One notable Black-led labor strike in Black history is the Memphis Sanitation Workers Strike of 1968. The strike was organized by predominantly Black sanitation workers in Memphis, Tennessee, who were protesting against discriminatory treatment, low wages, and poor working conditions. The catalyst for the strike was the tragic deaths of two workers, Echol Cole and Robert Walker, who were crushed to death in a malfunctioning garbage truck.

The strike garnered national attention when civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. came to Memphis to support the workers. Tragically, it was during this time that Dr. King was assassinated on April 4, 1968, while in Memphis. Despite the loss of Dr. King, the strike continued and ultimately resulted in a victory for the workers. The strike ended on April 16, 1968, with the city agreeing to recognize the union, increase wages, and improve working conditions for the sanitation workers.

The Memphis Sanitation Workers Strike of 1968 serves as a powerful example of the intersection between labor rights and civil rights, as well as the resilience and determination of Black workers in the fight for justice and equality.