Black Women & Class Politics in Baltimore

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In this episode, MJ and Rasheem explore the legacy and continued relevance of poor Black women's activism in Baltimore, focusing on housing justice and welfare rights. Drawing on Rhonda Y. Williams’ seminal article, “We’re Tired of Being Treated Like Dogs,” the hosts delve into the political lives of Black women who mobilized against institutional neglect and economic exploitation from the 1960s to the present.

The conversation centers on the historical and grassroots efforts of Black women like Margaret McCarty and Rev. Annie Chambers, who turned personal struggle into collective resistance. Organizations like U-JOIN (Union for Jobs or Income Now) and Mother Rescuers from Poverty emerged from East Baltimore’s neighborhoods and housing complexes such as Murphy Homes, O’Donnell Heights, and Gilmore Homes—communities marked by poverty but rich in organizing tradition.

Rasheem details how federal surveillance, welfare fraud prosecutions, and slumlord neglect were met with tenant strikes, welfare marches, and legislative advocacy. Leaders challenged both structural racism and class exploitation, drawing on a Black Radical Tradition that was grassroots-based, anti-capitalist, and unapologetically of the people.

Key locations such as North Gay Street and Pennsylvania Avenue serve as landmarks of resistance, while institutions like the Soul School became spaces of political education. The episode also touches on national allies like CORE and speakers such as Stokely Carmichael and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who amplified the local struggle on a national stage.

MJ and Rasheem conclude by reflecting on what today’s organizers can learn from this era: the power of coalition-building, the necessity of political independence, and the importance of reclaiming radical traditions that center the voices of poor Black women in the fight for housing, dignity, and justice.

Main Themes:

Housing activism as a form of defense of home and self
The central role of Black women in welfare rights organizing

Tension between Black capitalism and Black radical politics

Political consciousness and grassroots leadership among poor communities

Lessons for contemporary housing and labor justice movements in Baltimore

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In Search of Black Power is a Black-owned internet show and podcast. This podcast is sponsored and produced by Leaders of a Beautiful Struggle (LBS).

The internet show is published in collaboration with Black Liberation Media (BLM)