Bill Lucy
In 1972, Bill Lucy co-founded CBTU to address the exclusion of Black workers from union leadership and political decision-making. Lucy’s legacy is woven into the fabric of Black labor history, civil rights strategy, and political infrastructure. As a founding force behind the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU), Lucy helped transform union halls into engines of Black political power—linking economic justice to voting rights, international solidarity, and movement-building.
Born in Memphis in 1933, Lucy began his career as a sanitation worker and union organizer. He rose through the ranks of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), becoming its International Secretary-Treasurer and one of the most influential Black labor leaders in U.S. history and the world.
Lucy’s leadership came into national focus during the 1968 Memphis sanitation strike, where he stood alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and local workers demanding dignity, fair wages, and union recognition. The strike’s rallying cry—“I Am a Man”—became a defining moment in the civil rights movement, and Lucy helped ensure that labor demands were treated as civil rights imperatives.
🏛️ Bill Lucy: Architect of Labor Power and Political Strategy
After its founding in 1972, CBTU became a strategic hub—mobilizing Black unionists, endorsing candidates, and shaping policy. Under Lucy’s guidance, the coalition didn’t just advocate for workers—it built infrastructure for Black political power.
Bill played a critical role in the development of African American labor and political activists, and under his leadership, the organization developed an independent national identity, not just a labor organization, but as a powerhouse of black political organizing.
As a leader, Bill was always accessible to young staff and activists, and he would regularly communicate with us. He also opened doors for many.
Selwyn Carter, former AFL-CIO national staff
Under the leadership of Bill Lucy nationally, and Jim Bell in New York City, CBTU was involved in every major community struggle in New York, especially around access to quality health care.
Before my history in labor, I was permanently influenced by the work of CBTU in the NYC black community, by its use of union resources like printing, meeting space, etc. to assist community based organizations that were outside of the union orbit, by its advocacy on issues that directly affected the black community in NYC – including, health care, housing, police violence and brutality, opposition to South African Apartheid, ethnic studies and budget cuts in the City University system – and by its willingness to enter community coalitions and participate in meetings alongside community activists organizations.
Bill Lucy Africa and Global Impact
Bill Lucy’s influence extended far beyond domestic labor. He was a key figure in the Free South Africa Movement, helping organize U.S. labor support for the anti-apartheid struggle. He stood with Nelson Mandela, pressured corporations to divest, and helped link Black labor to global liberation.
In 1974, the U.S. government was openly supporting Portuguese colonial rule of Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, and Mozambique,) white minority rule in Rhodesia, South Africa’s occupation of Namibia, and the apartheid regime in South Africa. Yet, in 1974 CBTU resolutions called for a fundamental change in U.S. policy toward southern Africa and an economic boycott of South Africa, because Bill Lucy appreciated the connection between U.S. foreign policy and the everyday lives of workers. He agreed with Cape Verdean leader Amilcal Cabral, who wrote in 1965: “Always bear in mind that the people are not fighting for ideas, for the things in anyone’s head. They are fighting to win material benefits, to live better and in peace, to see their lives go forward, to guarantee the future of their children…”
remarks at bill lucy tribute, the hamilton, d.c. by Cecelie Counts, a former transafrica, naacp, and aflcio staff member who met bill lucy almost 50 years ago at a southern africa support project.
Bill Lucy helped grassroots solidarity organizations (e.g. the D.C based Southern Africa Support Project (SASP) produce public education materials with the “union label”. He helped local organizers introduce southern Africa leaders to national civil rights organizations, local, state, county, and federal elected officials. Bill’s nationwide stature and CBTU’s co-sponsorship of events heightened the credibility of local organizations and the visibility of each of southern Africa’s liberation struggles.
In 1977, Bill was a founding board member of TransAfrica, the African American foreign policy lobby. He understood the negative impact U.S. foreign policy had on Africa, the Caribbean, and Black people throughout the world, & brought TransAfrica together with civil rights organizations together to oppose discriminatory immigration and refugee policies.
Bill helped lead the Free South Africa Movement (FSAM), which used civil disobedience and daily demonstrations to take “lobbying” to an entirely new level. His historic relationships with elected officials, national organizations, and South African labor leaders amplified the decades long campaign for sanctions against apartheid. It was Bill Lucy who brought United Mine Workers (UMW) President Richard Trumka and TransAfrica President Randall Robinson together, leading to an international campaign to Boycott Royal Dutch Shell. When Nelson Mandela was finally released from prison in 1990—Bill played a strategic role in Mandela’s historic nationwide U. S. tour. Fittingly, Bill Lucy led the labor delegation that helped monitor the 1994 election that elected Nelson Mandela President of South Africa.
U.S. foreign policy continues to wreak havoc on people throughout the world. We must remember Bill Lucy’s courage and wisdom, and (to again quote Cabral) “Tell no lies, claim no easy victories”.
He also played a pivotal role in the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) campaign of the early 1990s. Lucy and CBTU helped model reform on Minnesota’s Human SERVE innovations—ensuring that voter registration was accessible through public agencies. His strategic vision helped turn grassroots organizing into federal policy.
