Black people built America. From the cotton fields of the South to the industrial floors of the North, from the railroads to the classrooms, from the kitchen to the boardroom—Black hands, minds, and resilience have shaped this nation. Yet, our labor has often been undervalued and unrecognized.

The 2025 Black History Month theme, African Americans and Labor, is more than a reflection on our past—it is a call to action for our future.

As we examine the intersection of work and the Black experience, we must ask: How do we reclaim our economic power? How do we build generational wealth? How do we ensure that Black labor no longer fuels systems that refuse to acknowledge our worth? The answer lies in five letters: unity. To ensure Black labor no longer fuels exploitative systems, we must advocate for fair wages, mandate equity in the workplace, and prioritize ownership—of land, businesses, and institutions that serve us first.

The very foundation of our progress has been collective action—whether through the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, the civil rights movement’s economic boycotts, or today’s Black-owned business renaissance. Yet, even still, we must remember that labor is not just about employment; it is about agency. It is about ownership. It is about recognizing that we are the architects of our work. Imagine if we invested in each other at the same rate that our ancestors poured their sweat and lives into building this country. Imagine if we truly embraced the principles of cooperative economics—not just during Black History Month or National Black Business Month, but every day.

So, what do we do? We demand fair wages. We support Black labor unions and advocate for workplace protections. We create our own institutions that center Black workers’ needs. And most importantly, we shift our collective mindset from merely surviving and thriving to belonging.

The disparities in pay, job opportunities, and workplace treatment persist, even in 2025. Black workers still face unprecedented wage gaps, fewer opportunities for career advancement, and barriers to the American Dream -homeownership—the very thing that turns labor into lasting wealth.

So, as we celebrate and reflect, we must know that the future of Black labor is not in asking for a seat at their table—it is in building our own. It is in fostering and mentoring a new generation of entrepreneurs, educators, engineers, artists, and activists who understand that our work must serve us first. It is in ensuring that Black women, who have historically carried the heaviest labor burdens, are paid equitably and treated with dignity. It is in passing down financial literacy, trade skills, and ownership mindsets to equip and fortify the success of our youth.

Laboring in unity means recognizing that we are each other’s best investment. It means understanding that when one of us wins, we all win. It means working together as one —we are unstoppable, unshakable, and unbreakable.

The work continues. The future is ours. Let’s build it together.

Daniella Pierre is a Haitian-American, a 30-year resident of Miami-Dade County and the current president of NAACP Miami-Dade Branch. Contact Daniella on X @daniella4change.