We are in our second year now telling the remarkable stories of Black Women in America. I thought this series would take 1 year, but actually I could go on for many years. So, I am focusing on Black Female Firsts. We began during Black History Month in 2022 with the stories of African American women in the field of education including the first black women to earn PhD’s and the first to found schools and make other changes in education. Our series continued with black female writers, artists, scientists, doctors, inventors, athletes, and entertainers. Now in this second year, we will look at the stories of activists, political leaders, religious leaders and many more.
This month – Black History Month – we are honoring four African American activists. The brave actions of these women changed things in America for the better.
First Week: Harriet Tubman – Moses for her people (1820-1913)
Second Week: Ida B. Wells – Tireless Crusade against Lynching (1862-1931)
Third Week: Rosa Parks – Mother of the Civil Rights Movement (1913-2005)
This Week: Rev. Addie Wyatt – Fighting for Justice– (1924-2012)
Reverend Addie Wyatt – Fighting for Justice
Addie Wyatt believed in a universal, God-given human equality, inclusive of freedom from racial oppression, discrimination, sexism, and poverty, which denied human beings access to their full potential.[1]
In our series on African American firsts, Addie Wyatt is important as a leader in many movements – labor, civil rights, women rights, and religious commitment. Addie believed in a holistic gospel – every area of life is connected – and we can see from her life that she practiced her faith. Addie worked tirelessly in all these areas to achieve justice for all not matter their station in life.
Labor
Addie L. Wyatt (then Cameron) was born on March 8, 1924, in Brookhaven, Mississippi as the eldest of 8 children. Her mother gave them a Christian upbringing, taking them to church and even encouraging her children to be involved. When Addie was only 3 years old, she gave her first recitation. This was a foreshadow of her five-decades long speaking career. The family moved to Chicago in 1930. When she was only 17, Addie married Claude S. Wyatt, Jr.
In 1941, Addie began working in the meatpacking industry. She wanted to work as a typist, but black women were denied clerical positions. She took a job canning stew for the army. She actually made more money working on the packinghouse floor than she would have made as a typist. In 1942 she joined the United Packinghouse Workers of America (UPWA). This union was seen as one of the most progressive allowing memberships to many blacks and females.
Addie agreed with the non-discriminatory view of the UPWA and became active in the organization. In 1953 Addie was elected vice-president of the local chapter. In 1954 she became the First woman president of the local chapter and later the international representative. She remained in this position for many years. She also became the First black female international vice-president in the history of the Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen. Later she served as the Director of Civil Rights and Women’s Affairs of the 1.5-million-member United Food and Commercial Workers (one of the largest in the then AFL-CIO).
In 1975 in honor of her work, she was named one of the twelve most influential woman in America and her picture appeared on Time Magazine. Ebony Magazine also listed her as one of the 100 most influential Black Americans from 1980-1984, Addie was the highest ranked woman of the organized labor movement when she retired in 1984. An Addie L. Wyatt Award was established in 1987 by the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists. Addie as inducted into the Department of Labor’s Hall of Honor in 2012.
Civil Rights
In 1974 Addie became the director of the Women’s Affairs Department in the Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen. Addie was one of the founders of the Coalition of Labor Union Women, the only national union for women at the time. She delivered a keynote address to 3200 participants. Addie was also a founding member of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists.
Addie joined Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in civil rights marches. She participated in the march on Washington and the march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, and a major demonstration in Chicago. She helped found Operation Breadbasket. She raised fund for those left without a job during the Montgomery Bus Boycott. (See last week’s story on Rosa Parks.)
Eleanor Roosevelt appointed Addie to serve on the Labor Legislation Committee of the Commission on the Status of Women. Addie also served on the Protective Labor Legislation Committee of President John F. Kennedy’s Commission on the Status of Women in 1962. Addie worked toward the Equal Rights Amendment and advocated for better medical care for women, equal pay for women, and access to quality childcare.
