The Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters was the first African American labor union to receive a charter in the United States. It was founded in 1925 by A. Philip Randolph, a prominent civil rights leader, and labor organizer. The union represented the porters who worked on the Pullman Company's luxury sleeping cars, which were a vital part of the American railway system.

The porters faced racial discrimination and poor working conditions, including long hours and low wages. The Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters aimed to improve these conditions and fight for better treatment and rights for African American workers in the railway industry.

Under Randolph's leadership, the union successfully negotiated with the Pullman Company for better pay, shorter hours, and improved working conditions. The Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters also played a significant role in the broader civil rights movement, as Randolph and other union leaders were vocal advocates for racial equality and social justice.

The union's success in organizing and mobilizing African American workers helped pave the way for future labor and civil rights movements in the United States. The Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters was a pioneering organization that empowered African American workers and fought against racial discrimination in the workplace.