An Injury to One Is a Concern for All: Reconstruction, the Labor Movement, and the Fight for Civil Rights, 1865–90

This article examines key figures and labor organizations from the Reconstruction Era, particularly in Virginia and North Carolina where labor organizing was most difficult. Focusing on African American labor leaders Isaac Meyers and Frank Farrell, the study explores their pivotal roles in connecting the concerns of the labor and civil rights movements. Emphasizing the spirit of the civil rights struggle, the article contends that Meyers and Farrell exemplified the later struggles of figures such as A. Philip Randolph and Martin Luther King Jr., persisting in the face of increased violence. While acknowledging the predominant presence of the African American working class in Southern agriculture, this article delves into the small segment engaged in labor organizing during Reconstruction. It does not attempt to comprehensively cover the entire African American labor movement but offers a focused perspective. Examining relationships formed during Reconstruction between prominent African American labor organizers and their respective organizations-such as the National Labor Union, Colored National Labor Union, and the Knights of Labor – the article highlights the initial direct and indirect contributions to addressing racial issues within the American labor movement. Ultimately, it illustrates the unwavering determination of African American union organizers in the face of formidable obstacles to gain their civil rights.