The History Museum's 'Worker’s Home' brings 1950s African American stories to life
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- The worker’s home is more than just a house. It's a journey through time. There were once workers who came to South Bend during The Great Migration to seek better jobs and opportunities.
The home is filled with midcentury furniture, vintage toys, and even a working 1950s television that reflects the everyday life of African Americans.
Kristie Erickson, the Deputy Executive Director of the History Museum, mentioned that during the Great Migration thousands of workers moved north to Indiana to seek jobs like those who worked at the Studebaker car manufacturer.
“We were also coming up with lots of new technologies and new advancements in things like automobiles and other industries in the area and none of those would have been possible without all of these workers coming here during that Great Migration to help in those factories when there was a shortage of work,” said Erickson. “Families who say, 'my family came here to work for the Studebaker factory, the Oliver factory, work for Bendix, work for Singer,' but all have those similar stories as part of that Great Migration in the 40s and early 50s.”
Beyond the furnishing, this exhibit dives deeper into segregation in schools, housing, and discrimination leading up to the essential role black people played in the auto industry.
“The father of this home came up during the Second Migration in the 1940s to work at the Studebaker factory. He took money from the G.I. Bill to take classes to learn how to repair TVs and computers to make some extra money. His wife was a teacher at Linden Schools.” said Erickson “It was certainly a struggle for her to make it all the way through that, nursing school, and to work in a hospital where she would have been the only Black African nurse there and that can be inspiring for people who are wanting to do something like this, a little out their reach, can learn about these different people and how they change those dreams and maybe you can too.”
Black teachers were unusual, especially black women. The History Museum says the mother of the home was a trailblazer. From teachers to factory workers shaping the economy, the Worker’s Home ensures these contributions are never forgotten.
During World War II there were jobs but not enough workers to fill the roles left behind by the soldiers. Workers in the south were averaging 75 cents an hour for farm work versus getting paid $4 an hour to work in factories in the north.
For most Black people migrating north meant more opportunity and better lives for their families, The History Museum says African Americans not only reshaped the workforce but the future of the state especially South Bend.
Behind the scenes of the auto industry are untold stories of African Americans who helped build it from the ground up.
Whether you visit The History Museum during Black History Month or any day of the year, the Worker’s Home stands as a reminder of the lasting impact of African Americans in South Bend.