Employment

In a pattern that has lasted generations, Black job seekers have often found themselves at the bottom of the employment ladder, confronted by a white society that resisted their upward climb.

After Emancipation, freed Black people were eager to find jobs, earn money, and buy land, but—in a pattern that has lasted generations—often found themselves at the bottom of the employment ladder, confronted by a white society that resisted their upward climb. After the Civil War, most found jobs in unskilled labor or domestic work, while others used skills learned during enslavement or vocational training to work in trades. They worked at the shipyards on Alexandria’s waterfront, Arlington’s brickyards, and the dairy farms, mills, and estates in Fairfax County. Some opened their own small businesses, catering to customers who were unwelcomed in white establishments.

Unfortunately, white violence, especially in the early 1900s, destroyed many thriving Black businesses, along with whatever wealth their owners had accumulated. Many Black workers found stable employment in the federal government as clerks or in other low-level civil service jobs, but they often earned too little to accumulate wealth. In 1938, about 90% of Black federal workers in Washington, D.C. were custodians. As the late 20th century brought a shift from manufacturing to a knowledge economy, the Black population was at a distinct disadvantage because of systemic barriers to education and hiring discrimination.

Juanita E. Gray at work at Washington Navy Yard, circa 1942. Black women and men in Northern Virginia found jobs in the District of Columbia, increasingly during World War II. At the time of the photo, more than 300 black women had been trained by the National Youth Administration War Production and Training Center. Source: Library of Congress.
Juanita E. Gray at work at Washington Navy Yard, circa 1942. Black women and men in Northern Virginia found jobs in the District of Columbia, increasingly during World War II. At the time of the photo, more than 300 black women had been trained by the National Youth Administration War Production and Training Center. Source: Library of Congress.
Members of the Cafeteria and Restaurant Workers Union at the Pentagon, 1964. Beginning in the 1930s, the predominantly Black United Cafeteria Workers Local 471 union played a progressive role throughout its history. Scurlock Studio Records, NMAH Archives Center.
Members of the Cafeteria and Restaurant Workers Union at the Pentagon, 1964. Beginning in the 1930s, the predominantly Black United Cafeteria Workers Local 471 union played a progressive role throughout its history. Scurlock Studio Records, NMAH Archives Center.
Richard Walker at his Green Valley/Nauck business, the only shoe repair shop in Arlington that served Black customers. Arlington, 1980. Photo by Lloyd Wolf.
Richard Walker at his Green Valley/Nauck business, the only shoe repair shop in Arlington that served Black customers. Arlington, 1980. Photo by Lloyd Wolf.
Leonard “Doc” Muse in front of Green Valley Pharmacy, 1980. Howard University School of Pharmacy graduate and owner of Green Valley Pharmacy, a fixture of the Nauck community and likely the first Black-owned pharmacy in Arlington. Muse opened the pharmacy in 1952, during a time when most pharmacies did not welcome the Black community. Photo by Lloyd Wolf.
Leonard “Doc” Muse in front of Green Valley Pharmacy, 1980. Howard University School of Pharmacy graduate and owner of Green Valley Pharmacy, a fixture of the Nauck community and likely the first Black-owned pharmacy in Arlington. Muse opened the pharmacy in 1952, during a time when most pharmacies did not welcome the Black community. Photo by Lloyd Wolf.
Chinn Brothers Funeral Home. Green Valley/Nauck, Arlington, 1979. Photo by Lloyd Wolf.
Chinn Brothers Funeral Home. Green Valley/Nauck, Arlington, 1979. Photo by Lloyd Wolf.
Cafeteria and Restaurant Workers Union members in the Pentagon. Scurlock Studio Records, NMAH Archives Center.
Cafeteria and Restaurant Workers Union members in the Pentagon. Scurlock Studio Records, NMAH Archives Center.
Weighing Cotton. Library of Congress.
Weighing Cotton. Library of Congress.
Cafeteria and Restaurant Workers Union members in the Pentagon. Scurlock Studio Records, NMAH Archives Center.
Cafeteria and Restaurant Workers Union members in the Pentagon. Scurlock Studio Records, NMAH Archives Center.
Juanita E. Gray at work at Washington Navy Yard, circa 1942. Black women and men in Northern Virginia found jobs in the District of Columbia, increasingly during World War II. At the time of the photo, more than 300 black women had been trained by the National Youth Administration War Production and Training Center. Library of Congress.
Juanita E. Gray at work at Washington Navy Yard, circa 1942. Black women and men in Northern Virginia found jobs in the District of Columbia, increasingly during World War II. At the time of the photo, more than 300 black women had been trained by the National Youth Administration War Production and Training Center. Library of Congress.
Black laborers at the coalyard wharf in Alexandria, during the Civil War. The port was a major shipping center for the coal industry and an employer of Black workers. Source: National Archives.
Black laborers at the coalyard wharf in Alexandria, during the Civil War. The port was a major shipping center for the coal industry and an employer of Black workers. Source: National Archives.
The Alexandria Urban League pickets a liquor store on May 15, 1969 to press the state liquor agency to hire more Black workers into front line positions. At the time, only three Black clerks were employed throughout the 40 Northern Virginia ABC stores. Reprinted with permission of the DC Public Library, Star Collection © Washington Post.
The Alexandria Urban League pickets a liquor store on May 15, 1969 to press the state liquor agency to hire more Black workers into front line positions. At the time, only three Black clerks were employed throughout the 40 Northern Virginia ABC stores. Reprinted with permission of the DC Public Library, Star Collection © Washington Post.
Cafeteria and Restaurant Workers Union members in the Pentagon. Scurlock Studio Records, NMAH Archives Center.
Cafeteria and Restaurant Workers Union members in the Pentagon. Scurlock Studio Records, NMAH Archives Center.
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Fast Forward

Even with similar resumes, studies have found that Black workers are far less likely to get called for an interview, and when hired are more likely to experience racism and wage discrimination at the workplace. Black men make 22% less than similarly qualified whites, and Black women make 12% less than white women. Black people are underrepresented in professional schools and well-paying jobs, deepening the Black-white wealth gap. Since 1970, the median income for Black households in Virginia has rarely exceeded 70% of the state average.

In addition to efforts to improve educational attainment among youth, vocational training programs are needed to help workers transition to 21st-century jobs. A study that was conducted for Fairfax County included a number of recommendations for creating pathways to such jobs. Employers in Northern Virginia can also reduce job inequities by observing equal opportunity regulations to eliminate racial bias in hiring and promotions and by offering workers a wage that keeps pace with the region’s high cost of living, adequate and affordable health insurance, and employer-sponsored retirement programs. Policies to address the loss of such benefits in the gig economy are increasingly important.

Stories

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