Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters

The Ladies’ Auxiliary was the backbone of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters movement. The group had its own regional and international officers, conventions, and a mandate that included education, fundraising, and scholarship initiatives. The Auxiliary actively educated other women and children about the labour movement, staged consumer protests, and organized local and national civil rights campaigns. These women played an essential role in shaping public debates over Black manhood and unionization, setting political agendas for the Black community, and crafting effective strategies to win racial and economic justice.