About this episode

The episode discusses the IN Vaughan strike by Black women tobacco stemmers in 1937, highlighting their fight for better pay and working conditions.

On this day, 6 May 1937, 400 Black women tobacco stemmers went on strike at the IN Vaughan Company in Richmond, Virginia amidst a wave of unrest in the industry. With assistance from the Southern Negro Youth Congress the women walked out fighting for better pay and conditions, and were joined on picket lines by white women textile workers. After 48 hours, they won better pay, a maximum 8-hour day, 5 day week and union recognition. More information, sources and map: https://stories.workingclasshistory.com/article/10649/in-vaughan-strike Our work is only possible because of support from you, our listeners on patreon . If you appreciate our work, please join us and access exclusive content and benefits at patreon.com/workingclasshistory . See all of our anniversaries each day, alongside sources and maps on the On This Day section of our Stories app: stories.workingclasshistory.com/date/today Browse all Stories by Date here on the Date index: https://stories.workingclasshistory.com/date Check out our Map of historical Stories: https://map.workingclasshistory.com Check out books, posters, clothing and more in our online store, here: https://shop.workingclasshistory.com If you enjoy…

People in this episode

Host: Working Class History

Topics covered

• labor history
• women's rights
• strike
• racial equality
• tobacco industry
• union recognition

Keywords

• IN Vaughan strike
• Black women
• tobacco stemmers
• Richmond Virginia
• Southern Negro Youth Congress
• labor rights
• union recognition

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: IN Vaughan Company, Southern Negro Youth Congress

Places: Richmond, Virginia

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