Boots on the Ground, Legacy in Motion: The 2025 Southern Regional Conference of the A. Philip Randolph Institute
- CUBNSC
- Jun 4
- 7 min read
By Javar Juarez | Columbia Urban Broadcast Network
Raleigh, North Carolina — The A. Philip Randolph Institute (APRI) convened its 2025 Southern Regional Conference in Raleigh during the final week of May. Far more than a routine gathering, the event was a profound reaffirmation of the enduring legacies of A. Philip Randolph and Bayard Rustin, whose work fused the labor movement with the moral imperative of civil rights. The conference’s theme, “Boots on the Ground,” aptly captured both the urgency and the grassroots commitment that permeated every session, speech, and strategic conversation throughout the week.
A New Front in an Old Struggle: A. Philip Randolph Institute Southern Regional Conference in a Time of Democratic Crisis
The moment we are living in is profoundly serious. We are witnessing a calculated assault on American civil liberties—an assault not only sanctioned by elements of the federal government but also financed and amplified by corporate interests aligned with rogue political forces, most notably the movement surrounding Donald Trump. Unlike previous civil rights eras, today’s struggle is more technologically advanced, more fragmented, and more insidious in its tactics. Yet its goals remain the same: to suppress, divide, and dismantle the hard-won gains of marginalized communities.
The civil rights battle of the 21st century is more complex than the one faced during the Roosevelt administration or the height of the mid-20th century movement led by figures such as A. Philip Randolph and Bayard Rustin. These two pioneers were architects of strategic resistance and collective action. Together, they cultivated a generation of iconic civil rights leaders, organizing mass movements that confronted economic injustice, racial segregation, and systemic oppression with clarity, precision, and power.
Today, the skills required to defend civil liberties are no less essential. In the face of growing state-sponsored repression, the resurgence of white nationalist rhetoric, and a political climate that openly targets Black and Brown communities, it is imperative to remember that Donald Trump’s political resurgence is not just a security threat—it is a direct challenge to the foundation of the American republic. The very progress made under the leadership of Randolph, Rustin, and others—gains that benefitted all Americans—is under siege by executive actions and policy maneuvers designed to isolate, disenfranchise, and dismantle.
The New Progressive Journal/CUBNSC had the privilege of witnessing, firsthand, how the A. Philip Randolph Institute is preparing the next generation of civil rights leaders, labor organizers, and community partners. Across its southernmost regions and through international collaboration, APRI is building a formidable response to this moment—one rooted in solidarity, education, and historical consciousness. Through intensive workshops, dynamic panels, and intergenerational dialogue, APRI’s Southern Regional Conference was both a space of resistance and a celebration of community.
Importantly, this work is not devoid of joy. At a time when fear and division are being weaponized, APRI’s insistence on incorporating laughter, music, dance, and cultural nourishment into its programming is itself a radical act. This conference was not simply about preparing for the worst—it was about preventing the worst from becoming normalized, and ensuring that our rights, our history, and our humanity are not erased.
Founders’ Legacy: Organizing as Liberation
Founded in 1965, the A. Philip Randolph Institute was born from the collaboration of two monumental figures in American social justice history. A. Philip Randolph, who in 1925 established the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters—the first successful African American-led labor union—used strategic organizing and moral authority to push federal action against discrimination. His leadership helped secure Executive Order 8802, which prohibited racial discrimination in the defense industry, and Executive Order 9981, which desegregated the U.S. military.
Bayard Rustin, a close ally of Randolph, was the lead architect of the 1963 March on Washington. An openly gay Black man and a pacifist committed to nonviolence, Rustin faced exclusion and surveillance, even from within civil rights circles. Yet his intellect and commitment to justice were indispensable to the movement. Together, Randolph and Rustin understood that racial and economic injustice were not parallel lines, but deeply intertwined forces that required coordinated resistance.
Their vision for APRI was clear: to unite African American trade unionists and build a permanent institution to confront systemic injustice at every level—labor, electoral, and civic.
Clayola Brown and the Modern Institute
Under the current leadership of President Clayola Brown—the first woman to head APRI—the organization has not only preserved its founders’ vision but expanded its reach and impact. Born in Charleston, South Carolina in 1948 and raised in the historically Black community of Union Hike, Brown began her activism at age 15, organizing alongside her mother at the Manhattan Shirt Factory. From there, she rose through the ranks of ACTWU, UNITE, and Workers United, holding roles from Civil Rights Director to International Vice President. In 2004, she assumed the presidency of APRI, marking a pivotal moment for the organization.
