On May 2022, Black Workers for Justice celebrated their 40th Birthday. The BWFJ is an organization of Black workers formed in December of 1982 out of a struggle led by Black women workers at a K-mart store in Rocky Mount, North Carolina against race and gender discrimination. Since then, BWFJ has emerged as a leading organization in North Carolina to advance Black Liberation and worker rights. In the last 40 years, members of Black Workers for Justice have been involved in important campaigns including justice of Hamlett Poultry Plant workers, launch of NC Public Workers Union (UE 150), establishing North Carolina Environmental Justice Network (NCEJN), launch Fertile Ground Food Co-Op in Raleigh, establishing Southern Workers Assembly in the US South, and other organizations and movements. Black Workers for Justice has also made connections between local to global liberation movements, including solidarity with Cuba, Palestine, Venezuela, and other international campaigns.

The highlights of 40 years of movement building were shared during a celebration event in Raleigh, North Carolina. These included social justice songs, spoken word, homage (présenté) to fallen heroes, and keynote speeches by Samira Addrey (Physician Activist and IFCO/Pastors for Peace Organizer) and Abdul Alkalimat (Veteran Scholar Activist and Author). The event ended with rejuvenation and commitment for 40 more years of advancing Black Liberation and worker rights movements.