New York Labor History’s Annual Conference May 5-7, 2016 Work History News Thursday, May 5th Saturday, May 7th NYLHA's Film Festival Program & Opening All-day – NYLHA Annual Labor History Night of the Annual NYLHA Conference Conference, “Can't Turn Back: Unfinished Tasks of the Civil Rights Movement” New York Labor History Association, Inc. Friday May 6th Tamiment Library, NYU A Bridge Between Past and Present Volume 33 No 1 Winter | Spring 2016 Evening Keynote Address Activists and scholars will address enduring and timely topics, including mass organizing, policing, Facing the future collectively– with hope housing, and education. Historians and organizers together—where the past meets the present. By Jane LaTour he annual John Commerford Labor Education Awards T ceremony on December 2nd felt The Great Hunger like the future—and a far happier future at that. Both award recipients brought a Black Potatoes, The Story of the evicted families huddling in a faire economic policies; c) hire huge amount of enthusiasm with them Great Irish Famine, 1845-1850 ditch, “coffin ships,” and forced starving men to do outdoor to the 1199/SEIU Penthouse on 42nd By Susan Campbell Bartoletti, evictions. manual labor (mostly building Street, and it was contagious. NYLHA Boston: Houghton Mifflin Black Potatoes targets young roads)—without killing them board member Gail Malmgreen, the Company, 2001 readers. (Bartoletti used to teach (in their weakened condition) event’s chief organizer and M.C., 8th grade.) Nearly every double- with overwork—or worse— introduced labor attorney Larry Cary, Reviewed by Joe Doyle paged spread of Black Potatoes pampering them in workhouses who presented the award to Stuart usan Campbell Bartoletti is illustrated. Young readers (combination factory- Applebaum, President of the Retail, has a gift for writing can grasp the tragedy of 1840s dormitories). (Each of P.M. Wholesale and Department Store Union. S books with an emotional Ireland simply looking at the Peel’s dilemmas sounds eerily Cary noted that, as a labor history Vural Leyla credit: Photo wallop. Her 1999 book, pictures and reading Bartoletti’s familiar today.) association, we look to the past in an Stuart Applebaum and Larry Cary Leyla Vural and Sara Horowitz poignant captions. When they’re Bartoletti tells just how badly Growing Up in Coal Country, attempt to understand how we got back against economic injustice,” he said. He “Income inequality is the plague of the older they can read Bartoletti’s British policy failed Ireland. She is based on the child labor to such a bad place. “In that context, spoke about the contradiction of organizing 21st century,” Applebaum said. “There is powerful narrative. cottages of peasants who fell personalizes Ireland’s vast loss of experiences of her Pennsylvania Stuart Applebaum is trying to roll back in New York City, the wealthiest city in the only one way we can respond. We have In 172 pages (plus a useful behind on the rent. Already life during the 1840s Famine by in-laws, searingly illustrated with the anti-immigrant tide and the efforts world, yet being surrounded by poverty. He to come together collectively—with a timeline) Bartoletti skewers starving, now they became weaving together anecdotal eye- Lewis Hine photos of haggard, to take away the right to a union shop contrasted the percentage of people living in collective voice—a call to action. Time British government policy: homeless. (Bartoletti devotes witness accounts by survivors coal-smudged “breaker boys.” for public sector workers. These are after time, we are inspired by people who 1) exporting cattle and grain Chapter 9 to the Irish patriots and aid workers, all of them poverty with the handful of Walton family Black Potatoes, The Story of the huge challenges and we are fortunate stand up and take collective action— from Ireland while six million who responded in 1848 with traumatized, some of their members who hold a disproportionate Great Irish Famine, 1845-1850 to have people devising strategies to people who have been marginalized.” of its citizens had nothing to the Young Ireland insurrection.) protests still white-hot 170 years share of the nation’s wealth, while their wrings your heart with Ireland’s meet them—and winning—like Stuart He described the 17-week strike by the eat. (Before the potato blight 3) Prime Minister Robert Peel later, “…the Irish people weren’t corporation, Wal-Mart, refuses to pay its sufferings. Applebaum,” Cary said. workers at the Mott Applesauce plant, ruined the potato harvest, tied himself in knots trying starving because there was no employees a living wage—or even to provide The horrors of famine in opposition to its multi-millionaire six million Irish peasants ate simultaneously to: a) import vast food. They were starving because Building better lives them with regular work schedules. “The CEO. Clearly, the morale-building, A million people starved nothing but potatoes—more quantities of corn meal from the they did not have money to buy people working for Wal-Mart are recipients Accepting the award, Mr. Applebaum hope and energy boost that the RWDSU to death, another two million than seven pounds a day, on U.S. to avert mass starvation of public assistance. We are subsidizing the food.” The bitter irony: much spoke with great passion about the president brings to the union’s organizing emigrated from Ireland, three- average. Potatoes were the only in Ireland—without outraging wealth of the Wal-Mart heirs,” he said. of what went wrong in 1840s campaigns his union is leading. He began campaigns was present in the room. quarters of them to the U.S. crop productive (and nutritious) opponents in Parliament Ireland—and Britain’s hapless by saying that the award is for those union The union’s campaigns to organize NYLHA board member Leyla (many ending up in New enough—to feed large peasant who’d rather see Irishmen efforts to address the crisis—is members who are struggling just to build the city’s car wash workers, the Fight Vural presented the next award to Sara York). Haunting contemporary families on the tiny acreage die—than receive charity; b) still going wrong in parts of the better lives for their families. “It’s a joy to be For Fifteen Campaign, the fight to Horowitz, the founder and Executive newspaper engravings show they could afford to rent.); 2) abolish Britain’s mercantilist/ world today. And we’re equally involved with such great people and to deal keep Wal-Mart out of the Bronx, have Director of the Freelancers Union. She skeletal waifs scrabbling in the British soldiers stood guard as protectionist grain import laws hapless today trying to save lives with the world in which we find ourselves. all been carried out by building ties to gave a passionate oration about Horowitz dirt for blackened potatoes; wrecking crews knocked down in favor of free trade/laissez- and help the victims. It is only the labor movement that can fight grass-roots community organizations. Continued on page 2 Facing the future C a l e n d a r Continued from page 1 “Queer Teacher Organizing: The Religious and her accomplishments, and described Right, and Battles over Child Protection her own experience working for the in South Florida’s Schools, 1977-1997.” Save the Date union in a research position, and about This paper addressed the long and short Horowitz’s deep affinity for the history term responses of South Florida’s queer of the labor movement. “Sidney Hillman teachers to Anita Bryant’s 1977 “Save Our was one of her heroes. Her daughter was Children” campaign. “The three papers New York Labor born on Samuel Gompers’ birthday.” Vural are outstanding examples of the range and described the long list of prestigious awards high quality of the work being submitted History’s Annual that have been showered on Horowitz for to the committee,” Greenberg said. In her work, and the inspiration she provides NYLHA President Irwin Yellowitz (l.) and a accepting his award, Odessky praised the Conference Thursday, March 17, 6 pm for others: “She shows what’s possible. She full (pent)house. pioneering scholarship of NYLHA board shows what we can do.” cycle.” Horowitz is re-imagining strategies to member Miriam Frank, and thanked her Book Party at Tamiment Library, NYU Strategies for change unite people—outside the usual limits but, for her mentorship of his work. May 5-7, 2016 according to her inspired and intelligent NYLHA President Irwin Yellowitz Fighting for Total Person Horowitz began by saying that she vision, well within the realm of the possible. delivered this year’s remarks on the Unionism: Harold Gibbons, Ernest loved the Commerford Awards because she In keeping with tradition, the prizes significance of John Commerford, a labor Calloway, and Working-Class loved the idea of a labor leader who was for student scholarship were awarded at leader of the 1830s. “He did not have the always re-inventing the labor movement, Citizenship, by Bob Bussel the event. Professor Brian Greenberg, benefit of major prior unionization, and in a reference to John Commerford. She of Monmouth College, who serves thus much of what he accomplished was a May 4-May 18 noted that the movement is about people along with Robert Wechsler, of Lehman new response to a new situation,” Yellowitz coming together to solve problems. 