Notes

A Black Washer Success Story You'll Never Be Able To
Black Washer History

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The Strike

In the summer of 1881, a group of twenty African American laundresses formed a group called the Washing Society and began organizing protests to demand higher wages for their work. They contacted their church and social groups to help them to spread the word. Within three weeks, their membership increased from 20 to 3,000. The Washing Society went door-to-door, visited churches and also spoke at public gatherings to encourage other laundresses to join their movement. White businesses and officials started responding by threatening fines and incarcerating leaders of the group. They also tried to destabilize the group by recommending the tax of members of the Washing Society and by building steam laundry facilities to drive the women who run the laundry out of business.

In spite of these attempts to stop the strike, the washerwomen did not back down. They continued their protest and gained more support from other domestic workers like cooks and maids, hotel workers and nurses, all demanding higher pay for their work. The City Council finally gave in and agreed that the Washing Society could pay a $25 fee annually in exchange for their autonomy.

The city council was not happy with the decision. The growing union threatened to organize the other domestic workers of the city, as well, and the council was worried about losing control over the labor market. In an attempt to put the brakes on the increasing power of the black washer, it launched a campaign to enforce the annual fee of $25 for all laundry workers, regardless of whether they were members of the Washing Society.

The washerwomen were an element to be reckoned with and their determination resulted in a successful conclusion. Their success is an affirmation of the power that black workers can harness when they organize and unite to fight for a more hygienic life for themselves and for their communities. Today, the legacy of the washerwomen and their dedication to a dignified job continue through the work of organizations such as the National Domestic Workers Alliance and the Fight for $15.

The legacy that the Washing Society left behind is evident, even though the outcome of their strike is uncertain. It was a reminder of how black workers have a lot of power and an inspiration to the next generation.

The Washing Society

In the summer of 1881, 20 African American washerwomen formed the Washing Society or union to fight for better wages, respect and control over their work. Employing grassroots organizing strategies they went door-to-door campaigning and local ward meetings in order to recruit laundresses to their group. In just three weeks their strike grew from a mere 20 members to over 3,000. Though white newspapers strongly criticized their use of militant direct action, it proved highly effective in gaining the strength and unity needed to win.

Their demand for a single dollar per dozen pounds of laundry would have significantly raised their own incomes. They were able convince customers to back them, and even inspired domestic workers such as nurses, cooks and maids to join in. This unprecedented success demonstrated the capacity of black women to mobilize en masse and employ grassroots strategies to disrupt business as usual.

These women, like many other women in the South, had few options for employment outside of sharing crops and household work. Many women moved to cities in search of more lucrative employment opportunities, such as working as cooks, maids, or maids. These positions offered greater autonomy than their rural counterparts but the pay was not enough to provide a family with enough.

In Reconstruction, Black women's labor was considered essential to the city and should not be ignored. The Washerwomen’s Strike served as an example that the white establishment couldn't operate without the women. The Washing Society campaign was successful in highlighting the importance of respect and dignity at work.


9kg black washing machine Washing Society shows how the strategies that were used in the past are still applicable today. In a time where the industry of laundry is becoming automated and controlled by corporate companies This film offers an alternative story of worker resistance that aims to empower all working people. Join co-directors Lizzie Olesker, Lynne Sachs, and Silvia Federici as they moderate a discussion after the screening.

The City of Atlanta

In the summer of 1881 twenty laundresses from Atlanta formed the Washing Society and started a strike to get better wages. Through door-to-door canvassing and support from local black churches The Society quickly increased to 3000 members. Municipal authorities began fining and incarcerating Washing Society women, but they refused to surrender. They would not stop protesting until they were paid the equivalent of a dollar.

African American communities experienced extreme violence and oppression twenty years after the abolishment of slavery in the United States. Lynchings became common and Jim Crow laws limited African Americans' access to schools as well as military and labor unions. The strike of the washerwomen in Atlanta is a shining example of the power of unions and persistence during this terrible period.

The success of the Washing Society inspired other urban African American organizations to organize and fight for their rights. Many of these groups teamed up with other groups to create an national civil rights movement that led to the formation of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (1903).

In addition to its flourishing civil rights movements in the city, Atlanta was experiencing economic and industrial expansion. In 1940, the city was home to an overall population of more than 496,973 and was growing at a rate of 70,000 a year. The automobile industry and other industrial and business expansion continued to transform the city's landscape. As the city grew, it spread out into a variety of ring-like neighborhoods that included Home Park and Virginia Highland on the north, Candler Park/Edgewood on the east Sylvan Hills and West End on the south and Washington Park, a Black suburban development--on the west.

Atlanta is a thriving city with a variety of cultural landmarks and centers which include the High Museum of Art and Woodruff Arts Center. Other notable landmarks include Piedmont Park and the Margaret Mitchell House. The city also houses many bars and restaurants and is a regional business and sports center. In addition, the city is a major military hub and is the hub of federal government activity in the Southeast.

The Struggle

If the black specks don't originate from detergent or fabric softener, they could represent a hardened lubricant in the washer's transmission or even dirt on your clothes. (For instance, faux leather jackets and raincoats). These black specks could also be an indication of a component that is slowly falling apart. Ian suggests examining the particles to determine where they came from.

Many problems can be resolved with just a few cycles of vinegar and a thorough cleaning. One Reddit user said that after 10 vinegar cycles and using Affresh tablets, the flakes had disappeared from their washer. As this user reported it, you can also run a number of tub-cleaning cycles and use the right amount of detergent. This could help prevent the buildup in the first instance. But, if your washer's tub seal has been damaged, it might not be very helpful.

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