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Black Labor Power
A Complete 17-Module Curriculum · Randolph · Rustin · Lawson · Lucy — the Four Pillars
Four figures. One unbroken line. A. Philip Randolph founded Black labor. Bayard Rustin built the strategy. Dr. James Lawson brought it home to Memphis from his pulpit at Centenary UMC. William Lucy made it last. This is their curriculum — designed for teachers, organizers, union halls, APRI/CBTU chapters, and the church basements where the work has always lived.
Three Figures. One Unbroken Line.
Each faculty page is a self-contained curriculum unit. Together, they form the spine of Black Labor + Civil Rights education.
A. Philip Randolph
Father of Black Labor
1889–1979
Founded the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters (1925). Forced FDR to sign EO 8802 (1941). Co-founded APRI (1965). Mentored Rustin. Six teacher-ready modules — co-built with APRI Memphis.
Bayard Rustin
Architect of the 1963 March
1912–1987
Studied Gandhi in India (1948). Organized the first Freedom Ride (1947). Designed the 1963 March on Washington — 250,000 people, 8 weeks. Five teacher-ready modules.
William 'Bill' Lucy
Architect of 'I AM A MAN'
1933–2024
Created the 'I AM A MAN' placard in Memphis 1968. Co-founded CBTU (1972). Led PSI (1994). Co-founded Free South Africa Movement. Five teacher-ready modules — co-built with CBTU Memphis.
Dr. James M. Lawson Jr.
Called King · Taught LA's Unions to Win
1928–2024
Pastored Centenary UMC Memphis (1962-1974). Called King to the 1968 sanitation strike. Then spent 50 years in LA: co-founded CLUE, founding role in UNITE HERE Local 11, mentored Justice for Janitors, taught at the UCLA Labor Center for 22 years. The UCLA James Lawson Jr. Worker Justice Center is named for him. Module 1 ready — co-built with Centenary UMC under Pastor Keith Caldwell.
The story labor education has been missing.
Most U.S. labor and civil rights curricula treat them as separate stories. They are not. The line from Randolph's Pullman porters (1925) to Rustin's 1963 March on Washington for Jobs AND Freedom to Lucy's 'I AM A MAN' in Memphis 1968 to the founding of CBTU in 1972 is ONE line. Labor justice IS civil rights. Civil rights IS labor justice.
This curriculum was built to make that line teachable in any U.S. classroom — middle school through college — and in any union hall, APRI chapter, or CBTU chapter.
What's in every module
- Learning objectives (5 per module)
- Teacher background brief (60 seconds to prep)
- 5 primary source excerpts per module
- 5 essential discussion questions
- A 20–30 minute classroom activity
- Exit-ticket assessment
- Extensions for deeper learning
Co-Stewarded by APRI Memphis & CBTU Memphis
APRI Memphis
The A. Philip Randolph Institute, Memphis Chapter — organized 1970 by Black union activists. Co-stewards the Randolph curriculum.
memphispari.orgCBTU Memphis
The Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, Memphis Chapter — carrying William Lucy's legacy in the city where 'I AM A MAN' was made. Co-stewards the Lucy curriculum.
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Help us deliver this curriculum
Recruit Volunteer Teachers
The lessons are written. The platform is live. Now we need union members, educators, and faith leaders to bring this curriculum into Memphis classrooms, union halls, and Sunday school rooms. Share these letters with your local or your church.
For Local Unions
Volunteer Teaching Corps Letter
Recruit union members — and the retired teachers, current educators, and youth ministers in their networks — to teach the curriculum. Includes invites to join CBTU Memphis & APRI Memphis.
Open the letterFor Pastors & Faith Leaders
Clergy Faith Edition Letter
The 1968 sanitation strike was won by the union AND the church. Invite Memphis pastors, Sunday school teachers, and denominational boards to teach this curriculum in their sanctuaries.
Open the letterShare the curriculum
Send this hub to an educator, organizer, APRI/CBTU chapter, or school district.
Stewarded by APRI Memphis & CBTU Memphis. Labor Education thanks the elders who paid the way.
