How the Wobblies Smashed Racism - OVER A CENTURY AGO!
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- čas přidán 6. 09. 2024
- This is part 1 of a documentary based on "The I.W.W. and the Black Worker, by Philip S. Foner. This article, written in 1970, details the remarkable success which the Industrial Workers of the World were able to unite black and white workers to form "one big union" from the shipyards of Philadelphia to the sawmills of the deep South.
Full Text of "The I.W.W. and the Black Worker:"
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WATCH PART 2 NOW: czcams.com/video/2Ot8mDqy0Pg/video.html
I shared both part one and two on my facebook page.
I helped edit this video, I saw many things doing research: the racism in the USA during this period was shocking and depressing, but the solidarity which some workers had across race lines was inspiring. Hope we can all build solidarity and unite the working class!
LUNA OI!
For the algorithm!
I first got an intro to this when I read Zinn's "People's History of the US" & this chapter of history really inspired me as well. Along my ideological journey & living in what's considered a very conservative community - I've learned that an overwhelming majority of the poor/working class are genuinely good people, who want the same kind of fair/humane society that we do. Most have just been misled about the reality of how to get there & the real nature of power.
@@Justin_Watson23 that's a really good way to put it. Very true!
Excellent video comrade! Solidarity ❤
Hey folks, HELP! Any time we talk about racism or highlight black revolutionary figures the algorithm CRUSHES us. So PLEASE like, share, and comment as you are able. Every engagement helps! 🥰
Even if I comment on your comment? 🤔
Hey there
I'm not sure what you have planned for the second video, but there's a bit more history you might consider posting:
Me and about 5 other Black wobblies in the Twin Cities formed an African Peoples' Caucus of the IWW and were active in 2016 and 2017. We were an active study group and all of us were engaged in struggles within and adjacent to labor- mostly we were involved in prison organizing and anti-police brutality movements. Most of us went to IWW nat'l conference between those years. And to be clear- this was during a time where to be honest- "The Black question" felt like it had evolved into both the anti-police question and the anti-fascist question- and we *absolutely* had to argue our political position with some white conservatives in the union that saw those issues as distinctly separate (but equal?? Lol) from syndicalism. I'm certainly not here to fight or demand any part of limelight- if anything, (since we have all disbanded and TC Branch is no more) I been looking for someone trustworthy to pass that history on. But I truly feel that a conversation about Black wobblies might be short-sighted without discussing the contributions of the 2 big subcommittees that brought in Black wobblies in more recent times- the General Defense Committee and Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee.
(Tbh I'm not even sure if the GDC is still around I sure hope it is)
If you have any questions or want to see that initial reading list feel free to message me. Thanks for posting looking forward to part 2
🏴
Any update on part 2?
@@Aencii coming out this week actually! Just finished the editing more or less today
@@juicyparsons can you email me? Noncompetecoop at gmail!
The IWW is truly one of the greatest working class organizations. They are an example to every single socialist, regardless of denomination
This is the kind of thing I learned about in AP US History class, and it really opened my mind. I grew up in an anti-union family, but reading about unions in history, I could not see anything wrong with it. Glad that set some seeds in my mind for changing my perspective widely
Glad your teacher taught you this history! In my US history classes they taught us that the IWW "wanted to force workers to join on union through violence" and the AFL "wanted to give workers the freedom to choose their own union." Super bowdlerized lessons! Solidarity!
@@NonCompete it’s been years - regardless I doubt my teacher taught me history of unions (though otherwise taught a very realistic and critical history of the US), so much as I actually did read the textbook and it had a whole section on unions. Whatever biases it probably had, I’m glad it gave me something
Same. Especially books like A People's History of the US by Zinn really helped change my perspective. As a teenager I was pretty anti union due to the environment I grew up in, now I'm a radical One Big Union guy. Guess the whole conservative fantasy of people drifting to the right as they get older is nonsense lol.
@@bengallup9321 It is nonsense.
@@bengallup9321 It's Tom foolery, the older I get, the further left I go.
Radical, extreme, militant equality. Nothing else. No compromise.
I usually don’t comment but this video really made me smile. Being separated from the military and then almost immediately entering the pandemic radicalized me. Your videos have always been helpful for explaining certain concepts or getting reading material. My town recently established its very first IWW branch and I’m proud to be a part of it. You guys rock.
This comment DEFINITELY made me smile, so thanks so much for the mutual aid!! Your story is quite inspiring, if you ever feel like talking about your story on stream or anything definitely let us know, but either way, keep it up and solidarity!!
The best IWW related quote is from William Haywood: "I've never read Marx's Capital, but I have the marks of capital all over me." Thanks for making this in depth video comrade
I dunno, that poster with "The worst thief is he who steals the playtime of children" ( 11:17 ) hits pretty hard as an example of the kind of soulless ghouls who sit at the top of Capitalism's heap. They'll take away child labor laws if they're given half the chance.
