Black labor unions have played a significant role in the history of the labor movement in the United States. As African Americans faced discrimination and exploitation in the workplace, they organized themselves into unions to fight for fair wages, better working conditions, and an end to racial discrimination within the labor movement itself.

One of the earliest and most influential Black labor unions was the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, founded in 1925 by A. Philip Randolph. The union fought for better working conditions and higher wages for African American porters working on trains. Randolph's leadership of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters paved the way for future civil rights and labor rights activism.

Other notable Black labor unions include the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, which was founded in 1972 to advocate for the rights of African American workers within the larger labor movement, and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, which has a strong history of interracial solidarity and fighting against racism in the workplace.

Overall, Black labor unions have been instrumental in advancing the rights of African American workers and promoting racial equality within the labor movement. Their efforts have contributed to significant gains in workplace protections, wages, and opportunities for Black workers in the United States.