●The Weld Trade; 1943
For several years I was an in-demand Talented welder. Had made it to the master welder level
of the trade. Thanks to the education I learned at Tulsa Welding School. Unfortunately, things
happened and I no longer weld.
It was a career I loved and still do. Now I am a writer. and that love of the craft inspired this
story.
As I sit here thinking about past jobs and places they have taken me to; I never thought they
would take me on a trip back in time. Surfing Pinterest one day, just for fun, but welding in the
search box. Wow, you should see all the cool stuff. Then I thought of WWII and the women
welders building planes, and ships.
I found Rosie the Riveter. Then I found a part of history I was proud to see. Black Rosie the
Riveter, and she looked good. And that inspired me to write an article telling you about her. At
least that I learned about these Incredible people.
On December 7, 1941, Pearl Harbor was attacked. Officially, entering the United States into
WWII. Thus leaving almost all manufacturing jobs vacant. So out came the women to take up
the slack. They weren’t just secretaries and homemakers anymore..
They built all the big American war machine from 1942 till 1945. And now the story gets fun to
tell., yet at the same time is screwed up bad. When the Black women went to support thier
family and the wae effort, because it was thier men over there fighting and dying too. They were
told at no cost would a conservative white business man hire them.
It took the president of the United States of America to sign a law forcing businesses to hire
fewer women. i am telling you here and now, the research reading was amazing. These
wonderful beautiful young ladies are doing the same hard work I did for Thirteen Years. And
doing it faster and better than their counterparts. The rich White conservative hated it. And tried
to fight it, but lost. I look at the photos and I see such a person of great character.
At the time, black woman also joined the army. It wasn’t any easier and they were treated as

At the time, black woman also joined the army. It wasn’t any easier and they were treated as
lower class humanoid. The army allowed them to deliver mail. Now: If you think about it, that
guy in the field looks forward to a mail call. The platoons of colored army women were the very
best mail networks in the armed forces. Like Tuskegee airmen, the women were revered by the
guys that counted, the grunts.
Not only were thier men fighting overseas and doing historical feats of valor for a country that
hates them. The Black Rosie’s were upholding their end better than the rest, too. I saw one
statistic that stuck in my mind. There were one million+ Rosies, SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND
were Black Rosie the Riveters. Working, taking care of the family and the men overseas.
It was warned to the government that it would be a grave mistake to bury that history. However,
it was just over ten years ago that it was discovered that the Black Rosie even existed. And the
great contribution to the war effort of WWII. Their story needs telling. And I would love to
interview one of those Rosies for a week or so.
Imagine the stories she could tell. I still see in my mind’s eye the first picture of a colored women
welder from WWII. I saw such a look of confidence on her and it looked good. It is my hope that
this story gets read by a relative of my heroes and miight tell the tale she/he knows. To all the
women who took up the slack. I admire and have great respect. You do it without even a thought
and your taken for granted.
I thank you for your service to me and my freedom
Sincerely, James W. Sims IV