Black History Month 2025 Statement: African Americans and Labor

As we honor Black History Month this year, the San Francisco Department of Public Health’s (SFDPH) Office of Health Equity recognizes the vital contributions African Americans have made to labor movements through the theme, “African Americans and Labor.” The theme highlights the intersections of Black people’s work and workplaces through history, and across the U.S. Black workers in many jobs, such as teachers, nurses, steelworkers, and dock workers, fought against unfair treatment, low wages, and discrimination. They organized for better pay and working conditions. Black women, such as Addie Wyatt, also joined unions to push for job security, reproductive rights, and higher wages.

In 2025, we will mark the 100th anniversary of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters and Maids, the first Black union to be recognized by the American Federation of Labor, founded by A. Philip Randolph. Martin Luther King, Jr. included Randolph’s ideas about economic justice in his 1967 Poor People’s Campaign, believing it was important for Black people to be fully recognized as citizens.

Locally, the contributions of African American workers have been instrumental in building the infrastructure and culture of San Francisco, from the shipyards of Hunter’s Point to the service industries that sustain our communities today.

Throughout February, DPH will host events and discussions that center on the intersections of racial equity, labor history, and health equity. By increasing awareness and knowledge, we aim to empower you to make informed decisions about your health and well-being to decrease health disparities across Black and other vulnerable communities.

In appreciation,

Office of Health Equity

San Francisco Department of Public Health

Theme for the 2025 Black History Month was used by permission from: https://asalh.org/black-history-themes/