The Memphis sanitation workers' strike was a pivotal event in Black history that took place in Memphis, Tennessee in 1968. The strike was sparked by a tragic incident on February 1, 1968, when two Black sanitation workers, Robert Walker and Echol Cole, were crushed to death in a garbage truck compactor. The workers were seeking shelter from the rain in the back of the truck, as they were not allowed to take refuge in white-only facilities.

This incident, coupled with the long-standing issues of low wages, poor working conditions, and systematic racism within the sanitation department, led to over 1,300 Black sanitation workers going on strike on February 12, 1968. The workers, with the support of local civil rights leaders, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., demanded better pay, improved working conditions, and union recognition.

The strike garnered national attention and became a focal point for the civil rights movement. Dr. King visited Memphis to support the striking workers and delivered his famous "I've Been to the Mountaintop" speech on April 3, 1968, the day before he was assassinated.

After over two months of protest and negotiation, city officials finally agreed to meet the demands of the sanitation workers, and the strike was officially settled on April 16, 1968. The Memphis sanitation workers' strike was a significant victory for the labor and civil rights movements, highlighting the power of collective action and the fight for economic and racial justice.