Religious Commitment
Addie and Martin Luther King, Jr. developed a close relationship not only as civil rights activists, but as spiritual leaders. They agreed that involvement with the working class was crucial, and they supported each other’s efforts. Dr. King was a Baptist and Addie was an ordained minister in the Church of God but they both believed in the social gospel. Like Jesus, they believed in words and actions and that the two must go hand in hand.
In 1955, Addie and Claude founded the Vernon Park Church of God on the south side of Chicago. At first the congregation was small, but it grew over the years and the members were always willing to support civil rights activities and labor-based campaigns in the city. The church became known for its work among homeless people, seniors, and youth.
In 1968 Addie was ordained in the Church of God. She was one of the few women who sought ordination, but she wanted women to be able to participate fully in what had been traditionally male-only roles. Her husband, Claude believed that individuals are directly accountable to God, and he supported her as a co-pastor. Addie would address hundreds of audiences around the country over the rest of her life on what she believed to be important for the transformation of societal thought on gender roles. She found the basis for equality in the Bible (Proverbs 31, Galatians 3:26-28). Addie believed the Scriptures taught the humanity and dignity of all people.
“What shaped Wyatt’s theology was the combination or intersectionality of her life’s experiences – her faith and family history in the Church of God; her personal experiences with poverty, racism, and sexism; and her movement activism and leadership.”[2] The thread that held her activities together was her spiritual faith and a belief in racial, gender, and economic equality.
Throughout the 1990’s and early 2000’s Addie’s speaking engagements lessened, but she remained well-known as a national activist in labor and racial and women’s rights. Addie suffered a stroke and along with her arthritis was confined to a wheelchair. Claude developed Alzheimer’s. Thankfully because of their many years of service to others, family and friends were able to provide the daily care that they both needed. Only April 10, 2010, Claude passed away. On March 28, 2012, Addie, age 88, joined him in Heaven.
[1] Marcia Walker-McWilliams. Reverend Addie Wyatt: Faith and the Fight for Labor, Gender, and Racial Equality. (Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 2016) page 2.
Black Women Activists – Addie L. Wyatt
“For peace in the world, it takes a bonding together of God’s people who believe in peace.
It takes a bonding together of those who are willing to walk together, for those who are overlooking those idiosyncrasies that have kept us apart.”
Black Women in America – Part 31
We are in our second year now telling the remarkable stories of Black Women in America. I thought this series would take 1 year, but actually I could go on for many years. So, I am focusing on Black Female Firsts. We began during Black History Month in 2022 with the stories of African American women in the field of education including the first black women to earn PhD’s and the first to found schools and make other changes in education. Our series continued with black female writers, artists, scientists, doctors, inventors, athletes, and entertainers. Now in this second year, we will look at the stories of activists, political leaders, religious leaders and many more.
This month – Black History Month – we are honoring four African American activists. The brave actions of these women changed things in America for the better.
First Week: Harriet Tubman – Moses for her people (1820-1913)
Second Week: Ida B. Wells – Tireless Crusade against Lynching (1862-1931)
Third Week: Rosa Parks – Mother of the Civil Rights Movement (1913-2005)
This Week: Rev. Addie Wyatt – Fighting for Justice– (1924-2012)
Reverend Addie Wyatt – Fighting for Justice
Addie Wyatt believed in a universal, God-given human equality, inclusive of freedom from racial oppression, discrimination, sexism, and poverty, which denied human beings access to their full potential.[1]
In our series on African American firsts, Addie Wyatt is important as a leader in many movements – labor, civil rights, women rights, and religious commitment. Addie believed in a holistic gospel – every area of life is connected – and we can see from her life that she practiced her faith. Addie worked tirelessly in all these areas to achieve justice for all not matter their station in life.
Labor
Addie L. Wyatt (then Cameron) was born on March 8, 1924, in Brookhaven, Mississippi as the eldest of 8 children. Her mother gave them a Christian upbringing, taking them to church and even encouraging her children to be involved. When Addie was only 3 years old, she gave her first recitation. This was a foreshadow of her five-decades long speaking career. The family moved to Chicago in 1930. When she was only 17, Addie married Claude S. Wyatt, Jr.
