Household Workers Unite: The Untold Story of African American Women Who Built a Movement

Immerse yourself in the riveting narrative of "Household Workers Unite: The Untold Story of African American Women Who Built a Movement," where scholar and activist Premilla Nadasen brings to light the powerful tales of African American domestic workers who, against all odds, became pivotal activists in the 1960s and 1970s. This book, honored with the 2016 Sara A. Whaley Book Prize, challenges the entrenched myths of domestic workers as passive figures and reveals their transformative role in shaping labor, feminism, and civil rights movements. Nadasen masterfully narrates how these courageous women, often dismissed as unorganizable, pioneered innovative organizing strategies and formed dynamic alliances that transcended racial and gender barriers. Their declaration, "We refuse to be your mammies, nannies, aunties, uncles, girls, handmaidens any longer," echoed as a powerful stance for dignity and legal recognition. Ideal for adult education settings, this work not only highlights the intersections of gender, economic, and racial justice but also inspires a deeper understanding and appreciation of a movement that reshaped America's social and political landscape. Dive into the personal and collective journeys of these remarkable women, and reflect on the enduring impact of their struggle for respect and equity in the workplace.