This powerful photograph, taken in Richmond, Virginia, in October 1938, captures a striking moment of protest during the Great Depression. The woman in the image, whose identity is generally unknown, was one of many tobacco workers picketing for higher wages and fair labor conditions.
The image was captured during a period of significant labor activism, where African American women in the tobacco industry were leading strikes to fight for better pay and working conditions.
The woman's sign reads: “Our boss owns 77 houses • We can’t pay rent.” This stark statement highlighted the immense economic disparity between the wealthy employers who were accumulating vast property and the workers who struggled to afford basic necessities like housing, despite their labor fueling the industry.
The photograph was taken on the 900 block of N. Lombardy St. in Richmond, where the buildings visible in the background, including the “Wingo Co” building, are reportedly still standing. The original image is held in the Library of Congress collection as part of the NAACP records.
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