National Negro Labor Council facts for kids
The National Negro Labor Council (NNLC) was an important group that existed from 1950 to 1955. It worked hard to help Black workers and protect their civil rights. At the time, some big labor unions like the CIO and AFL thought the NNLC was connected to the Communist Party. In 1951, the U.S. government officially called it a "communist front" organization. This meant they believed it was secretly controlled by communists.
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What Was the National Negro Labor Council?
The National Negro Labor Council was a group dedicated to improving the lives of Black workers in the United States. It aimed to fight against unfair treatment and ensure Black workers had good jobs and fair wages.
How It Started
For many years, Black workers in America faced a lot of unfairness. They were often kept out of many jobs and labor unions because of racism. This meant they often had to take the lowest-paying jobs.
In the 1930s and during World War II, many more Americans joined labor unions. The number of union members grew a lot, and about 1 to 1.5 million Black Americans were part of unions by 1950. This was partly thanks to unions like the Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO), which were more open to Black members.
During World War II, Black union workers supported the war effort through a group called the Negro Labor Victory Committee. This group helped Black union leaders work together. After the war ended in 1945, many Black workers lost their jobs. This was because of a rule called "last hired, first fired." This rule meant that people who were hired last were the first to be let go when jobs became scarce. Many Black workers felt frustrated and wanted a new group to fight for their rights.
Getting Ready to Form the NNLC
In 1950, leaders decided to create a new national organization called the National Negro Labor Council. A key person in setting this up was Ernest Thompson, who used to work in a factory. He traveled all over the country, talking to labor leaders and explaining why the new organization was needed. He found a lot of support in cities like New York City, Chicago, and Detroit.
Important union activists, like William R. Hood from the United Auto Workers and Coleman Young (who later became mayor of Detroit), joined the project. They discussed the many challenges Black workers faced, including racism and economic unfairness. They decided that Black leaders should lead this new organization.
Some powerful union leaders, like Walter Reuther, warned their members not to join the new group. They saw the NNLC as too radical or connected to communists.
The first big meeting to officially start the NNLC was held in Cincinnati, Ohio. This was a brave choice because Cincinnati was a "Jim Crow" city. This meant there were strict laws that separated Black and white people, and Black people were often denied services like hotel rooms. Victoria Garvin, another union leader, worked for months to find places for all the delegates to stay.
The First Meeting
The founding meeting of the National Negro Labor Council began on October 27, 1951. About 1100 delegates came together. They sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" and the Black anthem "Lift Every Voice and Sing."
What the NNLC Did
By 1951, the NNLC had 23 local groups across the country. These groups worked on many important issues. They fought for more jobs for Black Americans and led campaigns against big companies like Sears-Roebuck, Ford Motor Company, and General Electric. They also tried to stop police brutality against Black people and worked to ensure Black people could use public transportation freely.
Even though the NNLC was doing important work, some union leaders from the AFL and CIO continued to criticize it. They accused the NNLC of having communist sympathies. This led to investigations by the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC). HUAC was a government committee that investigated people and groups suspected of being communists during the Cold War.
Why the NNLC Ended
The National Negro Labor Council had achieved many things in civil rights and fighting discrimination. However, it faced increasing pressure. In 1956, it was called before the Subversive Activities Control Board, another government body that investigated groups accused of being communist.
The NNLC was accused of being a "Communist front" organization. The legal costs to defend itself against these charges became too high. The organization simply could not afford to pay the lawyers and continue its work. Because of these overwhelming legal challenges, the members of the NNLC voted to close down the organization. It officially ended in 1956.
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