Nah’Shon Blount (USSW): Stay Fearless and Unionize to Get What You Deserve
Monica De'shelle (Intern, Fall 2025-Spring 2026) interviewed Nah'Shon Blount, Union of Southern Service Workers (USSW), in May for our Member Spotlight series, and this piece is her reflection on that experience.
On May Day in downtown Durham, over a thousand people from all walks of life filled the streets. Groups like Durham Rising, the Union of Southern Service Workers (USSW), the Durham Association of Educators (DAE), and Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) joined local residents with a clear goal. This new generation of activists is demanding what workers deserve. The energy was high and infectious as people reclaimed their time and their power. They were speaking out against greedy corporations and local politicians to demand better pay, safe jobs, fair treatment for immigrants, and the right to unionize.
I saw the essence of Black joy when Nah’Shon Blount started dancing during the march. The crowd joined in, chanting, “El pueblo unido, jamás será vencido!” The people united will never be defeated!
Nah’Shon represents hope for the future. Organizing requires more than just being upset; it takes optimism and hard work to reclaim our rights. Despite exhaustion, economic hardship and systemic barriers, he continues believing in collective power.
That is the heartbeat of community organizing: not perfection but persistence. Not optimism rooted in fantasy but hope rooted in solidarity.
Nah’Shon talked about organizing a rally at the McDonald’s where he worked when he was 18. Like many new organizers, he was nervous about sharing his story in public. He worried about being seen. However, he soon realized something important: “…if workers do not tell their own stories, someone else will tell them incorrectly or not tell them at all.”
He believes organizing is about planting seeds to help workers see they deserve more than what they are getting. “Start talking to more people,” he urged. “Try to unionize them… the more you communicate to them and stay on top of it… eventually, they’ll give in.”
This is the mindset of every successful union: our combined voices prove that change is necessary and possible! While people often focus on big headlines like “Duke University pledges $203 million over three years” or “Duke Raises Minimum Wage to $20 per hour,” Nah’Shon insisted that there is still work to do because Duke can do better. He warns us not to get distracted by headlines or think the fight is finished. He wants everyone to use their voices to improve their workplaces, schools, and communities.
Even if change is slow, it starts with one person. Speaking up together is the only way to fix a system that profits from our silence. “Don’t be afraid to take steps to greatness,” he said. “It may take baby steps, but them baby steps end up becoming more steps into the future.”
Perhaps his most powerful reflection came at the close of the interview when asked what message he wanted people to carry forward.
“No matter the circumstance, there’s always a brighter picture on the other side… When you unionize you can get what you deserve, stay fearless.” This spirit drives labor organizing in the South today. It is not about ignoring difficulties, but about being brave and standing together.
Nah’Shon’s message is simple: the system and big companies will not save us. We have to save ourselves. So… RISE UP. FIGHT BACK!