Addie L. Wyatt
Encyclopedia
Addie L. Wyatt (b. 28 March 1924; Brookhaven, Mississippi
) is leader in the United States Labor movement, and a civil rights activist. Wyatt is known for being the first African-American woman elected international vice president of a major labor union, the Amalgamated Meat Cutters Union
. Wyatt began her career in the union in the early 1950s and advanced in leadership. In 1975, with the politician Barbara Jordan
, she was the first African-American woman named by Time magazine
as Person of the Year.
on March 28, 1924. She is the second child and the oldest daughter of eight children. She moved with her family to Chicago in 1930 when she was six years old.
She married Claude S. Wyatt Jr. on May 12, 1940. With Claude she had two sons, Renaldo Wyatt and Claude S. Wyatt III. She raised several of her younger siblings after her mother died and her father was unable to care for them because of illness.
In 1953 Wyatt was "elected vice president of her branch, Local 56, becoming the first black woman to hold senior office in an American labor union". Wyatt was the director of the Women's Affairs and Human Rights departments of the Amalgamated Meat Cutters
. In the early 1960s, Eleanor Roosevelt
recognized her leadership abilities and appointed her to a position on the Labor Legislation Committee of the United States Commission on the Status of Women.
During the 1970s she became a powerful figure in the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union. In 1974 Wyatt was a founder the Coalition of Labor Union Women
. When Wyatt became the international vice president of the United Food and Commercial Workers in 1976 she was the first African-American woman to take a high level leadership position in an international union.
(Anderson, Indiana) minister. Together with her husband, also an ordained Church of Good minister, she worked in the ministry and civil rights campaign of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
and participated in major civil rights marches, including the March on Washington, and the march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. Wyatt was involved in grassroots civil rights work in Chicago and participated in organizing protests.
She was a labor adviser to the Southern Christian Leadership Conference
(SCLC). She served on the Action Committee of the Chicago Freedom Movement
. In the 1960s Wyatt was active in Operation Breadbasket
, which distributed food to underprivileged people across the United States.
In 1984 Wyatt became a full-time minister, and with her husband founded the Vernon Park Church of God (Anderson, Indiana), in Chicago. They retired as ministers of the church in approximately 2000. Later Wyatt was the founder and CEO of the Wyatt Family Community Center in Chicago, Illinois.
Wyatt was a founding member of the National Organization for Women
.
Brookhaven, Mississippi
Brookhaven is a small city in Lincoln County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 9,861 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Lincoln County...
) is leader in the United States Labor movement, and a civil rights activist. Wyatt is known for being the first African-American woman elected international vice president of a major labor union, the Amalgamated Meat Cutters Union
Amalgamated Meat Cutters
The Amalgamated Meat Cutters , officially the Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen of North America, was a labor union that represented retail butchers and packinghouse workers.-History:...
. Wyatt began her career in the union in the early 1950s and advanced in leadership. In 1975, with the politician Barbara Jordan
Barbara Jordan
Barbara Charline Jordan was an American politician who was both a product and a leader, of the Civil Rights movement. She was the first African American elected to the Texas Senate after Reconstruction and the first southern black female elected to the United States House of Representatives...
, she was the first African-American woman named by Time magazine
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
as Person of the Year.
Family and early life
Wyatt was born to Ambrose and Maggie (Nolan) Cameron in Brookhaven, MississippiBrookhaven, Mississippi
Brookhaven is a small city in Lincoln County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 9,861 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Lincoln County...
on March 28, 1924. She is the second child and the oldest daughter of eight children. She moved with her family to Chicago in 1930 when she was six years old.
She married Claude S. Wyatt Jr. on May 12, 1940. With Claude she had two sons, Renaldo Wyatt and Claude S. Wyatt III. She raised several of her younger siblings after her mother died and her father was unable to care for them because of illness.
Meatpacking industry and union work
After her marriage Wyatt took a job in a Chicago meat packing company in 1941 after failing to find typist's job. She worked as a meat packer from 1941 to 1954, and during this time became increasing involvement with the United Packinghouse and Food and Alliance Workers Union.In 1953 Wyatt was "elected vice president of her branch, Local 56, becoming the first black woman to hold senior office in an American labor union". Wyatt was the director of the Women's Affairs and Human Rights departments of the Amalgamated Meat Cutters
Amalgamated Meat Cutters
The Amalgamated Meat Cutters , officially the Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butcher Workmen of North America, was a labor union that represented retail butchers and packinghouse workers.-History:...
. In the early 1960s, Eleanor Roosevelt
Eleanor Roosevelt
Anna Eleanor Roosevelt was the First Lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945. She supported the New Deal policies of her husband, distant cousin Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and became an advocate for civil rights. After her husband's death in 1945, Roosevelt continued to be an international...
recognized her leadership abilities and appointed her to a position on the Labor Legislation Committee of the United States Commission on the Status of Women.
During the 1970s she became a powerful figure in the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union. In 1974 Wyatt was a founder the Coalition of Labor Union Women
Coalition of Labor Union Women
The Coalition of Labor Union Women is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization of trade union women affiliated with the AFL-CIO.CLUW has four goals:*Promoting affirmative action in the workplace*Strengthening the role of women in unions...
. When Wyatt became the international vice president of the United Food and Commercial Workers in 1976 she was the first African-American woman to take a high level leadership position in an international union.
Ministry and civil rights work
In 1955 Wyatt was ordained as a Church of GodChurch of God
Church of God is a name used by numerous, mostly unrelated Christian denominational bodies, most of which descend from either Pentecostal/Holiness or Adventist traditions.-Pentecostal Movement:*Church of God...
(Anderson, Indiana) minister. Together with her husband, also an ordained Church of Good minister, she worked in the ministry and civil rights campaign of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was an American clergyman, activist, and prominent leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He is best known for being an iconic figure in the advancement of civil rights in the United States and around the world, using nonviolent methods following the...
and participated in major civil rights marches, including the March on Washington, and the march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. Wyatt was involved in grassroots civil rights work in Chicago and participated in organizing protests.
She was a labor adviser to the Southern Christian Leadership Conference
Southern Christian Leadership Conference
The Southern Christian Leadership Conference is an African-American civil rights organization. SCLC was closely associated with its first president, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr...
(SCLC). She served on the Action Committee of the Chicago Freedom Movement
Chicago Freedom Movement
The Chicago Freedom Movement, also known as the Chicago Open Housing Movement, was led by Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. and Al Raby. The movement included a large rally, marches, and demands to the City of Chicago...
. In the 1960s Wyatt was active in Operation Breadbasket
Operation Breadbasket
Operation Breadbasket was an organization dedicated to improving the economic conditions of black communities across the United States of America....
, which distributed food to underprivileged people across the United States.
In 1984 Wyatt became a full-time minister, and with her husband founded the Vernon Park Church of God (Anderson, Indiana), in Chicago. They retired as ministers of the church in approximately 2000. Later Wyatt was the founder and CEO of the Wyatt Family Community Center in Chicago, Illinois.
Wyatt was a founding member of the National Organization for Women
National Organization for Women
The National Organization for Women is the largest feminist organization in the United States. It was founded in 1966 and has a membership of 500,000 contributing members. The organization consists of 550 chapters in all 50 U.S...
.