Domestic Workers of America

In the 1960s, many American women worked outside of the home. These women faced a number of challenges. Unions often failed to support women workers. This was especially true for domestic workers, who usually were employed in private homes. In 1965, Geraldine Roberts, a resident of Cleveland, began organizing African-American women who worked as domestic servants.

As a result of Roberts's efforts, the Domestic Workers of America was chartered in 1966. An important early source of financial support was the Congress on Racial Equality (CORE). The leadership of the Domestic Workers of America concentrated their efforts on establishing a registry for domestic servants, providing training and educational opportunities, and offering job placement.