Black History Month 2023: Celebrating Black Logistics Leaders

Black History Month 2023 officially began February 1, 2023. Throughout this month, the Chain.io team is highlighting some of the Black Leaders who were instrumental to the civil rights movement and advancements throughout the United States.

In honor of the theme for this year’s Black History Month, “Black Resistance,” we invite you to learn more about two of the countless individuals who have fought against oppression in all forms.

What is Black Resistance?

According to the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASAALH), Black Resistance has happened throughout history throughout religious institutions, educational facilities, courtrooms and political arenas, and nearly every other area of life throughout the United States.

Read an excerpt from ASAALH about this year’s theme:

By resisting Black people have achieved triumphs, successes, and progress as seen in the end of chattel slavery, dismantling of Jim and Jane Crow segregation in the South, increased political representation at all levels of government, desegregation of educational institutions, the passage of Civil Rights Act of 1964, the opening of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History in DC and increased and diverse representation of Black experiences in media. Black resistance strategies have served as a model for every other social movement in the country, thus, the legacy and importance of these actions cannot be understated.

A. Philip Randolph

An activist for trade unionism and black working class interests, A. Philip Randolph showed resistance to employment discrimination. He was asked to lead the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters - resulting in the BSCP as the exclusive bargaining agent of Pullman Porters in 1935.

Organizing a march against discrimination in the defense industries, President Roosevelt was pushed to pass an executive order prohibiting discrimination in the defense industry on race, creed, color, or national origin and creating the Fair Employment Practices Commission to oversee the order.

Edwina Justus

Edwina Justus is the first Black woman locomotive engineer for the Union Pacific Railroad - hired for the position in 1976. She began working at Union Pacific Railroad in 1973 as a Traction Motor Clerk, being one of only 5 black women at the company.

Before this, she worked at Western Electric as a wireman. Edwina showed resistance to racism, discrimination, and gender stereotypes throughout her career.

Black Leaders Who Changed the Supply Chain Industry

What better way to continue our Black History Month celebration than to recognize some notable Black leaders who contributed to the supply chain and logistics industry?

Read our previous post highlighting those who made a major impact in the logistics industry.