In 1925 Asa Randolph was asked to unionize the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters (BSCP). Randolph, who knew about unions through his work promoting socialism, agreed to help – never suspecting this would lead to a heated, national confrontation with the President!
Randolph was well known for organizing Black labor initiatives, and in 1935, the BSCP received union certification. This was the first successful Black union within industrial corporations, and it made white industry leaders nervous –and angry.
In 1940, President Roosevelt refused to issue an executive order banning racial discrimination within the U.S. Defense Industry. Outraged, Randolph organized a march on Washington – 20 years before MLKs march!
Randolph requested 10,000 Black supporters attend the March, but with heightened community support, the estimated attendance reached 100,000 – making Roosevelt panic!
Six days before the march, President Roosevelt, feeling the pressure, sent out an executive order: "There shall be no discrimination in the employment of workers in defense industries or government because of race, creed, color, or national origin."
Success! The march didn’t happen, but Randolph’s organizing proved nonviolent protests worked – and inspired future civil rights activists like MLK.
To some, Randolph was the "Father of the Civil Rights Movement.” He understood that unity in numbers will always create change!
Like Randolph, we must support our community – trusting that, in turn, they will support us.