I love learning more about the IWW and their history. I’m glad and proud they’re still going today. They have a sliding scale for membership dues and also have a membership for people who are incarcerated. Solidarity!
IWOC is the coolest thing we do, hands down.
I joined the IWW after that episode! Thanks!
The IWW hasn't had a presence here in South Africa since the 1920's but our labour federations operate on similar industrial unionist philosophies, with each federation (Cosatu, Saftu and Fedusa being the big three) representing workers in nearly every industry imaginable. It's what helps make them so strong
Good to see more people talking about the anti racism of the Wobblies
Hey hey! Been a member of IWW for over a year now!
Solidarity Forever!
Love this. Nothing will change if all parts of the international working class doesn't come together.
The IWW is such an important force in the labor union movement, I hope after all the union votes sweeping the nation, they’re seeing a massive upswing
Wobbly since 2019🎉✊
This makes me.happy to see!
Me too!
I wish I could say that the IWW were "way ahead of their time," but it's more of a testament to the power and perniciousness of the forces of reaction that worker solidarity across race/sex/gender/etc. lines has been held back this long, since we're still fighting the same battles today.
Looking forward to Part 2!
As a Canadian history teacher, I always love giving a shout-out to the Wobblies and One Big Union. They really serve as an inspirational example of the possibilities of a truly solidaristic and egalitarian working class movement. Great content as always, NC.
Hey I am SO GLAD you teach this history! My US history classes villified the IWW as "terrorists who wanted to force everyone to be in their union" and championed the AFL as "the winners, because they allowed people to choose their unions." I remember it pretty clearly, definitely distorted narrative in the textbooks, at least in my day/location. You are doing important work!
@@NonCompeteWow.
I’m a wobbly thanks to you (in part)
Love you ej and Luna 💜
So glad we played a part, 💜 and solidarity to you :D
Thanks for the deep dive into the IWW. ✌️
came here cuz f.d. signifier posted about this channel! :) and gotta say, i'm so glad he did. this is an excellent video. thanks for making it and sharing it with us!
FD is amazing at helping smaller creators and a fantastic creator, appreciate that shoutout so much! Thanks for watching!
Yessss!!! I love f.d. signifier's Channel!
Union history has always been interesting to me, especially now that we seem to find ourselves in the next big chapter of it.
I hope the next chapter involves something more radical than narrow trade union consciousness. Union organising without radical systemic change as an objective brings only the common ruin of both contending classes, in the long run.
We might just realize that radical change if only because the forces against unions are so overwhelming and the threats so obvious and not conducive to well being that for once unions may do whatever is needed.
It also helps that for once unions are going against well-known hated companies so in the zeal to take them down the forces and alliances required to make unions demands real and to ensure unions do not become stagnant or perverted like police unions the necessary changes will be made.
Joined the IWW a while back, not related to the older video or this one. Sadly, my local chapter died out recently so I was never able to actually get involved. Might have to do stuff with DSA but that's also a bit out of reach for me.
Love videos like this, thanks for the in depth history!
If you're still interested in organizing with the IWW it's not TOO difficult to form a new chapter, or at the very least you can go through their training online. Hope you find some comrades to build with ASAP! Solidarity and thanks for your support!
Have you applied to be a delegate?
@@Martinroadsguy I have not, school has been a bit of a bitch and I've been worried about my availability if I was to pursue such a thing
@@NonCompete you're probably right. My chapter died off because we weren't getting the minimum required attendance for quorums at our meetings along with some accounting stuff (iirc) so those are definitely concerns on my head, but perhaps I could corral some friends so I can at least set one of those concerns aside.
(appreciate the replies)
One Big Union
Up the wobs! We've got a long history of revolutionary action and some god-damned amazing music.
Also, thanks for the shoutout! I'm an Upstate chapter member and that helps alot.
Grabbing attention has never been a problem of yours, comrade. It's one of your powers ✊🏴🚩✊
They heard “No war but class war” and took it as gospel. The conviction of the IWW is why I joined (along with my time in the SIU).
Canadian Wobbly here, I actually ended up joining after watching a Thought Slime video, but hey, it was CZcams so the greater online anarchist community seems to be having some kind of effect!
I'm one of many Canadian postal workers who are double carded, IWW and the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW), with the latter being involved in reaching out to gig economy workers. We managed to get Foodora to join the CUPW, but sadly the company responded by pulling out of Canada entirely. International people in countries where Foodora still exists can do with that information what you will...
My bell is on and I got no notification :(
Hearing this from dozens of viewers past few weeks. Definitely recommend folks check out RSS to take ownership of our own algorithms... I use an app called Feedly! Regardless, thanks so much for watching and supporting!
I've been a wob for a few years now because of that union video you mentioned at the start!
So awesome to hear, hope it's been working out!
This video is amazing
This comment is amazing! 🥰
The IWW speaks to me, and there is a group one town over from me!
Smash the algorithm! Great video.
I think often about those oldies in the past who fought the struggle. They didn't win, but where would we be without them?