5th Annual Workers Unite! Film College, CUNY, as a judge, presented the said. To read Dr. Yellowitz’s full remarks, She spoke about the critical issue the Festival awards. Greenberg noted that, this year, and a synopsis of the three prize-winning Freelancers Union was founded in 1995 to Visit workersunitefilmfestival.org the NYLHA received more submissions student papers, visit the NYLHA website. address: the perpetual problems freelance for schedule and ticketing than ever, “a testament to the continued A slide show, “Photos By and About workers face—getting paid regularly and engagement of an embattled labor Department Store Workers,” was presented Thursday, May 5 collecting their pay—”that’s what we movement,” he said. Two papers shared the by LaborArts at the event. To view the have to fix. It’s also about the power of NYLHA's Film Festival Program & 2015 Bernard Bellush Prize for graduate exhibit, visit the LaborArts website. collective action.” She used the example of Opening Night of the Annual students: Jonathan Cohen, a doctoral Sidney Hillman—”when workers needed student at the University of Virginia, NYLHA Conference housing and there was no money. So we for “This is Your Hometown: Collective should have a bank. And that’s how the Friday May 6, Keynote Memory, Industrial Flight, and the Fate Amalgamated Bank came into existence.” Address, & Saturday, of Freehold, New Jersey;” and Doug Work History News The problem-solving capacity of the Genens, a student at the University of May 7 labor movement is what Horowitz is focused California, Santa Barbara, for “Fighting All-day NYLHA Annual Labor on as she works to devise new strategies New York Labor History Association, Inc. Poverty in the Fields: Legal Services and History Conference to address the seemingly insurmountable Work History News is published two times per the War on Poverty in Rural California.” challenges workers are facing in the 21st year to keep NYLHA’s members informed of Can't Turn Back: Unfinished Tasks The 2015 Barbara Wertheimer Prize was labor history events, activities and tours. century. She pointed to the fact that one in of the Civil Rights Movement awarded to Jared Odessky, of Columbia For more information contact: three workers, 54 million, are now working Tamiment Library, NYU. University, for his Senior Honor Thesis, NYLHA independently. “Before you can find these c/o Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives Wednesday, June 8 workers logistically, you have to re-imagine 70 Washington Square South, 10th Floor New York, NY 10012 Tentative book talk at Tamiment how to connect to them, because we have to http://newyorklaborhistory.org John Commerford did not be building new kinds of institutions,” she “ President Irwin Yellowitz Library said. Horowitz intimated that a new strategy have the benefit of major prior Vice-President George Altomare Public Sector Unions in is about to be unveiled by the Freelancers Secretary Abbe Nosoff; Regina Olff Philadelphia – James Wolfinger Treasurer Peter Filardo Union. Every subway rider in New York unionization, and thus much Editor Jane LaTour on the Transit Workers’ Union, City already sees proof of the union’s of what he accomplished was Contributors and Francis Ryan on AFSCME. existence­—with their cool, Lichtenstein- a new response to a Rachel Bernstein, Mark Brenner, Bette Craig, Check newyorklaborhistory.org style drawings and catchy slogans on Joe Doyle, Melvyn Dubofsky, Kelsey Harrison, for Information. posters. One example: “Your 90-day pay new situation. Steve Leberstein, Staughton Lynd, Ken Nash, Robert Parmet cycle doesn’t really work for my 30-day rent ”

2 Winter/Spring 2016 New York Labor History Association 19 Harper Lee’s re-set Two Gilded Ages in comparison Continued from page 4 the woman who was her nurse if she “hates again.” She continues that “in trying to Steve Fraser, The Age of Acquiescence: The resemblance to how the U.S. economy unforgettable scene in Mockingbird in front us.” There is a pause. “Finally, Calpurnia satisfy one amendment [the Fourteenth], it Life and Death of American Resistance to actually developed. In the case of the US of the local court house when the lynch shook her head.” looks like they rubbed out another one [the Organized Wealth and Power. New York, during Fraser’s long nineteenth century mob comes looking for its victim. Bewildered, but determined, Jean Tenth].” Little, Brown & Company, 2015. viii, 471 the number of independent farmers Two incidents cause Jean Louise, Louise turns to Uncle Jack as a last possible Prodded further by Atticus, she pp. (Index and Notes). $28. grew steadily and tenancy leases and formerly known as Scout, to feel betrayed. person of honor in her hometown. She explains that to her, to “one small citizen,” sharecropping kept millions tied to the In Watchman the case at the center of feels that she needs a watchman “to lead the Federal Government is mostly dreary Reviewed by Melvyn Dubofsky, land. Not until the Great Depression and Mockingbird is summarized in one page as me around and declare what he seeth every hallways and waiting around. The more we Distinguished Professor Emeritus the New Deal were masses of agrarians the case in which Atticus “won an acquittal hour on the hour. I need a watchman to have, the longer we wait and the tireder we Binghamton University, SUNY forced from the land, a tale told so well by for a colored boy on a rape charge.” Jean tell me this is what a man says but this is get. Those old mossbacks on the wall up teve Fraser is a prolific writer and John Steinbeck. By then the US was a fully Louise thinks of that case as she sits in the what he means…” Uncle Jack responds, there knew it—but now, instead of going historian, the author of a superb developed capitalist economy. It is equally balcony of the court room watching her several scenes later, “every man’s watchman about it through Congress and the state prize-winning scholarly biography strange to see the US on the eve of the Civil father and her probable husband-to-be as is his conscience.” legislatures like we should, when we tried to S of the labor leader, Sidney Hillman and an War described as almost a pre-capitalist they play prominent roles at a meeting of After breaking her de facto engagement do right we just made it easier for them to equally excellent history of Wall Street and economy with rudimentary market relations the local White Citizens’ Council. with Henry, Jean Louise confronts her set up more hallways and more waiting… the broader financial community written and limited free, wage labor. The American The principal speaker at the meeting is father. She tells Atticus that what she The dialogue between generations then for a general audience. He also contributes South may have prospered on the basis of a dreadful Mr. O’Hanlon who, we are told, witnessed at the court house meeting was turned to the Negro. “Let’s look at it this regularly to several small circulation leftist slave labor, and it was indeed the wealthiest goes from place to place spewing hate and “disgusting.” She calls Atticus a coward, a way,” Atticus begins. periodicals and online news and commentary region in the nation, but its wealth derived prejudice. Atticus introduces him, albeit snob, and a tyrant. She says that “there’s no “You realize that our Negro population is sites. Perhaps it is his reputation as a serious from participation in global markets that briefly. Henry gives silent assent. place for me anymore in Maycomb, and I’ll backward, don’t you? You will concede that?” were part of an expanding capitalist system. The second incident centers on observer of US history and contemporary never be entirely at home anywhere else.” “Yes, sir.” Before the Civil War most states had Calpurnia. Her biological mother having politics that has produced the glowing She accuses her father of denying Negroes “You realize that the vast majority of adopted general incorporation laws and the died when Jean Louise was young, blurbs on his latest book’s dust jacket from may strike them as odd. General, non- hope. Atticus, she charges, is telling blacks them here in the South are unable to share limited liability corporation became the Calpurnia became a substitute mother. In such eminent historians as Eric Foner, Greg academic readers may be put off by the “that Jesus loves them, but not much.” fully in the responsibilities of citizenship, preferred method of business organization Watchman, Calpurnia, now old and seeing Grandin, and David Nasaw. book’s length, 421 pages exclusive of notes, Her diatribe ends ugly. Jean Louise tells and why?” used by nearly all transportation enterprises, with difficulty, has a small house in the her father that she despises him, that he is “Yes, sir.” Lengthy tome acknowledgments, and other features, as well as its sometimes dense prose. Let me financial institutions, and manufacturing African American “Quarter.” a “double-dealing, ring-tailed old son of a Atticus then asserts, “I’m a sort of Writing as an historian who considered offer just a couple of examples of language firms. There comes a morning when the Finch bitch!” Jeffersonian Democrat.” I think he is correct Fraser’s biography of Hillman to rank, likely to discourage common readers. On Rather than birthing corporate household learns that Calpurnia’s most Atticus responds, in part, “I love you.” in describing