AMPLIFY: The Women of the Atlanta Washerwomen Strike of 1881

What happens when six Black women in 1881 suffering from injustice, wage theft, oppression, and intimidation gather to fight against it all? You get a two-week social justice movement with a lasting impact.

In the summer of 1881, police arrested Matilda Crawford, Sallie Bell, Carrie Jones, Dora Jones, Orphelia Turner, and Sarah A. Collier. They fined them for their involvement in the Atlanta Washerwoman Strike. What started with 6 women fighting against wage theft and mistreatment brought one of the busiest cities to its knees.

We Refuse To Work

On July 19, 1881, about 20 women and some men met and developed the Washing Society or a union.  Frustrated by their employees’ mistreatment, limited wages, or lack thereof, the laundry workers' union planned a strike to demand higher pay. 

 Women of the Washing Society

Like many of the members, Matilda Crawford, Sallie Bell, Carrie Jones, Dora Jones, Orphelia Turner, and Sarah A. Collier worked in horrible conditions. These women had to create their own soap, water basins and carry loads of clothes from their employers to their homes for $4 to $8 a month. 98% of the women were the breadwinners of their homes and needed to work to survive; asking for more money as a Black woman in 1881 Atlanta was unheard of. They demanded higher pay and wanted to develop a pay scale, something their white employers didn’t like.

Fun Fact: The strike took place after reconstruction and at the height of the KKK. During those days, police could arrest individuals for what the law considered a work stoppage.

Collaborate, Strike, and Demand

As someone who has helped develop coalitions and has been a part of union strikes and picketing, I can tell you that there is strength in numbers. You need people, allies who understand and empathize with your fight.  You need a Call To Action.

 That’s what the women of the Washing Society did! They cornered other laundry workers and connected with members at church. They went up to members who were working and publicly stopped them from cleaning.  They continued meeting, making speeches, and collaborated with hand washers and house cleaners.

Numbers rocketed from 20 women to 3,000 women in just three weeks of the union's creation

The strikers wanted to create a pay scale for themselves and inspire fellow domestic workers to do the same. Their coalition and collaborative tactics caught the eyes of many workers, journalists, and frustrated customers with dirty clothes. Most said their demands were too high, but the women persisted. 

On July 26th, some customers conceded one week after the strike and gave a dollar per load; others did not. ByAugust, the government had threatened them with a fee of  $25-$50, but the women persisted, saying they’d pay the fee.  The strikers continued to grow as washers, cooks, maids, hotel workers joined, leading to the arrest of leaders Matilda Crawford, Sallie Bell, Carrie Jones, Dora Jones, Orphelia Turner, and Sarah A. Collier for disorderly conduct.

 Why We Amplify

Faced with racism, oppression, arrest, lost wages, financial penalties, and more, these women persevered. They fought not just for themselves but all domestic workers. The women’s grassroots strategies lead to a disruption of businesses, media attention, and changed employer/consumer behavior through inconvenience and pressure. They not only raised their wages but encouraged other Black workers to do the same in a time when speaking up could get you arrested or killed.

We amplify and thank all the Black women strikers who fought tirelessly for higher wages, improved working conditions, job protections, and better benefits. Even though the strikers were here for just one summer, their impact, grassroots strategies, and tenacity continue to influence workers' rights and movements.

More information about The Women of the Atlanta Washerwomen Strike and Workers Fighting for Better Wages:

●      Listen to NPR’s Code Switch episode “Balls and Strikes” for a more in-depth look at the Washerwomen strike.

●      Check out The National Domestic Workers Alliance and all the work they’re doing.

●      Check out Clean and White: A History of Environmental Racism in the United States  By Carl A. Zimring

●      Washerwomen Strike influenced tactics for the Fight for $15 campaign.

Joycelyn lives in Cypress, Texas. She’s the daughter of immigrants and did not go to Law School, but received three degrees (BA, MA, MPH) and is happily freelancing and working in the nonprofit world. She enjoys writing about healthcare recruitment and even worked as a Healthcare Organizer. When she’s not writing, she’s transcribing, developing community toolkits, and researching womxn’s history. Which is why she’s excited about writing for AMPLIFY. On her off days, she spends her time on Twitter reminding everyone to drink water and enabling others to watch more dramas. Follow her on Twitter: @jg_humanitarian