Fred J. Johnson, Jr., Benny Jones, Sr., and Gregory Stafford founded the Black Men of Labor, Inc in 1993.

Their purpose was to create an organization that would reaffirm and pay tribute to the contributions of African American men in the work place while promoting and preserving Traditional Jazz Music.

The group organized their first parade in 1994, as a way to honor and pay respect to the Legendary Jazz Musician Danny Barker. The organization has evolved since it’s creation in 1993 and is now a designated IRS 501 (c) 3 non-profit and a U.S. Department of Treasury Community Development Enterprise.