his ideology this way. But what alongside Nelson Lichtenstein’s biography p. 218, Fraser writes about the anesthetized capitalism, the post-Civil War decades led promising grandson, while drunk, has run But, alas, that is only part of the story. is easy to forget in thinking of Jefferson in of Walter Reuther, as the two finest citizen of contemporary America, to its maturation, a process that created an over and killed a Mr. Healy. Henry tells the Tea leaves the last half of his lifetime (say, from 1790 studies of U.S. labor leaders ever written, “Her selfhood is that of the abstract, oligopolistic economy and the immense sheriff that he and Atticus will not take the to his death in 1825) is that he believed in I found Fraser’s Age of Acquiescence to be The hard, cold facts of the matter are depersonalized fungible commodity, a fortunes accumulated by the Rockefellers, case. Atticus responds, “Of course we’ll take what Atticus tells Jean Louise: first, that confounding if not dismaying. His purpose that at the height of their intense encounter, homunculus of rationalizing self-interest.” Vanderbilts, Carnegies, Swifts, Harrimans, it.” government should be as decentralized as in writing the book is clear enough; as the father and daughter in Watchman agree And in his conclusion, he observes, “We and Guggenheims. Popular resistance Jean Louise rejoices inwardly. This is the possible, and second, that African Americans he asks in the introduction, why during on certain political perspectives. These have grown accustomed to examine all sorts to economic concentration and rising father she admires, going to bat for the poor are not prepared to be full participants in our last three decades of rising economic perspectives were those of pro-slavery of personal foibles as if they were political inequality, as Fraser stresses, precipitated and unrepresented. Then she learns that self-government. inequality and increasing immiseration for politicians before the Civil War, and Tea MRIs lighting up the interior of the most political challenges to the existing order his reason is to prevent the NAACP from Party ideologues since the election of Barack I submit that when you strip away the millions of ordinary citizens has there been sequestered political motivations (p. 412).” by Greenbackers, Populists, and socialists demanding that there be Negroes on the Obama. persiflage, this is also the working program so little mass popular resistance unlike the Here, I fear, we have one more example and to employer autocracy by workers who jury. She leaves the room. The reader with a copy of Watchman of the Tea Party. first Gilded Age, c. 1870s-1890s, when of a leftist preaching to a small chorus of struck, built unions, and waged class war Making her way to Calpurnia’s home, handy might turn to pages 238 and And what I find so frightening about citizen resistance to economic inequality sympathizers. against their adversaries. Fraser builds a Jean Louise finds the elderly African following. Atticus states that the two reasons this Permanent Southern Ideology is that, surged and bloody class warfare erupted. narrative of popular resistance to corporate Little light shed American woman dignified but remote. he was at the Citizens’ Council meeting were just as Atticus and Uncle Jack in their Yet I am not sure for whom he has capitalism that culminates in the New Deal. When she tries to say that her father will “The Federal Government and the NAACP.” different ways assert, it is organic, it is written this book. It lacks original research Fraser’s reading of US history strikes Unfortunately, he also commits a number help Calpurnia’s grandson, Calpurnia He asks his daughter how she reacted to the nested in a web of supporting practices and draws overwhelmingly, if not entirely, me as idiosyncratic. His first Gilded covers of factual errors. The governor of Idaho who responds that her grandson Frank will “go to decision of the Supreme Court in Brown v. and institutions, and because of these on the published works of scholars for its a long nineteenth century that Fraser dates died as victim of bombing did not meet his jail with or without Mr. Finch.” Board of Education. characteristics it has lasted more than two history and contemporary newspapers, from the late eighteenth century to the fate as a result of breaking a strike called Calpurnia adds a question: “What “I was furious,” she replies. Her father hundred years. periodicals, and websites for its portrait of coming of the New Deal in the 1930s. by the “Wobbly-run Western Federation are you all doing to us?” She apparently asks, “Why?” I hope the Left has or can develop a the US today. Little in the book will strike It reads as a history of endless primitive of Miners” (p.140). The strike in question understands why Atticus is offering Jean Louise f.k.a. Scout answers: “Well, counterforce of similar weight and staying American historians as unfamiliar or new accumulation. Primitive accumulation as occurred in 1899; the IWW was not created representation. Desperate, Jean Louise asks sir, there they were, tellin’ us what to do power. although some parts (as I will note below) explicated by Marxists, however, bears little Continued on page 12

18 Winter/Spring 2016 New York Labor History Association 3 Harper Lee’s re-set in “Watchman” The long fight to integrate NYC's Staughton Lynd served as Director of Freedom Schools in bravest and finest the Mississippi Summer Project Firefight: The Century-Long had only about 300 Black of 1964. Work History News Battle to Integrate New York’s Firefighters—roughly 3 percent invited him to write an essay Bravest by Ginger Adams Otis, of the 11,000 Firefighters in about Harper Lee’s Go Set A Palgrave Mcmillan, 2015 a city with 2 million African Watchman after its publication One Righteous Man, Samuel Americans—because of an unfair in the summer of 2015 provoked Battle and the Shattering of the civil service test and a lack of a contentious discussion. Color Line in New York, Beacon recruitment efforts. This led to a Go Set A Watchman by Harper Press Boston, 2015 courtroom showdown between Lee (Harper Collins 2015) Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg Reviewed By KEN NASH, and the Vulcans who had to Reviewed By Staughton Lynd Public Empoyee Press battle not only city government o Set A Watchman is but also an insular departmental a complex, honest irefight: The Century-Long culture that never saw their own G portrait of liberal Battle to Integrate New inclusion as favoritism. sentiment in the Deep South in F York’s Bravest by Daily It was not until 2014 the years immediately following A Mockingbird as Scout is a unloaded blocks of ice, flour principal. He demands a News reporter Ginger Otis and that the city settled the 98 the United States Supreme young woman in her mid- and sugar, farm equipment confession by the perpetrator One Righteous Man: Samuel million dollar lawsuit that Court’s 1954 decision in Brown twenties who goes by the and ladies’ things.” When and threatens dire punishment. Battle by Daily News editorial undercover assignments by the still needed political pull to increased opportunity for v. Board of Education, the period name Jean Louise. She has Jean Louise upbraids Henry At the appointed hour page editor Arthur Browne police commissioner, many become New York City’s third African American and Latino in which Watchman was written. been living in New York City. for his compromises with the Jean Louise comes to the are two books that detail the involving Prohibition offenses. African American Firefighter. Firefighters. To begin with, we might We meet her on the train as conventional, he reminds her principal’s office with her beginning of the integration of But despite his high test In addition to a wall of silence Browne’s and Otis’ histories wonder what is meant by the she returns to Maycomb, the that “there are some things I signed confession. He wads two of New York City’s best paid scores, promotion came and constant harassment, he was detailing institutionalized title, “Go set a watchman.” Alabama town where she grew simply can’t do that you can… it up without reading it and civil service jobs—the firefighters surprisingly only with the assigned to a Black bunk that no racism in the police and fire The words are from Isaiah, ch. up, for her annual vacation. You’re a Finch.” Sure enough, throws it into a wastepaper and police. election of the new mayor, white fireman would use. departments through successive 21, verse 6: For thus hath the By page 9 Maycomb has Aunt Alexandra frowns on the basket because “every girl in After Samuel Battle moved Jimmy Walker, and with it Williams survived his city governments to the present Lord said unto me, Go, set a surrounded us for what proves idea that Jean Louise might the school from the ninth grade to the city from the Jim Crow another milestone, supervision trial by fire, gaining wide but day show the roots of problems watchman, let him declare what to be the remainder of the marry Henry because, while upward” has already given South for more opportunity, of white police. never official acclaim for his we are still grappling with. he seeth. book. Jean Louise expects to be Henry is a fine young man, him a note saying “Dear Mr. he was inspired to become a During the Depression, heroic rescues. Only