As Black History Month 2026 begins, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is highlighting its history of supporting African American workers and civil rights within the labor movement.
Unions have played a significant role in advocating for Black workers’ rights throughout U.S. history. The IAM notes that figures such as Frederick Douglass, who became president of the Colored National Labor Union in 1872, and A. Philip Randolph, leader of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters in the 1920s, are examples of this legacy. The IAM itself welcomed African American members a decade before the Civil Rights Act was passed in the 1960s.
“It’s mind-boggling to learn about the tremendous history that links labor activism with the upward economic mobility of the Black Americans,” said IAM Union International President Brian Bryant. “Our union has been at the forefront of civil rights and Black History Month is a great time to share our union’s story.”
By 1944, discussions about integrating African American workers into union ranks were underway at IAM. That year, District 727—which represented thousands at Lockheed in southern California—encouraged diversity through an open letter to locals.
Roman Mayfield’s experience further illustrates these changes. A World War II veteran hired by Boeing in Seattle in 1946, Mayfield initially faced exclusion from membership due to discriminatory lodge policies but continued attending meetings. In 1950, after persistent efforts, he was accepted as a member when IAM recognized minorities. His story contributed to broader hiring practices at Boeing that benefited many African Americans who later joined IAM.
Other milestones include former IAM president Al Hayes meeting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in New York City in 1962; predominantly African-American lodges being chartered during the 1960s; assistance from union representative Herb Ward in rebuilding Watts, California after riots in 1965; major contract negotiations involving large numbers of Black production workers at General Dynamics sites like Fort Worth during the 1970s; Robert Roach Jr.’s appointment as first African-American General Vice President in 1999; and Diane Babineaux becoming first Black woman General Vice President in 2013.
The IAM maintains partnerships with groups such as the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) and A. Philip Randolph Institute to continue promoting economic fairness and racial justice for Black workers.
