This meant she met with factory owners to make sure workers were paid fairly. She took many courses to learn more about labor issues.
Local 22 was also active in the Civil Rights Movement in Harlem. Maida helped with these efforts too. From 1942 to 1945, she was the Education Director for another union, Local 132. During World War II, many men went to fight, and women filled their jobs in factories. Maida created lessons to teach new union members about their rights and goals. In 1944, she was appointed to the War Price and Rationing Board.
In 1945, Maida became a business agent for Local 22. She handled complaints and made sure union rules were followed. That same year, she made history. She traveled to England as a delegate for the American Federation of Labor (AFL). This made her the first African-American woman to represent US labor abroad. She saw firsthand how war affected Britain and Europe. She also met Anna Freud, a famous psychologist, who worked with children dealing with the stress of constant bombing. From 1948 to 1951, Maida was the first African-American business agent to represent a district for the Dressmakers' Union Local 22.
International Work and "Mama Maida"
In the 1950s, Maida Springer began working internationally. She advised new labor unions in Tanzania, Kenya, and Ghana. In these countries, people affectionately called her "Mama Maida."
In 1951, she visited Sweden and Denmark to study how they educated workers. She then took time off from her union work to study at Ruskin College, Oxford University, in England. In 1955, she attended a big union conference in Ghana. She was the only woman among five observers. In 1957, she helped create Solidarity House in Nairobi, Kenya. Through her efforts, she taught African traders about how unions work.
Helping African Leaders and Women
In 1959, Maida started working for the AFL-CIO's international department, focusing on Africa. For several years, she lived in different places like Dar es Salaam (Tanzania), Nairobi (Kenya), and Brooklyn, New York.
She started a program for Africans to study at Harvard University. She also founded a trade school in Kenya to help women get more opportunities. She created a scholarship for girls in Tanzania to continue their education after high school. She also started the Maida Fund to help farm workers in East Africa go back to school. Maida became friends with many important African leaders, like Julius Nyerere of Tanzania and Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana. She attended the independence ceremonies of Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Kenya.
In 1964, Maida represented the US at a conference in Geneva. In 1966, she returned to work for the ILGWU. Later, she worked for the A. Philip Randolph Institute. In the 1970s, she worked as a consultant in Turkey. She helped women join the labor movement there by setting up the Women's Bureau of TÜRK-İŞ. At first, some male union leaders didn't want to focus on women's issues like equal pay or childcare. But Maida helped them understand the importance of these concerns. She also worked in Indonesia to get more women involved in unions. She attended important women's conferences in Mexico and Nairobi in 1975.
Personal Life
Maida Springer married Owen Springer in the late 1920s, and they had a son named Eric. Their marriage later ended in divorce. In 1965, she married James Kemp. Maida was a very dedicated worker. Her work often kept her away from home, which sometimes put a strain on her marriage with James. However, both Maida and James were deeply committed to civil rights and equality for workers.
In the late 1970s, Maida Springer Kemp moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She lived there for the rest of her life. She passed away on March 29, 2005, at the age of 94, after a long illness.
Awards and Recognition
Maida Springer Kemp received many awards during her 50-year career. These included:
- The Woman of the Year Award from the National Council of Negro Women.
- A Candace Award from the National Coalition of 100 Black Women.
- The Bessie Abramowitz Hillman Award.
- The first annual Rosina Tucker Award from the A. Philip Randolph Institute.
- The Women's Rights Award from the American Federation of Teachers.
- An honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Brooklyn College.
The Maida Springer Kemp Fund was created in her honor. This fund helps fight child labor in East Africa by sending children to school. It also helps women start small businesses and supports schools that teach needlework. The famous lawyer Pauli Murray dedicated her memoir, Song in a Weary Throat, to Maida Springer Kemp.
Maida Springer Kemp was a member of several important organizations, including:
- The National Council of Negro Women
- The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)
- The African-American Free Labor Institute
- The Asian-American Free Labor Institute
- The National Organization for Women
- The Coalition of Labor Union Women
See also
