African American history has often been hidden in the history books of America. Every year there has been a national theme chosen by the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH), since 1928. The theme for 2025 is African Americans and Labor. The theme is not to dictate but to suggest. ASALH was founded and encouraged by the father of Black History, the honorable Carter G. Woodson, to select a yearly theme. The themes were established to bring attention to important developments that needed focusing on. In celebrating the entire history of African Americans and Labor, ASALH puts into the national spotlight the richness of the past and present with an eye towards what the future will bring.
This year, the theme ‘African Americans and Labor’ will highlight and celebrate the impact of work. This nation was born with racism and racial inequality which believed that African Americans are not worthy of the same things as White people. It will highlight what happened in the past and highlight the achievements of African Americans’ history through the present. Regardless of the racism and inequality, they have achieved. The famous poet Maya Angelou wrote in her famous poem, AND STILL I RISE, is about achievement.
The theme focuses on the different kinds of work by African Americans, including skilled, and unskilled, vocational, voluntary, entrepreneurship – and work beyond slave labor. After slavery, many former slaves became farm laborers, sharecroppers, landowners and wage earners. Some African Americans became free before slavery ended and became journalists, i.e., Frederick Douglas. Ida B. Wells was born in 1862 during slavery and later became an activist journalist.
ASALH stated in its Executive Summary of the 2025 theme: Over the years to combat the super exploitation of black labor, wage discrepancies, and employment discrimination based on race, sex, and gender, black professionals (teachers, nurses, musicians, and lawyers, etc.) occupations (steel workers, washerwomen, dock workers, sports, arts and sciences, etc.) organized for better working conditions and compensation. Black women such as Addie Wyatt also joined ranks of union work and leadership to advocate for job security, reproductive rights, and wage increases. (https://asalh.org/black-history-themes/)
This writer will share weekly articles on the 2025 Black History Month theme, which will include local laborers.