after he Black unemployment is twice greeted by her father, Atticus, “we Finches do not marry the Tuffett, they look like mine.” The preceding and following policeman by many articles in African Americans increasingly won the departmental boxing the national average even now in his seventies and children of rednecked white This is the incident that causes protested police violence verses are by no means clear, but the city's civil rights press. He championship—besting a white when candidates have similar it appears that the narrator has afflicted with severe arthritis. trash.” Jean Louise to reflect: and misconduct and many passed the civil service test. officer—was he widely accepted backgrounds, and the FDNY’s experienced “a grievous vision;” Instead, she is met by her The overpowering Southern Hell is eternal apartness. blamed Battle's involvement But unlike white candidates, by white Firefighters. hiring improved only because he is filled with fear; chariots are longtime boy friend and suitor, and small town solidarity of What had she done that she in a system that tolerated such he needed the political pull of Similar story of the Vulcans’ agitation and a approaching, yet “Babylon is Henry Clayton, who works in Maycomb surrounds Jean must spend the rest of her years abuses. Under Mayor Fiorello the civil rights community on government lawsuit. The NYPD fallen.” Atticus’ law office and expects Louise. On the one hand, she reaching out with yearning for LaGuardia, the scant hiring Scoring high on the Tammany Hall to be appointed. continues to be lacking in its Perhaps it does not go to take over the practice. In is obliged to suffer through them, making secret trips to of African American police promotion test, he was Entering as the sole African recruitment procedures. And too far to offer as an initial the end, the book will become a coffee arranged by Aunt long ago, making no journey to increased. But there was still promoted to lieutenant with American in a police department it is struggling with racialized hypothesis the thought that an account of how Jean Louise Alexandra for former high the present? I am their blood discrimination, so Battle joined supervisory responsibilities. known for its brutality and police misconduct, which the author perceives a time of confronts what she discovers to school class mates with whom and bones, I have dug in this in organizing the Guardians But over the years, the number corruption, he was met with a is endemic throughout the great change and impending be the attitudes toward race of she now shares very little. ground, this is my home. But I Association, a fraternal of Black Firefighters grew very am not their blood, the ground cold wall of silence and non- danger but also the possibility these two men. On the other hand, the story departmental organization of slowly and conditions for new country, leading to nationwide doesn’t care who digs it, I am a cooperation. of hope. The text inquires, The last name of Jean contains the remembered Black police to which he was Black Firefighters resembled protests that say Black lives stranger at a cocktail party. “Watchman, what of the night?” Louise, Atticus, Atticus’ brother high school Commencement Slow steps to advancement elected president. Williams’ initiation. matter. The watchman responds: “The Uncle Jack, and his formidable Dance when, in a tangle of Atticus and Oedipus The tide of white hatred The New York Fire Williams became president Ken Nash recently retired morning cometh, and also the sister Alexandra, is Finch. unanticipated consequences, Jean Louise is “color blind.” toward Battle slowly eroded and Department’s situation was of the newly formed Vulcan as librarian of the DC 37 night.” Isaiah, 21:11-12. One evening Henry and Jean “falsies” belonging to Jean She assumes that she has turned after he saved a white similar. Society in 1944 to fight Education Fund Library. The texture of place Louise visit Finch’s Landing, Louise come to be hung on absorbed this attitude from cop’s life in a street fight with In 1919, Wesley Williams discrimination and increase –See more at: http://www.dc37. In Watchman, the tomboy “where Finch Negroes [sic] bushes near the gymnasium her saintly father, as in the African Americans in 1919. scored extremely high on the hiring on the job. Yet, by the net/news/PEP/9_2015/nyc_nypd. we came to love in To Kill loaded bales and produce, and and are discovered by the Continued on page 18 Then he was given special written and physical tests but millennium, New York City html#sthash.DBaMUu2i.dpuf

4 Winter/Spring 2016 New York Labor History Association 17 Crossword puzzle clues Bernhardt labor history journalism award By Jane LaTour A discussion on “Labor employees. “It becomes critical Across 25. The ______Railroad was the 11. ____ Simone, a singer and Civil secret network of homes used to set Rights Activist who wrote the song he 1st Annual Debra History in Workers’ Stories,” to understand the history and 1. Rosa ____ of the 1955 Montgomery slaves free on their journey north. “Mississippi Goddam” in the 1960s. E. Bernhardt Labor featured panelists Tom Robbins, evolution of that system,” he Bus Boycott. Journalism Prize was Investigative Journalist in said. Esther Kaplan noted 27. The _____ Riots of 1863 centered 12. ______Department Store was T Residence at CUNY; Richard that there are many issues 4. Brown vs. _____ of Education. awarded on Oct. 15 at the on Manhattan in opposition to the Civil one of Harlem's most famous 125th Robert F. Wagner Labor Steier, Editor of The Chief- that constitute attacks on civil 5. ______Abdul-Jabbar, outspoken War. Street tenants for over 80 years and the Archives, NYU. Director Tim Leader, and Esther Kaplan, servants where people don’t basketball player and author, who site of the stabbing of Martin Luther Editor at The Investigative Fund understand what has happened 29. ______Wright, Harlem resident King, Jr. in 1958 while he was was on a Johnson welcomed a full house boycotted the 1968 Summer Olympics at The Nation Institute. Lending over time. One compelling and famed author. book signing tour. of celebrants, noting that Debra over the United States' treatment of their years of expertise to the example she offered where African-Americans. Bernhardt did an excellent job 31. _____ Panthers, founded in lively discussion, each panelist history made a critical difference 13. ______Son was written by 29 of laying a foundation for the Oakland in 1966. Across. shared examples of stories which was in editing a cover story for 8. ___ Kennedy was a lawyer for the archives, which serves as “one of Panther 21 and a co-founder of the were made stronger and clarified The Nation on children working 32. Bayard ______, long-time gay Civil 15. The African ______Ground was the premier sources for primary Debra E. Bernhardt National Organization for Women. by including the background- in tobacco fields. Without Rights Activist. rediscovered in 1991, along with 419 research by labor journalists,” -the labor history—and thus including the history of 9. ______Rock, Arkansas, the scene bodies. and therefore, honoring both a story about miners and the 33. John ______, mayor of New providing a meaningful context. agricultural workers’ organizing of the1957 confrontation over nine Debra and labor journalists was Ludlow, Colorado strike in York City who spoke at Martin 17. Danny ______is a famous actor, Robbins, who moderated the efforts, the story would be African-American high school students a fitting tribute. 1914 is serendipitous, he said. Luther King, Jr. memorial rally in director and political activist as well as a panel, described his recent incomplete. A question and attempting to enroll over National Alexander Bloom spoke “Reading about their history Midtown Manhattan in 1968, which strong union supporter. coverage in The New York answer session followed. Guard objections. about his mother’s legacy. can only increase the sense was sponsored by District 65, Retail, Times, about the brutalization Co-sponsors of the event 18. Black Lives _____ is the motto of “I spent a lot of time in this of solidarity and community 10. Andrew _____, former congressman Wholesale and Department Store of prisoners who are serving included: the New York Labor the anti-police brutality movement of room,” he said. He talked about among the union members,” and advisor to Martin Luther King, Jr. Employees Union. their time in New York state History Association; LaborArts; 2015. what he thought labor history said Yellowitz. The award prisons, by members of the Metro Labor Communications 13. The Amsterdam ____, Harlem's 34. Long-time political activist Angela meant to Debra, her roots in winning story, “From Tragedy 21. _____ Dinkins was the first African- Correction Officers’ union, Council; the New York City long-time newspaper, was founded in _____ was jailed in the old Women's Iron River, Michigan, and her to Triumph: 100 Years Later, 1909 by James H. Anderson. American Mayor of New York City. and the history of the collective Central Labor Council; and House of Detention in 1970. introduction at an early age to Workers Benefit from Ludlow’s bargaining contract that allows the Robert F. Wagner Labor 14. This famous Civil-Rights 24. The Village ______, which the joys of preservation and Legacy,” appeared in The United 37. Eric ______was killed by the opened in 1935, is one of Greenwich them to escape culpability for Archives at the Tamiment organization was founded in 1942 documentation, “in the same Mine Workers Journal. police in Staten Island in an illegal Village's most famous jazz clubs. their brutality. One example Library, New York University. in Chicago and sponsored a protest chokehold in 2015 while selling loose David Kameras, accepting spirit she later brought to her provided by Richard Steier cited For information about the in Williamsburg, Brooklyn in 1964 cigarettes on the sidewalk. the award on his behalf and 26. Amiri ______, was one of America's work as a labor historian.” the importance of including contest and submitting entries opposing racial discrimination by the F. most famous poets. His son is now the Public historian Rachel that of co-author Emily Harris, and M. Schaefer Brewing Company. Six spoke about the fact that so the historical dimension when to the 2nd Annual Bernhardt Down Mayor of Newark, New Jersey. Bernstein said that Alex protesters were arrested.