This historical photograph captures a moment of labor protest in Richmond, Virginia, during October 1938, in the midst of the Great Depression.The image shows an unidentified woman standing on a street holding a sign that reads: “Our boss owns 77 houses • We can’t pay rent.

” She was among African American tobacco workers who were actively participating in strikes and picketing campaigns demanding better wages and improved working conditions.

The protest reflects the broader wave of labor activism in the United States during the 1930s, when economic hardship and deep inequality fueled organizing efforts across multiple industries.

In the tobacco sector, Black women workers played a particularly significant role in pushing for fair pay and dignity in the workplace, despite facing both economic exploitation and racial discrimination.

Their activism highlighted the stark contrast between wealthy employers accumulating property and assets, and workers struggling to afford basic necessities such as rent and food.

The photograph was taken in the 900 block of North Lombardy Street in Richmond, an area where some of the buildings visible in the background, including the Wingo Co building, reportedly still exist today.

The image is preserved in the Library of Congress as part of the NAACP records, underscoring its historical significance as documentation of labor rights struggles and African American activism during one of the most economically challenging periods in U.S.history.