You are currently viewing Year of the Black Woman

Year of the Black Woman

In the last quarter of the 19th century, most African American women worked as washerwoman or domestic servants. Many white families, poor and well-to-do alike, relied on washerwomen to wash their clothing and household linen. However, efforts by African American women to increase their wages were consistently met with resistance — though many women remained undeterred. In 1881, washerwomen in Atlanta staged the largest-ever strike by African Americans, walking off the job for weeks until their demands and those of other service workers were met.

Explore on Searchable Museum

Source: https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/moments/year-black-woman