(Abbreviation). many workers don’t know the politicians begin lobbying to Prize, visit the website of “articulated Debra’s spirit better 2. Legendary actress ____ Dee, grew up 28. ______University was the site history of their own union. change the pensions of public LaborArts.org. 15. Michael _____ was killed by police than any of us could,” and then in Harlem and died at the age of 91 in of the 1968 student strike over the “They aren’t growing up, hearing in August 2014 in Ferguson, Missouri. described some of the many 2014. university's expansion into Harlem. stories about the union at the projects Debra carried out, 16. ____ Clayton Powell, Jr., famous kitchen table. The generational 3. Reverend Al ______, former activist 30. The ______Church was the including the landmarking of long-time Harlem Congressman. links have been broken and with the Southern Christian Leadership site of Martin Luther King, Junior's Union Square as a national labor speech against the Vietnam War in consequently, the strong Save the Date 17. Andrew ______, Civil-Rights Conference and currently head of the history site. “Debra thought 1967, one year to the day before he was traditions of union miners have Activist murdered in Mississippi in 1964. National Action Network. that everyone would love history assassinated. been weakened. In this respect, if only they knew about it,” 19. ______Cullen, famous Harlem 5. Nat ____ Cole, singer of "Mona Lisa" we’re starting to look like other 35. The ______Non-Violent Bernstein said. poet. and “Unforgettable,” among other great unions,” he said. “Ludlow is a songs. Coordinating Committee was one of Labor history matters New York Labor History’s 20. Jesse ______, long-time Civil the leading groups of the Civil Rights good example of how a slice of Rights Activist and head of the Rainbow 6. Founded in the 1930's, this public Movement and was headed by John NYLHA President Irwin history can get out and make Annual Conference PUSH Coalition. employees union featured Nelson Lewis, Stokely Carmichael and H. Rap Yellowitz presented the award our story compelling. Nobody Mandela at its 1990 convention (Abbre). Brown, among others. and spoke about Debra’s speaks for labor better than 22. Spike ___, director of “Do The intimate connection throughout workers. It’s important for Right Thing”, “Four Little Girls” and 36. _____ Shakur, the late rapper, May 5-7, 2016 7. The ______Club in Harlem opened her life to miners and mining labor journalists to give voice to many more great movies. witnessed the Panther 21 Trial from in the 1920's and featured Count communities. The fact that the people who would otherwise be Basie, Cab Calloway and Billie Holiday, inside the womb of his mother, Afeni 23. ______Marable, biographer of Answers on page 9 first prize is being awarded to voiceless,” he said. Malcolm X. among others in its storied history.

14 Winter/Spring 2016 New York Labor History Association 7 Gilded Ages in comparison Union Democracy pioneer Herman Continued from page 3 insurance, and defined benefit pensions. Kochs, Adelsons, and even Warren Buffett until 1905. The Political Scientist Louis In a new world of contingent work and are not the family or merchant capitalists Hartz held a professorship at Harvard not intermittent employment eerily reminiscent of early capitalism; they may control the Benson turns 100 Columbia (p. 175), and the president of the of the first “Gilded Age,” workers assumed finances of the modern limited liability October 23, 2015 / Mark now you’re telling me you’re UMW in 1977-78 was Arnold not Arthur all the risks and employers reaped the corporations their names conjure but they Brenner, Labor Notes going to leave the union?” Miller (p. 355). benefits. Independent contractors shifting use the most sophisticated business methods abor activists from So Hanley decided to stick What about the contemporary scene? from gig to gig and temp workers employed implemented by university-educated around the country with it. “I probably would have Does Fraser’s analysis of the creation of by agencies and not the firms for whom professional managers. Instead of focusing gathered October 3 to left if it wasn’t for you, Herman. a second “Gilded Age” and an era of they worked grew into large segments of the on the concept of family capitalism, Fraser L celebrate Herman Benson’s So I’ve got one thing to say to unprecedented inequality in which the top labor force. Fraser bemoans the absence of might have highlighted the financialization 100th birthday and pay tribute you—you s.o.b.!” said Hanley, one percent of Americans have grabbed all of mass resistance prior to the rise of Occupy of the economy in which shareholder to the organization he founded, now the international president the total increase in national income while Wall Street (OWS), and its condemnation value and returns became more important the Association for Union of the Amalgamated Transit the mass of citizens, the 99 percent, have of the one percent that exploited the 99 than the longer term health and growth of Democracy, which has been Union. experienced income loss or wage stagnation percent. Fraser fails to explain satisfactorily business enterprises. He might also have advancing the cause of “lonely “Keep It Up, Buddy” enlighten readers? The tale he tells is pretty noted how mergers and consolidations in why the 99 percent acquiesced in its own union reformers” for more than much the standard one in which complacent key sectors of the economy had created a Dan Boswell, a former subjugation for nearly three decades. half a century. Herman Benson labor leaders eagerly cooperate with form of concentrated corporate economy executive board member in In a book of more than 400 pages no From combating corruption government and corporations to effect their that surpassed that created by J.P. Morgan Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local ordinary citizen or worker comes to life. and mob influence to making when he was a young bus driver beat the slander charges leveled institutions undoing. and his generation of financiers between 164, shared a similar story. With We never learn why working people who sure rank-and-file members could on Staten Island, his local’s against him. Suddenly faced with hostile political 1897 and 1907. AUD’s assistance, he defended became Reagan Democrats, or devotees get an honest union election, membership meetings were But when he mentioned his leaders and intransigent corporate “partners” It remains unclear how Fraser expects his free speech rights and in of evangelical Protestant faiths, or the AUD has helped thousands of known as the “Friday night plans to move up and become a amid a rising tide of globalization in which masasive citizen resistance to the power 1981 forced changes to the audiences for Rush Limbaugh and Glenn unionists over the years—offering fights.” He was assaulted and supervisor, Benson cursed him capital moved freely and workers grew of organized wealth in the United States international union’s constitution Beck behaved as they did. organizing, education, and legal brought up on internal charges out: “You s.o.b.! You’ve told immobile, labor leaders watched helplessly to arise when the deck is stacked against to give members the right to Analysis misses mark assistance in person, over the for speaking out. me the leadership is lousy, the as their union empires shriveled—by the “the people” and he denigrates the alliance criticize their officers, meet in phone, and through its books, That’s when Hanley first members don’t know what to turn of the new century union density By some strange alchemy family between the leaders of organized labor and caucuses, run for office, and pamphlets, and newsletters. climbed the stairs to Benson’s do, you just took up two hours had fallen to under seven percent in capitalists from the sunbelt—the Waltons, the professional class of liberal reformers not be disciplined and fined for Benson described it as tiny office. With AUD’s help, he of my time helping you, and the private sector—and the traditional the Kochs, Sheldon Adelson—turned who created the New Deal order. Instead exercising their rights. “essentially a civil liberties industrial heartland became a rust belt. In