Notes

One Black Washer Success Story You'll Never Believe
Black Washer History

It's the most popular color for ovens, refrigerators, and cooktops, and it's now getting the spotlight in laundry. Black washers promise to add the look of a modern home.

To snag a stylish black washer that will look great in your home, look for models with sleek designs and plenty of space to accommodate large loads.

The Strike

Twenty African American laundresses organized a group in the summer of 1881 called the Washing Society, and went on strike to demand a higher pay for their work. They contacted their church and social organizations to help them spread the word. Within three weeks, their membership increased from 20 to 3,500. The Washing Society went door-to-door, visited churches, and spoke at public gatherings to urge other laundresses to join the movement. White-owned businesses and city officials reacted, threatening fines and arresting leaders of the organization. They also tried to destabilize the group by proposing the tax of members of the Washing Society and by building a steam laundry to drive the women who run the laundry out of business.

In spite of these attempts to thwart the strike, the women did not back down. They continued to protest and gained more support from other domestic workers, such as cooks and maids, hotel employees, and nurses, all requesting higher wages for their work. Eventually, the City Council gave in and agreed to let the Washing Society pay a $25 annual fee in exchange for retaining their autonomy.

The city council was not happy with the decision. The nascent union threatened to organize the other domestic workers of the city the council was concerned about losing control of the labor market. To limit the power of black washers the council started an initiative to enforce the annual fee of $25 for all laundry workers, regardless of whether or not they were members of The Washing Society.

The women who worked in the washer proved to be powerful, and their perseverance resulted in a positive outcome in the long run. Their success was a lesson in the incredible power black workers could utilize when they gathered and unified to fight for a better existence for themselves and their communities. Today the legacy of washerwomen's commitment to dignified work live on through the work of organizations like the National Domestic Workers Alliance and the Fight for $15.

Although the outcome of the Washing Society's strike remains uncertain but the legacy they left behind is evident. It was an affirmation of the tremendous power that black workers possess and a source of inspiration for the next generations to take on injustice and to work together to achieve greater equality.

The Washing Society

In the summer of 1881, 20 African American washerwomen met to create the Washing Society, or union to fight for better wages, respect, and control over their work. They used methods of organizing at the grassroots to reach out to neighborhoods with door-to-door canvassing and local ward meetings to recruit laundresses. In only three weeks, the strike grew from just 20 members to more than 3000. While white media heavily criticized their use of militant, direct action, it was efficient in gaining the strength and unity required to be successful.

Their demand for one dollar per dozen pounds of laundry would have substantially raised their own incomes. They were able to convince their customers to back them, and even motivated domestic workers such as nurses, cooks and maids to join in. This unprecedented success showed black women's incredible ability to organize in large numbers and use grassroots strategies to disrupt the business routine.

Like washing machines black in the South, had few alternatives for work other than sharecropping and household labor. Many emigrated to cities in the hope of obtaining better opportunities, such as cooks, maids servants and laundresses. These positions provided more freedom than their rural counterparts however, the pay was still subsistence level and not enough to support families.

During Reconstruction, Black women's labor was deemed to be essential to the city and could not be ignored. The Washerwomen's strike was an opportunity to remind the white establishment that they couldn't be successful without them. The Washing Society campaign was successful in highlighting the importance of respect and dignity at work.

The Washing Society shows how the same tactics that were used in the past remain applicable today. In a time when the laundry industry is increasingly automated and controlled by corporations The film provides an alternative narrative of worker resistance that aims to empower all working people. Join co-directors Lizzie Olesker, Lynne Sachs, and Silvia Federici as they host an open discussion following the screening.

The City of Atlanta

Twenty laundresses from Atlanta formed the Washing Society in the summer of 1881 and began a protest for higher wages. The Society quickly increased to 3000 members by canvassing door-to-door, and with the support of local black churches. Municipal authorities began to arrest and fine Washing Society members, but the women refused to be discouraged. They would continue to protest until they were awarded an amount of one dollar.

African American communities experienced extreme violence and oppression twenty years after the end of slavery in the United States. Lynchings became common and Jim Crow laws limited African Americans access to schools as well as labor unions and the military. In the midst of this terrible period, the strike of the washerwomen in Atlanta stands out as an amazing success story of worker determination and organization.

The success of the Washing Society inspired other urban African American groups to organize and fight for their rights. Many of these groups joined with others in a national movement for civil rights which would ultimately lead to the formation of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in 1903.


Atlanta's growth in the industrial and economic sphere was a result of the civil rights movement. In 1940, the population of Atlanta was at 496.973 and was growing at more than 70k per year. The city's landscape was transformed due to the growth of automobiles, businesses and other industries. As the city grew it became a series ring neighborhood which included Home Park, Virginia Highland, Candler Park/Edgewood, Sylvan Hill, West End, and Washington Park, a Black suburban area, to the west.

Today, the city of Atlanta is a vibrant metropolitan area with numerous cultural and historical sites such as the High Museum of Art, the Woodruff Arts Center, Piedmont Park and the Margaret Mitchell House, and the Atlanta Botanical Garden. The city is also the home of numerous bars and restaurants, and is a hub for professional and regional business sports. Additionally, the city remains an important military center and is a hub for federal government activity in the Southeast.

The Struggle

If the black specks do not come from detergent or fabric softener, they could be a lubricant that has been hardened in your washer's transmission or even dirt on your clothing. (For example faux leather jackets and raincoats). They might also be a sign that an element in the washer is slowly breaking down. Ian suggests examining the particles to determine where they came from.

Many issues can be solved with just a few cycles of vinegar and a thorough cleaning. After running 10 vinegar cycles and using the Affresh tablet, one Reddit user reported that the flakes were gone from their washer. Like this user it, you can also run several tub-cleaning cycles and use the correct amount of detergent. This will help avoid the buildup from the beginning. If the tub in your washer is damaged, it might not be very useful.

Homepage: https://zenwriting.net/cymbalslave64/the-most-profound-problems-in-washing-machine-in-black