In a keynote interview, Brown emphasized the role of family, community, and faith in her political consciousness and organizing strategy. “No matter what they called you, they had to call you by your name, and your name represented your family,” she recalled. Titles like President or Vice President, she insisted, are secondary to the work and one’s duty to community. “If you’re the only one, you’re nothing but a target. But if you’ve shared what you know, you’ve built an army.”
Brown’s leadership style remains rooted in deep listening, intergenerational collaboration, and principled directness. Her vision is not of top-down leadership, but of collective engagement: a movement where every voice matters and where youth are seen not as future leaders but as present ones.
Political Reckoning in the South
Among the conference’s central themes was the growing discontent among Black working-class communities in the South with establishment politics—particularly with the perceived failures of the Democratic Party to respond meaningfully to the concerns of Black voters.
A repeated refrain throughout the sessions was that while Black voters constitute a core constituency of the Democratic Party, their priorities are often ignored by party leadership. Participants spoke candidly about gerrymandering, misallocated public resources, economic suppression, and the political domination of corporate interests. There was a palpable readiness to “launch an aggressive offense,” as one attendee put it, not only in North Carolina but across the South.
The conference made it clear: Black communities are no longer willing to settle for symbolic gestures or superficial inclusion. They are organizing, mobilizing, and preparing to lead—on their own terms.
International Solidarity and Working-Class Power
Kenny Riley, President of ILA Local 1422 in Charleston, South Carolina, shared his deeply personal journey from migrant farm laborer to international labor leader. His story—marked by racial isolation during forced integration and later transformation through union leadership—was a powerful reminder of the central role Black labor has played in shaping global commerce and resisting racial oppression.
Riley helped establish the International Dockworkers Council (IDC), now the world’s largest federation of dockworkers. He has led organizing efforts from Spain to West Africa. “When I got to the docks, I thought I had died and gone to heaven,” he said. “For the first time, I saw real Black power.”
April Lott, a 34-year federal worker and leader within several labor councils, detailed the recent assaults on federal employee rights under the current administration—ranging from the closure of civil rights departments to mass layoffs. She also highlighted legal victories and underscored the need for coalition-building across unions and civil rights organizations like APRI, CBTU, and AFL-CIO.
The Role of the Church and Intergenerational Movement Building
Brown spoke powerfully about the changing role of the Black church, noting its shift from a space of community refuge and trust to one more business-oriented. She called for a return to church-based organizing and emphasized that today’s movement must include “those who are 15 and those who are 85,” working in tandem. “I will follow our young people anywhere,” she said. “They know what it takes to get to the future they’re trying to build.”
She emphasized that courage cannot be handed to anyone, but support can be. “Support helps build courage,” Brown stated, especially for those who fear retaliation for taking moral or political stands. Her approach insists that all people—regardless of color, gender, or orientation—deserve dignity, economic security, and the right to organize.
Lifetime Achievement
Melvin and Mary Mumford were recognized with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the APRI Southern Regional Conference for their extraordinary dedication to the mission of the A. Philip Randolph Institute. The Mumfords began their journey in 1985, laying the groundwork for what would become the North Carolina chapter of APRI. Married for 52 years, their partnership has been defined by a shared commitment to labor rights, racial justice, and community empowerment. The award was presented by Allen Rouse, Jr., Regional Director of the APRI Southern Region. Joined by their children and multiple generations of family members—many of whom continue their legacy of service within the organization—the Mumfords’ recognition was a powerful tribute to the enduring impact of a life devoted to justice and collective progress.
A Call to Purpose
The conference concluded not with platitudes, but with purpose. For APRI, the work of civil rights is ongoing, and the struggle for labor rights remains inseparable from racial justice. As Randolph and Rustin taught, movements must be built—not on slogans—but on strategy, solidarity, and sacrifice.
As Brown noted in closing, “We’re not here just to talk about it. We’re here to be about it.”
In a time marked by economic polarization, political hostility, and cultural erasure, APRI’s Southern Regional Conference served as a critical reminder: the Black South is not only resisting—it is leading.