the nation neoliberal, defeated the Equal Fraser disdains what remains of “big labor” How do you clean up organization that focuses on this new, non-union universe, workers lost Rights Amendment (ERA), and spread the and dismisses contemporary “limousine corruption in the labor the rights of members in their Issues of union democracy are job security, fully paid company health gospel of “right to work.” But the Waltons, liberals”. He hyperbolically characterizes movement? One approach unions to free speech, fair “ John Maynard Keynes as a high priest of might be top-down oversight. elections, due process in trials, posed in a much different way—but “limousine liberalism” (p. 378) instead But as Teamsters for a DO YOU KNOW AN UNSUNG HEROINE? and fair hiring.” of crediting the English economist as a Democratic Union Organizer Although it has rarely there’s still a need for the defense of prescient critic of corporate capitalism and Ken Paff noted, AUD promoted Nominate a lifelong activist for Nominations are now open for 2016. grabbed headlines, AUD’s push the financiers and executives who dominate a better way: democracy. the 6th Annual Clara Lemlich Awards, Honorees need to be able to attend for union democracy has helped civil liberties and democracy within it. Readers who seek to understand how That perspective helped shape to be held in spring 2016. Last spring the ceremony (thus most will live near shape today’s labor movement. and why the second “Gilded Age” arrived the 1989 federal consent decree LaborArts, the Museum of the City of NYC), and should have at least six Larry Hanley offered one of our unions. and why material inequality has reached that introduced one-member, New York, and the Triangle Fire Coalition decades of activism behind them. To many examples. In the 1980s, ” Continued on page 15 honored seven unsung women who nominate someone send the name, a epic proportions would be better served by reading Thomas Piketty’s Capital in the have devoted their lives to the greater brief description of the activities that Crossword Answers good, in the tradition of Clara Lemlich qualify her for this award, together Twenty-First Century, an even longer tome following the Triangle Factory Fire with your own name and contact than Age of Acquiesence and with a heavier Shakur. 14. CORE 27. Draft 2. Ruby 17. Glover scholarly apparatus. in1911. See inspiring interviews with information, to [email protected]. Across 15. Brown 29. Richard 3. Sharpton 18. Matter 2015 honorees at LaborArts.org. And for those who want to understand 16. Adam 31. Black 5. King 21. David 1. Parks why ordinary citizens think and behave 17. Goodman 32. Rustin 6. AFSCME 24. Vanguard as they do, I would suggest reading Steve 4. Board 19. Countee 33. Lindsey 7. Cotton 26. Baraka Greenhouse’s The Big Squeeze and George 5. Kareem 20. Jackson 34. Davis 11. Nina 28. Columbia Packer’s The Unwinding: An Inner History 8. Flo 22. Lee 37. Garner 12. Blumstein's 30. Riverside of the New America in which real people 9. Little 23. Manning 13. Native 35. Student occupy center stage and suffer the slings and 10. Young arrows of our new “Gilded Age.” 25. Underground Down 15. Burial 36. Tupac 13. News 12 Winter/Spring 2016 New York Labor History Association 9 African-AmericanAfrican-American Crossword Crossword Puzzle Puzzle Lucy and Gloria considered by Kelsey Harrison

Lucy Stone, An Unapologetic the vote to black people and 1 2 3 Life, Sally G. McMillen, Oxford helped found the American University Press, 2015 Woman Suffrage Association 4 5 My Life on the Road, Gloria (AWSA). 6 Steinem, Penguin Random Lucy Stone was born in 7 8 House, 2015 1818 and grew up on a farm in 9 10 11 12 13 West Brookfield, Massachusetts 14 Reviewed by Bette Craig (about 20 miles from 15 hat is it I don’t Worcester). She was expected to 16 like about Sally G. work hard as a child. Education 17 18 McMillen’s Lucy was respected in her family, 19 W 20 Stone: An Unapologetic Life? but not for girls. Her father, 21 Well, somehow, Sally McMillen Francis Stone, ruled the family 22 23 has made Lucy Stone’s life seem with an iron hand and a tight the Massachusetts Anti- 24 boring. There’s no grand sweep fist, but subscribed to William Slavery Society hired her as of the big picture, but lots of Lloyd Garrison’s Liberator. a lecturer in 1848, the year 25 tedious detail. The abolition cause was what after she graduated at age 29 McMillen, Mary Reynolds impelled Lucy Stone toward her from Oberlin. Gradually, she Babcock Professor of History life-long struggle for women’s incorporated more and more 26 27 at Davidson College, tells us rights. of her thoughts about women’s that she wrote the book to try She was much influenced by rights in her abolition speeches 28 29 30 to restore Lucy Stone to the abolitionist Abbey Kelley Foster and was able to set up her pantheon of woman suffrage who spoke in Lucy’s hometown. own speaking engagements 31 heroines, in the company of Stone also witnessed the and make a living at it. As she Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan censure of Sarah and Angelina said in 1855 in a Cincinnati 32 B. Anthony and Lucretia Mott. Grimké by Massachusetts speech to 2,000 people, “From She points out that Lucy’s self- Congregational ministers for the first years to which my 33 effacement and dislike of being lecturing on anti-slavery and memory stretches, I have been 34 35 written about contributed to women’s rights in 1838. a disappointed woman…. the “who is Lucy Stone?” issue. It seems that these days, In education, in marriage, marching beside a Mrs. Geene 36 Bowing down no longer Lucy Stone is remembered most in religion, in everything, who pointed out that Dorothy When Stanton and Anthony for keeping her maiden name disappointment is the lot Height was the only woman on and their collaborator, Joslyn after she married. People who of woman. It shall be the the speakers’ platform and she 37 Matilda Gage, were working follow this practice are still business of my life to deepen isn’t speaking. And where is Ella on a history of the women’s sometimes called “Lucy Stoners.” this disappointment in every Baker, who trained all of these But the original Lucy Stone was suffrage movement (first volume woman’s heart until she bows SNCC youngsters? And where is extraordinary. She was the first Union Democracy published in 1881), Lucy didn’t down to it no longer.” Fanny Lou Hamer?” want to be in a history “written woman to speak full time for So, it seems that Gloria Continued from page 9 pushing to shed a century of union In a half-century, he said, “the labor Against all logic by the other wing.” women’s rights, the first woman Steinem’s progression of one-vote for top Teamsters offices, provided domination by nurse managers, AUD movement has become weaker, there’s no “The other wing” consisted from the State of Massachusetts This year has also seen the consciousness was very similar federal oversight of national elections, paving backed them up. Today it defends free question about that. But it’s vastly improved of Stanton and Anthony’s to earn a college degree. (But publication of a memoir by one to Lucy Stone’s. Like Lucy the way for reformer Ron Carey to become speech on social media too. in many ways, and it’s more prepared for National Woman Suffrage she wasn’t allowed to read her of our current feminist icons, Stone, who ventured out to the union’s first directly elected president. Above all, Benson said he told each the years to come—in its attitude toward Association (NWSA), which senior essay from the platform Gloria Steinem. In My Life speak in public, sometimes to AUD influenced several defining reformer, “You’re doing the right thing. immigrants, toward the lower-paid, toward was formed when the suffrage on that occasion because it wasn’t on the Road, Steinem details crowds of thousands when the moments in labor history, including the Keep it up, buddy.” Sometimes this rallying support from the public. movement split after the Civil considered seemly at Oberlin, her itinerant childhood where going was much more difficult, Miners for Democracy movement of the encouragement was the best thing AUD “Issues of union democracy are posed War. Stanton and Anthony even though the institution was she absorbed her father’s love Gloria Steinem believes in the early 1970s and reform efforts inside the could offer: “There was often very little we in a much different way—but there’s still opposed the 15th Amendment admitting women as well as black of independence and life’s power of being in the same Steelworkers later that decade. could do for them. But that little loomed as a need for the defense of civil liberties and because it left out women. students.) possibilities. She tells how she room—especially when it can When California health care workers an enormous mountain in their lives.” democracy within our unions. So I’m hoping Stone was committed to Lucy Stone began her went on the 1963 March on include a talking circle where were fighting off trusteeship, and recently In his closing remarks, Benson summed that some of you will be inspired by what you finishing the project of giving public speaking career when Washington “against all logic, Continued on page 16 when bedside nurses in New York were up the enduring need for union democracy. heard today to join this great cause.”

