Black labor has been foundational to the growth of America and our economy. Enslaved people built the country’s early infrastructure and produced lucrative commodities such as cotton and tobacco. After emancipation, African American labor was crucial in industry, agriculture, and service. Yet the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), which was established in 1884, only started gathering consistent data on African American workers in 1972. For nearly a century, African American workers did not appear even as data points let alone in meaningful policies or labor legislation.
This Black History Month, we celebrate Black workers, their achievements, and their dedication to work (a trait often attributed to white workers). We also must consider the steep challenges and structural inequities Black workers continue to face. Understanding that history contextualizes today’s fight to improve and expand African Americans’ access to higher paying jobs and economic success.