As Black History Month 2026 begins, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is highlighting the role of unions in supporting African American workers throughout history. The IAM notes that labor organizations have played a significant part in advocating for the rights of Black workers, referencing figures such as Frederick Douglass, who became president of the Colored National Labor Union in 1872, and A. Philip Randolph, leader of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters in the 1920s.
The union also points to its own history, having welcomed African American members a decade before the Civil Rights Act was passed in the 1960s.
“It’s mind-boggling to learn about the tremendous history that links labor activism with the upward economic mobility of the Black Americans,” said IAM Union International President Brian Bryant. “Our union has been at the forefront of civil rights and Black History Month is a great time to share our union’s story.”
In 1944, IAM District 727, which represented 35,000 Lockheed workers in southern California, encouraged diversity by sending an open letter to local chapters about integrating its ranks. In 1950, Roman Mayfield became one of the first African Americans admitted as a member after persistently attending meetings despite initially being denied membership due to discriminatory lodge policies. His acceptance marked a turning point for Boeing and led to increased hiring and membership among Black workers over subsequent decades.
Other notable events include former IAM president Al Hayes meeting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in New York City in 1962; predominantly African-American lodges being established during the 1960s; IAM’s involvement with rebuilding Watts, California after riots in 1965; negotiating major contracts at facilities such as General Dynamics where many production workers were Black; and appointments like Robert Roach Jr., who became IAM’s first African-American General Vice President in 1999, followed by Diane Babineaux as its first Black woman General Vice President in 2013.
The IAM continues its involvement with groups such as the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) and the A. Philip Randolph Institute—organizations dedicated to promoting economic fairness and racial justice for Black workers.