6 Winter/Spring 2016 New York Labor History Association 15 Struggle to dismantle school segregation Teamster power Continued from page 5 before the McClellan Committee that sharing the campaign for “total person Something Must Be Done About General Robert her family’s African-American produced a sharp national reaction, revealed moral if not criminal corruption on unionism,” remained a life-long fighter for Prince Edward County: A Kennedy to say in maid, who sent her daughter to particularly as it paralleled the rise of Jimmy his part. Wounded but not fatally injured, the interests of African Americans and the Family, A Virginia Town, A Civil 1963: “The only another city to get an education Hoffa. After Gibbons skillfully managed Gibbons would remain a Teamster regional working class in general. Rights Battle by Kristen Green. places on earth and who subsequently never his election to the Teamster presidency vice president, and incur the wrath of Nevertheless, Bussel notes, both activists HarperCollins, 2015 not to provide free came back to live with her own in September 1957, Hoffa made him his President Richard Nixon as well as Hoffa engaged in “questionable behavior” and were public education mother again. executive assistant. Now the heir apparent to over his opposition to the Vietnam War, but not above sidestepping “democratic processes” are communist Review by Kelsey Harrison Separate and unequal Hoffa, Gibbons appeared destined to reach also continue to support the cause of civil to bring about “working-class citizenship.” China, North his book is about a The older 1950s and 1960s the top of the Teamsters. rights with Ernest Calloway. In view of organized labor’s current decline Vietnam, Sarawak very unique response history is very interesting but However, coinciding with Gibbons’ Though sympathetic to Gibbons’ and and the nation’s continuing racial turmoil, (part of Malaysia), by the racist residents ascent within the IBT was the creation of a Calloway’s efforts to bring social justice he considers the relevance today of Gibbons’ T Singapore, British overall the more personal of Prince Edward County in United States Senate committee chaired by to St. Louis, Bussel does not conceal the and Calloways’ reform vision. After observing Honduras—and narrative story slows down the Virginia to the Brown vs. Board John McClellan of Arkansas to investigate downside. Gibbons emerges as a labor leader that it has not disappeared, he suggests that it Prince Edward flow of the book and it could of Education Supreme Court union corruption. As Bussel describes, thus with a noble agenda, but too willing to “will ultimately be needed to help re-establish County, Virginia.” have been shortened. When desegregation decision. The case began a series of setbacks for both Hoffa and compromise ethics for the sake of ambition labor’s social relevance.” He may very well Some students you think back to this era was brought by the NAACP Gibbons, including the latter’s appearance and personal power. Calloway, besides prove to be prophetic. were sent to other you say this couldn’t possibly and actually consolidated cities to go to happen today but the situation five different cases, including school but most reminds you of America today one brought by the NAACP African-American in many ways. Ridiculous in Prince Edward County. students received arguments supporting Students and parents of the no education segregation by politicians, inferior, segregated African- during this time: judges and newspaper American High School had their minds and miraculously some never graduated and the publishers in the Civil-Rights been complaining for years found the money that they had illiteracy rate in the county Era remind me of the exact about how inadequate the Book Party always said wasn't available to quadrupled. The original racist same nonsense spewed today building was: No gym or build it. However, the NAACP Whites-only private school is cafeteria, a lack of heat, too few by Republican presidential convinced the local parents and still open today under a new The NYLHA invites you to celebrate Saint Patrick's Day at a Book Party! buses to get students to school candidates when talking about students that a “separate but name and didn't integrate until on time and old and torn race, police brutality, climate equal” school was not what the 1984. Thursday evening, March 17, 6:00-8:30 p.m. school supplies. change, Planned Parenthood, African-American community Ms. Green alternates the immigration and other issues. Deep roots of inequality narrative of the fight to get Tamiment Library, 70 Washington Square South, 10th Floor, Bobst Library needed but instead must And speaking of the Supreme Nothing was ever done until demand one integrated high integrated schools with her own Court, Justice Scalia's recent Fighting for Total Person Unionism: Harold Gibbons, Ernest Calloway, and a single student, Barbara Johns, school for all of the races. personal story as she grew up in ludicrous statements opposing organized a student strike (and In 1954 when the Brown the county and then returned Working-Class Citizenship by Robert Bussel, professor of history and director affirmative action are almost this was before Facebook!) and vs. Board of Education after getting married to raise of the Labor Education and Research Center, University of Oregon. word for word taken from the held a meeting in the school decision was announced there her children. She discovers arguments of racists of the auditorium with the entire was rejoicing in the African- that her grandfather, who Co-sponsored by the Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives and The Worker Institute at Cornell. 1950s (segregation is good for student body. This occurred American community, who never said much about this after tricking the principal of thought they had won the disgusting situation, was on African-Americans and only "A thoroughly researched, elegantly constructed, and the school to go downtown to right to integrated schools. the board of the racist Whites- helps them). marvelously engaging study of two long-time labor activists. chase some imaginary students Instead, the White community only school and active in the Looking back at this But it's more than that, really. Through the braided story of that were causing problems in organized against the decision, original group that created the horrible situation you would Harold Gibbons and Ernest Calloway, Bob Bussel re-creates local stores. The students went closed all twenty-one public school. Ms. Green interviews think that setting up a separate the social vision that animated so much of the post-World school system today would be on strike for two weeks and schools in the county, and current residents who lived War II labor movement—and reminds us how much we've impossible and is something then met with the NAACP to opened Whites-only private through the integration battle lost in our age of rampant individualism." consolidate a case against the schools with desks and supplies and chronicles how separate only done over sixty years ago. county. Ironically during this taken from the closed public the races still are today and Yet, with a different purpose, –Kevin Boyle, author of Arc of Justice: A Saga of Race, Civil time period the racist Whites, school system. This situation that in some ways nothing has in the 2010s the hedge-fund- Rights and Murder in the Jazz Age who for years had refused of no schools for African- changed in this sleepy, southern owned, union-busting charter requests to build a new school Americans would last for five small-town community. Ms. schools are thriving in setting for African-Americans, changed years, prompting Attorney Green also follows the story of up a separate school system.

