National Brotherhood of Workers of America facts for kids

The National Brotherhood of Workers of America (NBWA) was a very important group for Black workers in the United States in 1919. It was the largest organization of its kind at that time.

Starting the NBWA: A New Union

The NBWA was created by T.J. Pree and R.T. Sims. Another important leader, A. Philip Randolph, was also part of its leadership team. This group aimed to help Black workers get fair treatment and better working conditions.

The First Big Meeting

The NBWA held its first major meeting, called a congress, in Washington, D.C. The meeting took place from September 8th to 14th, 1919. About 115 people, called delegates, came to represent workers from different areas. Most of them were from the Southern United States.

• Three delegates came from a group called the Industrial Workers of the World.
• Fifteen delegates were from the Society for the Advancement of Trade Unionism among Negroes.
• However, no delegates from the American Federation of Labor were allowed to join this meeting.

Important Decisions: What the NBWA Believed In

At their congress, the NBWA leaders made several important decisions, known as resolutions. These resolutions showed what the organization stood for and what they wanted to achieve.

Working Together: Black and White Workers

One key resolution talked about the power of Black and white workers joining forces. It said that if workers of all races worked together, it would teach business owners a powerful lesson about the strength of united labor. This unity would show that workers, no matter their race, understood their own interests and power. The NBWA believed this would turn workers who had been used to divide labor into strong, smart, and active members of the working class.

Joining Industrial Unions

Another resolution strongly suggested that all Black working people should learn more about the goals and methods of the National Association for the Protection of Labor Unionism Among Negroes. The NBWA wanted people to quickly join existing industrial unions or help create new ones where they didn't yet exist. Industrial unions bring together all workers in a specific industry, regardless of their job.

Focusing on a New Future

The NBWA also decided to put all their energy into building a "new order of society." This meant they would focus on creating a fairer system for workers, rather than spending time on other efforts.

How the NBWA Worked and Ended

The NBWA operated as its own independent union. Most of its support came from workers in shipyards and docks, especially in the Tidewater region of Virginia. These workers were crucial to the union's strength.

However, the NBWA did not last very long. It faced a lot of pressure from the American Federation of Labor, a larger and more established union group. Because of this pressure, the National Brotherhood of Workers of America eventually closed down in 1921.