Module 7: Labor and Civil Rights

The labor movement and the Civil Rights Movement shared a deep connection in their fight against inequality, often drawing on similar strategies and philosophies. Leaders of both movements recognized the importance of solidarity, uniting people across racial, ethnic, and economic lines to combat systemic injustice. One prominent example of this intersection was Cesar Chavez, the leader of the United Farm Workers, who advocated for the rights of agricultural workers, many of whom were Mexican American and faced exploitation and poor working conditions. Chavez's use of strikes, boycotts, and nonviolent protest to demand better wages and working conditions paralleled the tactics employed by the Civil Rights Movement. He, along with other labor leaders, understood that fighting for economic justice was inextricably linked to the broader struggle for racial equality, as workers of color often faced both economic and racial discrimination.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. also recognized the connection between labor and civil rights, particularly in his later years. In his "Poor People's Campaign," King sought to address economic inequalities that affected both Black Americans and the broader working class, criticizing the capitalist system for perpetuating poverty and exploitation. He saw the fight for racial justice as inseparable from the fight for economic justice, believing that true equality could not be achieved without addressing economic disparities. King’s advocacy for unions and support for strikes, like the Memphis sanitation workers’ strike in 1968, reflected his understanding that the struggles for racial justice and workers' rights were both part of the same struggle against systemic oppression. While some viewed the labor movement’s focus on workers' rights as more aligned with socialism than capitalism, King’s support for these movements showed that the Civil Rights Movement was not solely about racial justice but about creating a more just and equitable society for all people.