8 Winter/Spring 2016 New York Labor History Association 13 Making history personal Teamster power through a different lens Robert Bussel, Fighting for join him in St. Louis thirteen Total Person Unionism: Harold years later. Longtime NYLHA supporter Gibbons, Ernest Calloway, and Both had labor education Debra E. Bernhardt (1953–2001) Working-Class Citizenship backgrounds and firm anti- was an activist, an archivist and Urbana: University of Illinois communist views, with Gibbons a labor historian dedicated to Press, 2015 having union positions with documenting the undocumented the American Federation Reviewed By Robert D. Parmet history of workers in New York of Teachers, Congress of York College, The City City. LaborArts, which she helped Industrial Organizations, and University of New York to found, carries on her mission Textile Workers Union before in a small way; she left it, along hough Samuel becoming a Teamsters vice with a wealth of other initiatives, Gompers preached president and the leader of the “pure and simple to carry forward her inspired and St. Louis Teamsters’ local. His unionism” and inclusive work. A new online career with the latter then took TDavid Dubinsky identified him to the side of President exhibit can now be found at with “social unionism,” neither Jimmy Hoffa, to whom he LaborArts.org, with photos of labor leader advanced a vision became a trusted aide until Bernhardt and a sampling of her of what Ernest Calloway and he criticized the Vietnam myriad projects. Work History Harold Gibbons called “total War, which brought about News readers are asked to consider person unionism,” a “trade the temporary loss of his vice contributing links to resources and union oriented war on slums.” presidency. documentation projects that Debra Calloway, an African American, Calloway’s odyssey included helped inspire. Let’s document the and Gibbons an Irish American, battles against racial segregation documentarian! were both coal miners’ sons who and organizing Chicago railroad sought in St. Louis through the station porters. Committed to “community service” program of his beliefs, in 1940 he fought a the International Brotherhood successful battle to avoid serving of Teamsters Local 688 to create in the segregated United States “worker-citizens,” “new kinds Army. Following a losing contest Lucy and Gloria considered of unionists whose workplace with communists for control and civic lives were seamlessly of the United Transportation Continued from page 6 brief biographical introduction integrated.” Service Employees in North she can hear back from the of Susan B. Anthony as an Dual biographies became president of the St. integrated the St. Louis taxi people who come to listen to interactor, McMillen says she Carolina, he joined Gibbons in industry. Stirring the most her. was born in 1820 in Rochester, In Fighting for Total Person St. Louis, thus beginning the Louis National Association controversy, in 1957 they led a She writes of the inspiration New York. While it is true that Unionism, Robert Bussel partnership to bring about “total for the Advancement of labor-civil rights coalition that she received from the village Anthony moved to Rochester brilliantly follows Calloway and person unionism.” Colored People. Together defeated an attempted revision women she met in the two with her family later in her life, Gibbons as they combined to At a January 1952 they and others in Local 688 of the St. Louis city charter. years she spent in India after it wasn’t until 1845. I happen transform workers into activists conference, Gibbons and waged campaigns dealing Business and civic groups had graduating from Smith College to be sensitive to this because I who would bring about political Calloway stated their theme. with such concerns as public wanted to restructure the city in 1956 and the Native am a part-time resident of the change that would benefit them “The union member is also a transit, juvenile delinquency, government so as to lessen the American women she came to Berkshires in a neighboring as well as their city. The idea citizen and his interests as a racial discrimination in “growing influence [of labor and know later, both groups sharing town to Adams, Massachusetts, was to integrate the unionists’ citizen coincide with those of public housing, downtown civil rights organizations] and the tradition of the talking circle which claims Susan B. Anthony workplace and civic lives. Using his fellow citizens. Accordingly, redevelopment, rat control, and grant the city’s power elite a free and consensus building. Her as its own and has created a Stone’s life, you might want to Kerr states that The New York the first part of his book for dual they enlisted members of Local higher education. Along with hand to make critical economic background as a journalist has museum in the house where take a look at Andrea Moore Times ran a 10-paragraph biographies, Bussel describes 688 in a program to make the National Urban League, and social decisions.” led her to seek the truth that she lived until she was six years Kerr’s Lucy Stone: Speaking obituary when Lucy died in how the two leaders overcame productive use of the “other they attacked racial employment only her own eyes and ears can old. Even Wikipedia has this Out for Equality, published October 1893. The Washington “hardscrabble” early lives to sixteen hours” when they inequality at Coca Cola. Against Teamster ‘troubles’ tell her. information. by Rutgers University Press Post printed a five-paragraph work together when Gibbons were not doing their regular the backdrop of a wildcat strike The demonstration of I was put off on page 95 of If you’re looking for a more in 1992. It starts out “Extra! notice on its front page. Lucy invited Calloway, whom he had work. Calloway also continued that Calloway and Gibbons Teamster power in St. Louis McMillen’s book because in the exciting approach to Lucy Extra! Lucy Stone Is Dead!” Stone was not obscure in 1893. first met in Chicago in 1937, to his civil rights activism and opposed, they successfully Continued on page 13

16 Winter/Spring 2016 New York Labor History Association 5 Review and NYLHA book launch Sheila Collins and Gertrude Goldberg, In the hope that this volume would When Government Helped: Learning From spur wider interest in the relevance of the the Successes and Failures of the New Deal. New Deal to contemporary American Oxford University Press, 2013 social problems, the NYLHA along with the Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives, Reviewed by Steve Leberstein NYU, co-sponsored a book launch on New York Labor HistorY associatioN s Depression loomed over the September 17th at the Tamiment. The country at dawn of the New audience was small, but the discussion was A bridge between past and present A Year 1930, how likely was it lively with a healthy exchange between that the federal government headed by Professors Collins and Goldberg and President Herbert Hoover could “help” audience members. NYLHA Membership Form those afflicted? After a decade of the Open What was striking in some of the Shop, political repression, and financial response to their presentation was a speculation, there was little hope for critique of the role of organized labor for PLEASE TYPE OR PRINT CLEARLY fundamental change in the nation’s social, its hesitancy to support some New Deal economic and political culture until FDR measures and what some saw as unions Name: Institutional Affiliation: took office in March 1933 and quickly continuing failure to embrace universal measures to tackle the gaping inequality of came to see the magnitude of the crisis. Mailing Address: Sheila Collins and Gertrude Goldberg 21st century American capitalism. in their new book, When Government New Deal benefits Helped: Learning From the Successes and The event might have been of special City: State: Zip Code: Failures of the New Deal (Oxford University introduction and Collins’ first chapter were interest to public school social studies Press, 2014), did excellent work in putting especially useful in setting the context, teachers as well as college faculty in U.S. together a comprehensive overview of E-Mail: pointing out that the threat of another history and political science. Several government’s response to the crisis and crisis of similar proportions is still with teachers did attend, including NYLHA the context which shaped it. Of the us, as the “The Great Recession” of 2008 board member Kimberly Schiller. New Member? Yes  volume’s 11 chapters, six were the work showed. Not to be lost in this regard One participant, Kimberly Finneran, ABOUT NYLHA of the two editors with others drawn from is that the New Deal, however much a secondary social studies teacher, said Founded in 1976 by trade union- participants in the Columbia University it ameliorated the consequences of an that the program would be valuable to ists, academics, students, archivists, Seminar on Full Employment, Social unbridled capitalism, did not result in a her in teaching about the New Deal. ANNuAL DuES: educators, labor editors, attorneys, Welfare and Equity. About the program, she said “I was able deeper social transformation. Regular / Individual: $20.00 and retirees, mostly from New York Festering problems While the authors/editors credited to enrich my understanding of the long- State, NYLHA encourages the study of term benefits of FDR’s New Deal and Student/Senior/Low Wage: $10.00 The book is a collection of essays on New Deal programs with sorely needed workers and their organizations. can plan an even more engaging unit for key aspects of the New Deal, the social reforms in the relation of the state to society, my students,” particularly noting FDR’s It serves as a bridge between the and economic conditions that it hoped to they did not hesitate to see their flaws and Send completed form with a check plus any additional proposal of an Economic Bill of Rights, past and the present, between trade address, and the political environment that shortcomings. Nor did they lionize FDR tax-deductible donation you would like to make payable to the Visiting Nurse Program’s child health unionists and academics. shaped it. The authors were clearly inspired unduly, instead seeing mass social movements the New York Labor History Association (NYLHA) to the address study for giving a realistic picture of the by the contemporary economic crisis, now and labor unrest for making workers’ rights, nation’s strength and weaknesses, the New below or join on-line by visiting our website − Our members include a wide range generally referred to as the Great Recession. social insurance (welfare), and agriculture Deal conservation programs confronting newyorklaborhistory.org of individuals and unions interested In today’s political environment, and the environment urgent issues for climatic challenges, and arts programs that in retrieving workers’ history and government action. The unfortunate with sometimes violent challenges to the helped democratize American culture as relating it to present problems and domination of the Senate by Dixiecrats, Peter Filardo, Treasurer authority of the federal government, it can well as revitalize a traumatized population. challenges facing workers. however, led to the shameful exclusion of be difficult to imagine how the state could This is a well-researched and well- 340 W. 28th Street, #18A many Black Americans from coverage under address our festering problems of profound written book that is timely and deserves a New York, NY 10001-4765 JOiN Us! various New Deal programs, especially the inequality, political corruption, a shrinking wide audience. “middle class” with stagnant or falling National Labor Relations Act. And at no wages, and other looming crises, any more moment in Roosevelt’s presidency was he than FDR could in 1933. willing to put an Anti-Lynching bill before Thank you for your support! Collins and Goldberg did excellent Congress, even in the face of resurgent Klan Printed In House. work in exploring this terrain. Their activity in the ‘30s.

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