Podcast Summary: New Books Network

Episode: O. Jennifer Dixon-McKnight, "We Paved the Way: Black Women and the Charleston Hospital Workers' Campaign"

Date: January 20, 2026
Host: Deidre Tyler
Guest: Dr. O. Jennifer Dixon-McKnight

Overview

In this episode, host Deidre Tyler sits down with Dr. O. Jennifer Dixon-McKnight, author of "We Paved the Way: Black Women and the Charleston Hospital Workers' Campaign." The book, drawing from oral histories, archival research, and personal narratives, explores the pivotal role Black women played in the 1969 Charleston hospital workers strike—a movement that fused labor, civil rights, and community activism in South Carolina. The conversation dives into the roots of the movement, its leaders, the hardships workers faced, and the long-term impact of their struggle.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Origins of the Project

[01:42]

• Dr. Dixon-McKnight began the project as a doctoral student working with the Southern Oral History Program.
• Her preliminary research revealed hundreds of Black women mentioned in accounts of the strike, but little about them personally.
• Motivated by this gap, she set out to center their voices in the historical narrative.

"As I began to dig through sources... much of what I was finding didn't speak a whole lot about the women themselves." — Dixon-McKnight, [02:20]

2. The Tradition of Protest: Linking 1945 to 1969

[03:31]

• The 1945 Cigar Factory strike and Local 15A provided a blueprint for the hospital strike.
• Key Connectors:
  • Lily Doster: Guided Mary Moultrie in writing the letter to Local 1199 seeking union support.
  • Isaiah Bennett: Played a crucial organizing role; served as a liaison and facilitator.

"There's a thread of resistance and activism that goes from the earlier movement into the one that happened in 1969." — Dixon-McKnight, [07:19]

3. The 1967 Firing: A Tipping Point

[08:05]

• Five Black women were fired for refusing to work without standard patient reports—a flagrant act of discrimination.
• Mary Moultrie, newly returned to Charleston after union experience in New York, mobilized support.
• The incident ignited broader resentment against chronic workplace racism, sparking sustained activism.

"For the group of women that galvanized around this moment... the firing... was the straw that broke the camel's back." — Dixon-McKnight, [10:57]

4. Mary Moultrie’s Leadership Journey

[11:15]

• Moultrie became a reluctant but effective movement leader, driven by duty rather than ego.
• She suffered personal hardship, literally “wearing out her shoes.”

"When she went on strike, she had some shoes. When the strike was over... there were holes in her shoes." — Dixon-McKnight recounting Moultrie, [12:12]

• Focused on the welfare of coworkers, not personal recognition.

"She didn't concern herself with... high-level conversations among hospital administrators... For her, it really was about... a living wage and a safe and respectful work environment." — Dixon-McKnight, [12:45]

5. Facing State Repression: Curfew and National Guard

[13:46]

• The city imposed a 9pm curfew and brought in 1,000 National Guard troops.
• Workers adapted by:
  • Some resisting and risking arrest.
  • Others using curfew hours for tactical nightly meetings, organizing, strategizing, and nonviolent direct action training.

"One of the things I try to emphasize... is that the organizing... wasn't just them walking on a picket line." — Dixon-McKnight, [13:56]

6. Coretta Scott King's Impact

[17:09]

• Coretta Scott King’s presence was an immense morale booster.
• Symbolized the unity of labor and civil rights and the continuation of Dr. King's legacy.

"They were uplifted by her presence... She’s a national figure... She’s taken out the time to show up to this moment and offer her support." — Dixon-McKnight, [18:23]

7. Aftermath: Returning to Work

[19:42]

• Returning to work was emotionally and psychologically difficult, especially for those labeled as agitators by management.
• Mary Moultrie, deeply affected, was unable to speak about her return in interviews.
• Not all strikers regained employment; some faced ongoing hostility.

"She became too emotional... She said, 'I just can't talk about it.'" — Dixon-McKnight, recalling Moultrie, [21:16]

8. Mixed Results: Was It Worth It?

[22:35]

• Many felt pride in their sacrifices, but there was frustration over limited tangible change and lack of immediate public recognition.
• Initially, the strikers were labeled agitators—public appreciation came decades later.

"It wasn’t until the early 2000s that the narrative... began to change." — Dixon-McKnight, [25:46] "Their sacrifices, even if they felt proud... wasn't always celebrated from the community around them." — Dixon-McKnight, [26:37]

9. The Value of Oral Histories

[26:42]

• Oral histories gave voice to women’s individual, complex experiences—details omitted from official records.
• Provided insights into personal hardship, family impacts (e.g., motherhood during the strike), and grassroots strategies (like "Hell’s Angel"—a militant group countering strikebreakers, unrelated to the motorcycle gang).

"Naomi White... talks about organization that she organized called Hell’s Angel... informally organized group of workers who targeted scabs." — Dixon-McKnight, [29:45]

10. Final Message to Readers

[30:27]

• Highlights the centrality and distinctiveness of Black women’s activism in American history.
• Emphasizes the importance of recognizing local movements as foundational to national change.

"The more we shine light into the lives and work of African American women, we get to see more of the heart of this nation." — Dixon-McKnight, [31:00] "Local movements are critical to what happens nationally." — Dixon-McKnight, [31:26]

11. Future Scholarship

[32:20]

• Dr. Dixon-McKnight is beginning a new project focused on the civil rights history of Rock Hill, South Carolina.

Notable Quotes

• On Mary Moultrie’s approach:
  “She wasn’t loud and confrontational in the way you’d think a union leader would be... for her the transition really was about there are people who are being disrespected.” — Dixon-McKnight, [11:43]

• On dignity and sacrifice:
  “They had a goal of securing a fair wage, of eradicating racism, a push for dignity for themselves and their coworkers, and that is what drove them... But they didn’t necessarily see themselves as activists.” — Dixon-McKnight, [23:15]

• On public memory changing over time:
  “After the strike, they weren’t regarded positively... So part of it too, for them coming out of it... their sacrifices... wasn’t always celebrated from the community around them.” — Dixon-McKnight, [26:20]

• On the importance of oral histories:
  “The oral histories give us a little more insight into how these women experience the strike personally and the sacrifices that they made personally, but also helps us to understand who they were.” — Dixon-McKnight, [27:00]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:42] Project origins and research
• [03:31] Legacy of the 1945 cigar factory strike
• [08:05] The 1967 firings as a catalyst
• [11:15] Mary Moultrie’s leadership and personal story
• [13:46] Navigating curfews and National Guard presence
• [17:09] Influence of Coretta Scott King
• [19:42] Challenges post-strike and returning to work
• [22:35] Reflections on dignity, sacrifice, and public memory
• [26:42] Oral histories versus official records
• [30:27] Author’s closing message to readers
• [32:20] Upcoming research projects

Conclusion

Dr. Dixon-McKnight’s insights illuminate the untold stories, sacrifices, and enduring impact of the Black women at the heart of the Charleston Hospital Workers' Campaign. She reveals how their movement, often overlooked or underappreciated in mainstream accounts, was rooted in a longer tradition of Black labor activism and social justice, driven by a powerful sense of community, dignity, and hope for structural change.