Labor Day: Honoring Work, Remembering Truth
A Call to Honor All Workers: Past, Present, and Overlooked
Labor Day Reflections
This Labor Day, I took a moment to reflect on my own journey through the workforce. From middle school to the present, I’ve held 27 different jobs that I can remember.
Each one shaped me in some way. Some were short-lived, others long-term. Some paid well, others paid in lessons. But all of them taught me something about effort, dignity, and the value of work.
Today, let’s pause and reflect on the work we do, but also on the systems and stories behind that work.
It’s a moment to honor those who labor, seen and unseen, and to ask ourselves how we can help build a more just and respectful culture around work.
The Overlooked Labor: Slavery in America
While Labor Day honors the dignity of work, it’s also a moment to acknowledge the labor that was never dignified: the forced labor of enslaved people in America.
For over two centuries, millions of African men, women, and children were enslaved and made to work without pay, freedom, or recognition.
Their labor built much of the early American economy, from plantations to infrastructure, yet their contributions were erased, exploited, and dehumanized.
This is not just a footnote in labor history. It’s a foundational truth.
Recognizing this overlooked labor doesn’t diminish the holiday. It deepens it.
It reminds us that honoring work means honoring justice, and that the value of labor must include the value of the laborer.
The Ongoing Struggle for Dignity in Work
Labor Day is more than a long weekend. It's a chance to think about what work means and how it’s experienced by people in all kinds of roles, all over the United States.
Dignity in labor isn’t automatic. Fair pay, safe conditions, and respect are still missing for many workers. The labor movements of the past made progress, but the work isn’t finished.
Today, some people are juggling multiple jobs just to make ends meet. Others are doing essential work such as caregiving, driving, or delivering, often without recognition or protection.
And many still face discrimination that affects their income, their opportunities, and their sense of belonging.
Labor Day can be a reminder that every job deserves respect. Every worker deserves dignity.
As we celebrate Labor Day, it’s worth asking what kind of work culture we’re helping to shape. And more importantly, how we can make it better for everyone who shows up each day to keep things going.
Labor Justice: A Continuing Mission
Labor justice means more than having a job. It’s about fair pay, safe conditions, and real opportunity, no matter your background or birthplace.
We’ve come a long way since the days of child labor and 16-hour shifts, but the work isn’t done. Wage gaps still exist, and for many, especially immigrants and low-wage workers, the workplace can feel more like a tightrope than a ladder.
Migrant laborers keep our food supply running and our economy moving, yet many lack basic protections. Discrimination also persists, with Black and Hispanic workers facing higher unemployment and fewer chances to advance.
Still, there’s hope. In July, union members rallied in Atlanta as part of the AFL-CIO’s “Workers Over Billionaires” tour, calling for stronger protections and support for the Protect America’s Workforce Act.
Labor Day reminds us that justice at work is still a work in progress. Whether you’re voting, advocating, or simply listening, you’re part of the mission.
That’s worth showing up for, especially if we want workplaces that work for everyone, not just a lucky few.
The Call to Reflect and Act
Labor Day is a chance to pause, not just for a cookout or a nap in the hammock, but to reflect on the labor we benefit from every day. Some of it is visible, like the bartender who begins to make your favorite drink the moment they see you walk in the door.
Some of it is invisible, like the overnight cleaning crew who leaves everything spotless before you arrive.
Take a moment to notice. Who makes your life easier, safer, or more comfortable without ever being seen?
Today, consider one simple act of gratitude or support. Maybe it’s a sincere thank-you to a janitor, a tip with a note of appreciation, or a conversation with someone whose work is often overlooked.
Perhaps it’s as simple as choosing to treat every worker with dignity, even when you're in a hurry.
And if you’ve got a story about someone whose work made a difference in your life, share it. Stories have power. They remind us that behind every job is a person, and behind every person is a story worth honoring.
Labor justice begins with awareness, grows through action, and thrives in community. Let’s be part of that.