Lucy mentored generations of leaders, including Jesse Jackson, and remained a trusted advisor across labor, civil rights, and political circles. His work was hands-on, future-focused, and rooted in the belief that Black workers were not just participants—but architects—of American democracy.
Today, his legacy lives on in every union hall, voter drive, and international solidarity campaign that centers Black voices. Bill Lucy didn’t just organize workers—he built power, shaped policy, and helped define the infrastructure of the Black political movement.
Bill Lucy Timeline
✊🏾 From Memphis to Mandela: A Timeline of Strategic Power
| Year | Milestone | Key Figures |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Memphis Sanitation Strike | Bill Lucy, AFSCME, MLK |
| 1972 | Gary National Black Political Convention | Lucy, Jackson, Baraka |
| 1973 | Founding of CBTU | Bill Lucy, Cleave Robinson |
| 1984 | Jackson’s First Presidential Campaign | Lucy, Jackson |
| 1988 | Jackson’s Second Presidential Campaign | Lucy, Jackson, Dinkins |
| 1989 | Dinkins Mayoral Victory | Lucy, Dinkins, Lynch |
| 1990 | Mandela’s NYC Visit | Lucy, Mandela, Jackson |
| 1993 | NVRA Reform | Lucy, Congressional allies |
🗣️ Bill Lucy Speaks: Voices of Labor and Liberation
“We didn’t just fight for labor—we fought for liberation.” — Bill Lucy
“CBTU was born from struggle. It still breathes justice.” — Bill Lucy
“From Memphis to Mandela, we carried the banner of dignity.” — Bill Lucy
🎞️ Carousel Graphics
- Lucy with MLK during Memphis strike
- Lucy founding CBTU with Cleave Robinson
- Lucy with Jesse Jackson at Rainbow Coalition events
- Lucy with Nelson Mandela during NYC visit
- Lucy at AFSCME conventions and NVRA hearings
📊 Labor Power and Economic Justice
The labor movement has long served as a backbone for Black economic advancement. In the post-civil rights era, a new generation of union leaders emerged who understood that workplace equity was inseparable from racial justice. Among them was a strategist whose influence extended far beyond contract negotiations.
Under his leadership, Black workers gained a stronger foothold in national labor federations, and the infrastructure for collective bargaining was expanded to include civil rights demands. He helped shape a framework where economic justice meant not only fair wages, but also access to housing, education, and political representation.
The organization he helped build became a hub for Black labor activism, connecting rank-and-file workers to national policy debates. It hosted annual conventions that doubled as strategy sessions, cultural celebrations, and training grounds for future leaders. These gatherings reinforced the idea that labor power was community power.
Through decades of advocacy, this network supported strikes, negotiated diversity benchmarks with major employers, and pushed for federal protections against workplace discrimination. It also played a key role in voter mobilization efforts, recognizing that economic policy was shaped at the ballot box.
What distinguished this movement was its ability to bridge generations. Veterans of the civil rights era mentored younger organizers, while retirees remained active in shaping policy and mentoring youth. The result was a living archive of Black labor history—one that continues to inform today’s fights for equity and inclusion.
The coalition’s early campaigns included efforts to desegregate skilled trades, expand apprenticeship programs, and challenge exclusionary hiring practices in manufacturing and public sector jobs. Convention banners from the 1970s and 1980s often featured slogans like “Jobs, Justice, and Peace” and “Labor United for Civil Rights,” reflecting the dual mission of economic and racial equity.
One of the most powerful moments in its history came during a national convention in the early 1990s, when a veteran labor leader declared: “We are not just workers—we are builders of democracy.” That quote became a rallying cry for future campaigns, appearing on posters, pamphlets, and even union jackets.
Another archival quote from a regional meeting in the South emphasized the grassroots nature of the movement: “Our strength is in our locals. When we organize at home, we change the nation.” This sentiment guided The coalition’s strategy for decades, reinforcing the importance of bottom-up leadership.
Visuals from early campaigns often showed multiracial picket lines, church-based organizing sessions, and youth training workshops. These images captured the spirit of solidarity and the fusion of labor, faith, and civil rights traditions.
The network’s legacy continues today in the form of mentorship programs, policy advocacy, and cultural preservation. Its archives serve not only as a record of struggle, but as a blueprint for future generations seeking justice through organized labor.
📊 Infographics Block
- Labor Power = People Power: AFSCME + CBTU + Civil Rights
- CBTU Founders Map: Regional leaders and organizing hubs
- Mandela Solidarity Flowchart: From U.S. labor to global liberation
- NVRA Reform Pathway: Lucy’s role in shaping national registration law
🧰 Legacy Toolkit Integration
- Downloadable Timeline: Memphis to Mandela
- CBTU Founders Gallery: Expandable carousel with bios and quotes
- ZIP Widget Messaging Block: Connect users to voting rights scorecards
- TablePress-Ready Scorecards: Regional access grades and advocacy partners
📚 References & Further Reading
CBTU & Labor LegacyCBTU Tribute to Bill Lucy
AFL-CIO Honors Bill Lucy
BlackPast: Bill Lucy Biography
September 30th, 2025
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