The National Negro Congress was, in many ways, the successor of League of Struggle for Negro Rights, but became far more important. Over 800 delegates representing 551 organizations and 5000 others attended the founding meeting. A. Philip Randolph was elected President and John P. Davis was elected National Secretary. The N.N.C. was one of the most important mass political organizations in U.S. labor history and introduced thousands of Black workers to the Communist Party. More importantly, it helped to integrate the C.I.O. and was an organized, radical voice of Black America during the later Depression and World War Two.

‘Resolution on Negro Women’ from the Official Proceedings of the National Negro Congress, 1936.

WHEREAS: The National Negro Congress assembled in Chicago has given thorough consideration to the problems, conditions and circumstances of the Negro Women of the United States of America; and

WHEREAS: The Negro Women of America are subjected to three-fold exploitation as women, as workers and as Negroes and are forced through discrimination into the most menial labor under the worst conditions without organizational protection, and

WHEREAS: The Negro mother, who must bear the greatest brunt of economic crisis, having to maintain the family on the lowest income and relief provisions, is without organization which will enable her to combat higher prices and inadequate housing, health, recreational and educational facilities for the family; and

WHEREAS: Although the newspapers are full of talk about returning prosperity, housewives, Negro and white, see very little of it, for wages are stationary or on the decrease, but prices of food continue to creep upward; and relief is being cut and countless families are living on starvation diet, or dangerously close to it; and

WHEREAS: It has been found that there are many unfair, unjust, deplorable and illegal conditions extant which vitally affect the welfare of our women; and

WHEREAS: We deem it necessary to remedy, correct and improve such conditions;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That a national movement be instituted under the direction of the National Negro Congress to organize the Domestic Workers, who include 85% of all Negro women workers, as a unit to sponsor and promote laws, regulations, and requirements for the accomplishment of the following:

1. To demand and secure complete equality for Negro women with all other women workers, as to: a. Low wages, b. Long, irregular hours, c. Poor, unsanitary and non-moral living quarters and condition, d. General attitude which involves the lack of respect for employees by employer and public, e. Exploitation in all respects by employer of Negro, foreign and inexperienced female workers.

2. Drafting uniform bills to be enacted into law by the federal government and the legislatures of the several states for the protection of the domestic workers. Regulating voluntary agreements between employer and employee. Education of employer, employees and public in mutual work relationships, including training schools for employees. Uniform laws creating standards for employment agencies.

3. Recommendation of Methods of action through: a. Household sectional groups or unions, b. Hotel maids and other women workers, c. Private female clubs, d. Committees organized for this purpose, e. Industrial committee of State Federations of women, f. Urgency of inclusion of Negro domestic workers by American Federation of Labor.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That such national movement encourage: a. The organization of Negro housewives into housewives leagues to combat higher prices, segregated and inadequate housing, health, recreational and educational facilities, b. The organization of Negro professional women to fight the discrimination which they also face, c. The linking of the special problems of these groups with their general problems as women and as Negroes, supporting the fight against war and fascism, for adequate social legislation and the life, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That we especially call upon the women present at the National Negro Congress, gathered here from many different states of the Union, to pledge themselves to unite all Negro and white housewives in their home cities or towns—to bring together clubs, church groups, women’s auxiliaries, and all possible organizations, in united groups of women with one aim in mind, THE FORMATION OF WOMEN’S LEAGUES AGAINST THE HIGH COST OF LIVING, to fight for a reduction in the prices of food, rent, gas, electricity, and all necessities of life—and thus to improve the conditions of all working class families, both Negro and white.

Official Proceedings of the First National Negro Congress, 1936.

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