Racial Exclusion in the Original Social Security Act of 1935

As a cornerstone of the New Deal, the 1935 Act provided retirement benefits and unemployment insurance but excluded agricultural and domestic workers. These sectors, critical to the economy, were predominantly staffed by African Americans. Consequently, many Black workers were left without access to vital social protections, deepening racial economic disparities—especially in the South, where these jobs were most common.

Historical Context and Debate

Scholars continue to debate whether these exclusions were pragmatic responses to political realities or deliberate moves to appease Southern lawmakers and preserve the postbellum labor structure. By omitting key labor sectors, the Act safeguarded the interests of those benefiting from cheap Black labor, reinforcing systemic inequality.

NAACP Opposition

The NAACP criticized the exclusions, testifying that they would disproportionately harm Black workers. Despite this opposition, the Act passed with the exemptions intact, further entrenching racial inequity in federal policy.

Legacy and Reform

Though controversial, the original exclusions were eventually repealed in the 1950s and 1960s, broadening Social Security coverage to include marginalized groups. Today, the Social Security Administration is committed to nondiscrimination across all programs, regardless of race, disability, sex, or other protected characteristics.