GKCBHSG Women’s History Month Program: “Unsung Heroes: African American Women in the Auto Industry”

On Saturday, March 15, 2025, at 1:00 pm, the Greater Kansas City Black History Study Group will host its annual Women’s History Month Program. The 2025 theme, African Americans and Labor, provides a wide lens for examining the many aspects of Black labor including compensated labor in factories as well as organized labor’s role in fighting both economic and social injustice. The long history of the automotive industry and the labor organizations that evolved provide a rich subject area for exploration.

Our Women’s History Month program will feature guest speaker, Ms. Sadie Bass, who will discuss her journey to working at Ford Motor Company and being a member of UAW Local 249. The current political climate places labor unions and diversity initiatives under attack. Bass will discuss the role of labor unions in advancing workers’ rights, their impact on African American workers, and the unique challenges African American women have faced in the labor movement.

Ms. Sadie Bass is a member of UAW Local 249, where for the past two years, she has served as Treasurer. She is Chair of the Community Service Committee and an alternate benefits representative for Ford Motor Company ensuring employees receive the support and resources they deserve. Additionally, she co-chairs the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) team at Ford Motor Company’s Kansas City Assembly Plant and serves as the Third Vice President of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists and its Greater Kansas City Chapter, amplifying the voices of Black workers and advocating for labor rights.