Kelundra Smith's play, 'The Wash,' details one of the South's largest labor strikes

In one of the largest organized labor strikes in the post-Civil War South, the community of Black women in Atlanta working as laundry washers came together to demand better wages, more control and respect for their work.

This is the lesser-known history explored in “The Wash,” a new, world premiere play by Atlanta writer, journalist and theater critic Kelundra Smith.

“The Wash” will debut this summer across two Atlanta theaters. It will open June 7 and run onstage through June 30 at Synchronicity Theatre. Then, it will be presented by Impact Theatre at the Academy in Hapeville from July 10 to 28.