Black labor unions have played a significant role in the history of Black Americans' fight for economic and social justice. One of the earliest Black labor unions in the United States was the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, founded in 1925 by A. Philip Randolph. This union was the first to be chartered by the American Federation of Labor (AFL) and was instrumental in advocating for the rights of African American railroad porters who faced discrimination and poor working conditions.

The Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s saw a rise in the formation of Black labor unions as part of the broader struggle for racial equality. Organizations such as the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists and the International Longshoremen's Association Local 1422 in Charleston, South Carolina, played key roles in advancing the rights of Black workers and fighting against segregation and discrimination in the workplace.

Today, Black labor unions continue to be active in advocating for fair wages, better working conditions, and racial equality in the labor movement. These unions have been at the forefront of campaigns for minimum wage increases, healthcare benefits, and workplace diversity initiatives. Despite the challenges they face, Black labor unions remain an essential force in the ongoing fight for economic justice and equality for all workers.