In 1941, Addie began working in the meatpacking industry. She wanted to work as a typist, but black women were denied clerical positions. She took a job canning stew for the army. She actually made more money working on the packinghouse floor than she would have made as a typist. In 1942 she joined the United Packinghouse Workers of America (UPWA). This union was seen as one of the most progressive allowing memberships to many blacks and females.
Addie agreed with the non-discriminatory view of the UPWA and became active in the organization. In 1953 Addie was elected vice-president of the local chapter. In 1954 she became the First woman president of the local chapter and later the international representative. She remained in this position for many years. She also became the First black female international vice-president in the history of the Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen. Later she served as the Director of Civil Rights and Women’s Affairs of the 1.5-million-member United Food and Commercial Workers (one of the largest in the then AFL-CIO).
In 1975 in honor of her work, she was named one of the twelve most influential woman in America and her picture appeared on Time Magazine. Ebony Magazine also listed her as one of the 100 most influential Black Americans from 1980-1984, Addie was the highest ranked woman of the organized labor movement when she retired in 1984. An Addie L. Wyatt Award was established in 1987 by the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists. Addie as inducted into the Department of Labor’s Hall of Honor in 2012.
Civil Rights
In 1974 Addie became the director of the Women’s Affairs Department in the Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen. Addie was one of the founders of the Coalition of Labor Union Women, the only national union for women at the time. She delivered a keynote address to 3200 participants. Addie was also a founding member of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists.
Addie joined Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in civil rights marches. She participated in the march on Washington and the march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, and a major demonstration in Chicago. She helped found Operation Breadbasket. She raised fund for those left without a job during the Montgomery Bus Boycott. (See last week’s story on Rosa Parks.)
Eleanor Roosevelt appointed Addie to serve on the Labor Legislation Committee of the Commission on the Status of Women. Addie also served on the Protective Labor Legislation Committee of President John F. Kennedy’s Commission on the Status of Women in 1962. Addie worked toward the Equal Rights Amendment and advocated for better medical care for women, equal pay for women, and access to quality childcare.
Religious Commitment
Addie and Martin Luther King, Jr. developed a close relationship not only as civil rights activists, but as spiritual leaders. They agreed that involvement with the working class was crucial, and they supported each other’s efforts. Dr. King was a Baptist and Addie was an ordained minister in the Church of God but they both believed in the social gospel. Like Jesus, they believed in words and actions and that the two must go hand in hand.
In 1955, Addie and Claude founded the Vernon Park Church of God on the south side of Chicago. At first the congregation was small, but it grew over the years and the members were always willing to support civil rights activities and labor-based campaigns in the city. The church became known for its work among homeless people, seniors, and youth.
In 1968 Addie was ordained in the Church of God. She was one of the few women who sought ordination, but she wanted women to be able to participate fully in what had been traditionally male-only roles. Her husband, Claude believed that individuals are directly accountable to God, and he supported her as a co-pastor. Addie would address hundreds of audiences around the country over the rest of her life on what she believed to be important for the transformation of societal thought on gender roles. She found the basis for equality in the Bible (Proverbs 31, Galatians 3:26-28). Addie believed the Scriptures taught the humanity and dignity of all people.
“What shaped Wyatt’s theology was the combination or intersectionality of her life’s experiences – her faith and family history in the Church of God; her personal experiences with poverty, racism, and sexism; and her movement activism and leadership.”[2] The thread that held her activities together was her spiritual faith and a belief in racial, gender, and economic equality.
Throughout the 1990’s and early 2000’s Addie’s speaking engagements lessened, but she remained well-known as a national activist in labor and racial and women’s rights. Addie suffered a stroke and along with her arthritis was confined to a wheelchair. Claude developed Alzheimer’s. Thankfully because of their many years of service to others, family and friends were able to provide the daily care that they both needed. Only April 10, 2010, Claude passed away. On March 28, 2012, Addie, age 88, joined him in Heaven.
[1] Marcia Walker-McWilliams. Reverend Addie Wyatt: Faith and the Fight for Labor, Gender, and Racial Equality. (Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 2016) page 2.
[2] Ibid., page 155
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