30 August 1908: Birmingham coal strike ends

On this day, 30 August, 1908, union officials of the United Mine Workers called off a strike by Black and white coalminers in Birmingham, Alabama, four days after the Governor sent in the army to evict the strikers' tent colony and following a violent campaign of repression. Despite this, workers attempted to continue the stoppage but they were sadly defeated. Armed thugs terrorised the strikers, and lynched one Black miner, while the press generated hysteria about the race mixing workers. The Birmingham Age-Herald denounced a union meeting where "a negro…embrace[d] a white speaker…in the very presence of gentle white women and innocent little girls." The defeat was a blow to mineworkers and working class racial unity in the South. More information, sources and map: https://stories.workingclasshistory.com/article/10269/birmingham-coal-strike-ends Our work is only possible because of support from you, our listeners on patreon. If you appreciate our work, please join us and access exclusive content and benefits at patreon.com/workingclasshistory. See all of our anniversaries each day, alongside sources and maps on the On This Day section of our Stories app: stories.workingclasshistory.com/date/today Browse all Stories by Date here on the Date index: https://stories.workingclasshistory.com/date Check out our Map of historical Stories: https://map.workingclasshistory.com Check out books, posters, clothing and more in our online store, here: https://shop.workingclasshistory.com If you enjoy this podcast, make sure to check out our flagship longform podcast, Working Class History