Black History: Special Delivery!!
Rosina Corrothers Tucker was a trailblazer whose life and work continue to inspire generations. Born on November 4, 1881, in Washington, D.C., Tucker was one of six children born to Lee Roy and Henrietta Harvey. Growing up in a large family, she developed a deep sense of community and justice.
Tucker married journalist and poet James David Corrothers in 1898. The couple had one daughter, Harriet Corrothers. After James’ death in 1917, Tucker returned to Washington, D.C., where she would continue raising Harriet and build a career as a labor organizer. She later married Berthea J. Tucker, a Pullman porter, which became a catalyst for her deep involvement in labor activism.
In 1925, Tucker attended a meeting led by A. Philip Randolph, who had co-founded the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters (BSCP) to advocate for better wages, hours, and conditions for African American Pullman porters. Pullman porters endured grueling work schedules, often being on duty for 20 or more hours with little rest. They were underpaid and expected to survive on tips while performing exhaustive labor, including cleaning, lifting heavy luggage, and attending to passengers’ every need. To further objectify them, passengers often referred to all porters as “George,” after the company’s founder, George Pullman. This practice reinforced the notion that Black workers were seen as indistinct and valued only for their labor.
Inspired by Randolph’s vision, Tucker threw herself into the movement, helping to establish a local BSCP chapter and the Women’s Economic Council in Washington, D.C.
Tucker’s role was critical to the union’s early survival. The Pullman Company closely monitored male employees suspected of union activities, but women like Tucker faced less scrutiny. Tucker and other women played essential roles by visiting porter families, sharing union literature, and raising funds through economic councils across the country. Their dedication kept the union afloat during its formative years, culminating in a historic victory in 1935 when the American Federation of Labor finally granted the BSCP a charter. By 1937, the BSCP signed its first contract with the Pullman Company, achieving higher wages, shorter hours, and a formal grievance process.
In recognition of their contributions, the women’s councils evolved into the International Ladies’ Auxiliary Order. Tucker was elected International Secretary-Treasurer in 1938, working alongside President Halena Wilson. Despite the Auxiliary’s accomplishments, Tucker and her peers often faced internal resistance from men who questioned their authority. Yet Tucker persevered, proving time and again that African American women were central to both labor and civil rights movements.
Tucker’s activism didn’t end with the BSCP. In the 1940s, she became involved with the March on Washington Movement, which pushed to desegregate the armed forces and defense industries. She also fought for economic justice on a local level, organizing boycotts of businesses that refused to hire Black workers and advocating for unions in the laundry and domestic service industries. Throughout her life, she maintained an unwavering commitment to justice, rooted in both her faith and her deep ties to her community.
Even into her later years, Tucker continued to influence the labor movement. She participated in the 1982 documentary Miles of Smiles, Years of Struggles, which chronicled the history of the BSCP. Her autobiography, My Life As I Lived It, offers a firsthand account of her extraordinary life and the challenges she faced as a Black woman leader in a turbulent era.
On March 3, 1987, Rosina Tucker passed away at the age of 105, leaving behind a legacy of resilience and courage. Her story underscores the critical role that Black women have played in shaping the fight for racial and economic justice in America.
Another installment of melanated mail has been delivered. Ponder, reflect, and pass it on.
Sources:
- Pullman National Historical Park
- Documentary: Miles of Smiles, Years of Struggles
- Tucker, Rosina Corrothers. My Life As I Lived It
- Taylor, Quintard. In Search of the Racial Frontier
