Velma Hopkins facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Velma Hopkins
Born	February 24, 1909
Died	March 19, 1996  (aged 87)

Velma Hopkins (born February 24, 1909 – died March 19, 1996) was an important American activist. She worked hard for the rights of workers. In 1943, she helped organize a big strike. Over 10,000 people joined this protest in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. This strike led to the creation of a special union. It was the only union ever formed by employees of the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company.

Velma Hopkins was a key leader in this union, called Local 22. This union was special because it included both Black and white workers. It was mostly led by Black women. Velma's efforts helped workers get better pay and fair treatment. She became a respected leader in the African American community in Winston-Salem.

Velma Hopkins's Early Life

Velma Hopkins was born on February 24, 1909. She was the oldest of four children. Her mother became a widow before Velma turned ten years old. After that, her family moved to the city of Winston-Salem.

Fighting for Workers' Rights

Velma Hopkins started working at the R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. She worked as a tobacco stemmer. This was a job where people prepared tobacco leaves. At that time, African Americans rarely got higher-paying jobs at the company. Also, women were paid less money than men.

Working Conditions at Reynolds Tobacco

The working conditions were very tough for people in lower-paying jobs. Black employees worked in separate areas. These areas were often very hot. There was also a lot of tobacco dust in the air. This made the work difficult and unhealthy.

The Big Strike of 1943

In 1943, a coworker of Velma's passed away. After this, Velma and others decided to organize a walkout. A walkout is when workers stop working to protest something. Workers from other jobs in the city also joined the protest. Soon, more than 10,000 people were protesting outside the company.

The workers then formed a labor union. A union is a group of workers who join together. They work to improve their pay and working conditions. Their union was called Local 22. It was part of a larger group called the Food, Tobacco, Agricultural and Allied Workers of America-CIO.

Local 22 was very special. It included both Black and white workers. It was mainly led by Black women. This union was the only one ever formed in the history of Reynolds Tobacco.

More Protests for Fair Pay

In 1944, Velma Hopkins took a bold step. She pulled a switch that turned off all the machines in her plant. This started another strike. They were protesting low pay and long work hours. They also wanted better working conditions.

Another big strike happened in 1947. Throughout the 1940s, Velma was a leader in Local 22. She helped talk with the company about pay raises. She also fought for equal pay for men and women. The union's efforts got attention from all over the country. Famous singers like Woody Guthrie and Paul Robeson even visited Winston-Salem. They came to support Local 22.

Velma explained why complaints increased after the union started. She said people were too scared to complain before the union. They needed their jobs to survive. But once the union was there, they felt protected. They felt like someone cared about them.

Challenges Faced by the Union

Velma Hopkins faced many challenges for her actions. She was criticized and even received threats. Local newspapers and the company leaders tried to turn people against the union. They used unfair tactics to make the union look bad. Because of this, Local 22 lost an election in 1950. This meant the union was no longer officially recognized by the company.

Velma Hopkins's Lasting Impact

Velma Hopkins's work for workers' rights made her a leader. She was very important in the local Black community. She continued to fight for civil liberties for African Americans. Civil liberties are basic rights and freedoms.

Her activism included helping Black people prepare for voting tests. These tests were sometimes used to stop Black people from voting. She also pushed for schools to be desegregated. This meant ending the separation of Black and white students.

Velma's efforts helped thousands of Reynolds employees get fair wages. This helped create a stronger African American middle class in Winston-Salem. Her work also helped pave the way for the Civil Rights Movement. This was a major movement for equal rights for all people.

North Carolina State Senator Earline Parmon was mentored by Velma Hopkins. She said that Velma was very important in shaping her. Velma also helped shape a whole generation of Black leaders in the area.