Rosie The Resilient
c. 2025
44”x30”
Rosie the riveter was the original image referenced here. A popular iconic image in American culture in the mid 1900’s.
Highlighting women who worked in factories and shipyards during WWII. However, what many forget are how many “Black Rosie’s” joined the workforce as well. Over 600,000!
America tends to forget to include true representation of history and the imagery of our history. Black Women are the backbone of America and often to most overlooked and forgotten. Yet they still show up, with sleeves rolled up.
According to
@thegrio
During World War Il, as millions of men were sent overseas, Black women in America stepped into critical labor roles, many working on the U.S. railroads.
In an era of labor shortages, these women took on jobs in track maintenance, loading freight, and supporting essential rail operations that helped move troops and supplies across the country. Prior to this, most Black women were relegated to service roles within segregated rail industries. However, during the war, they broke through those barriers, marking a significant shift in both race and gender roles in the workforce. While their contributions were often unrecognized, these women’s labor was vital to keeping the wartime economy running. Executive Order 8802, signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1941, opened the door for Black workers, including women, in defense-related industries, though railroad work wasn’t explicitly part of the order. Despite facing segregation and discrimination, these women made history by helping maintain the very tracks that connected the nation.
Their names may not have always been recorded, but their work has had an enduring impact. Black women in the workforce during WWII weren’t just filling jobs—they were changing the fabric of American labor history, proving that heroes don’t always wear uniforms.
#rosietheriveter #peanuts #popart