So even if things feel hopeless now - the fight is valuable in itself
Every step forward, and every lesson learned, is a victory for the multi-generational revolution!
really amazing to see how people were showing solidarity all the way back then during the Jim Crow era. If it was possible for them it's possible for us! lets all bring about the second wave of united americanlabor power!
LOVE your attitude! 😍
Been actually really wanting a resource to learn more about the comprehensive history of the IWW and y'all are doing a great job at that, excited for part 2!!
Awesome, thanks for the support! We're definitely gonna be covering the wobblies and other revolutionary figures from this period a lot more, it's a fascinating period from which we can hopefully learn a lot!
Come on EJ you know I love the hokey intros!!! 🥹 why you cut it short!
Gotta leave em wanting more lol 😂
Hey it's Daddy Johnson
Bell on, notified, and ready to share. Thank you! Love and solidarity to y'all.
Thanks so much for your support, it means a lot!
@@NonCompete 😊😊😊
1 dollar a century ago was a lot of money. So sad to see that our comrades still have to ask for a dollar to spread the words of the workers. And even sadder that one dollar is a hell lot to workers.
Love hearing about the Wobblies! I’ve heard protest songs from their albums, but never seen a full breakdown/history like this
Their music also deserves a full video series!
IWW are still strong and active here in the UK!!!!
Awesome to hear! I want to learn a lot more about the IWW in the UK!
Wow, didn’t know about this . Thank you!
Thank you EJ! Educational!
this goes so hard. peace to EJ & Luna for breathing new life into this righteous article ☭
Yeah, it was a good one! Reading through the old archives of Industrial Worker and Voice of the People in researching this one gave us lots of material for future vids as well :D
such a well-put-together and informative video, E.J. Can't wait for part 2!
Joined the IWW after you had a few members on a couple years ago. The union is the best chance for the working people in America and worldwide.
The American Federation of labor reminds me of the few guys on a job who are lucky to start with certain certifications. I worked with a guy B4 who ran heavy equipment, and looked down at the rest of us breaking our backs. Thought he was seperate, and superior. 😆
hey algorithm this is nice content
I just joined the IWW recently due to all the history, im glad im apart of the community. And you get a red button!
Even though the phrase "wobbly semen" was used in the video, I've looked into the IWW and will be joining. Thanks for the history lesson!
"Wobbly Seamen" would be such a great name for an A Mighty Wind-style folk band lol
@@NonCompete 😂😂😂
This was a fun video
Keep at it, I'm terribly ignorant on topics like the one of this video, so I appreciate the content.
Side note: I didn't realise there was a dedicated Breadville channel! 😿
It's relatively new! We're gonna be uploading the backlog over the next couple months and launching brand new shorts every week or two, then diving into new full videos!
@@NonCompete Ah great stuff!
The puppet theatre videos have been helpful for introducing some of my family to leftist ideas. I doubt I'll ever coax them to read the conquest of bread, but it's easy enough to get them to watch Krobotkin argue with a Shark Musk.
I am a proud member of the IWW. Really was nice to see this video on the groundbreaking history of the IWW. Ълагодаря ви много. The IWW does not interfere with the religious or political beliefs of it's members.
_Spread the bread!_
For the algorithm!
An injury to one is an injury to all
This is a super important and interesting topic; I am so happy you do it (and furious that the algos crush it).
An owie to one is an owie to all! 🐱
My grandad was involved with the longshormen and stevadors in Mobile Alabama back in the 50s and maintained a practice he learned from his family and mentors of building an equal work crew along ethnic lines, and fighting against the bosses exploiting the illiteracy so common with dock workers back then. My dads dad by contrast was a ship captain and as a child I was always fed this Raegan style rhetoric that was anti-labour etc etc, I became radicalized around 10 years ago and I'm just now learning about the agitators in my family. If a bi-racial labour organization took place down here in the 50s, then I have hope for what we can accomplish down here today.
Should I join the IWW if I'm already in a union?
You can, and in my opinion, you should! And be sure to take the training, even if you do it online!
@@NonCompete it would be nice to be a union organizer like my cousin. He's a painter, I'm a meat cutter.
Liking and commenting to boost engagement.
So how's your day?
Just woke up!
@@NonCompete well, go get breakfast 🥞
A beatiful history. Thanks for telling it to us.
Joined the IWW today, just because you said so.
lol, I hope in the long run that doesn't turn out to be the ONLY reason you STAY a member, but I'll take it for now! Solidarity!
another noncompete banger 💯
You're too kind 🥰
will probably watch this 2 more times before part 2 drops
Wish I could like your comment 2 more times 🥰
No audio. Directed here by FD Signifier.
No audio? Very weird, I think it may be a problem on your end cuz nobody else has said anything, do you maybe have another device to check with? Btw welcome, FD is super rad!
@@NonCompete got the audio to work. Seems to be an issue with using the link from fd Signifier. When searched indepently no issue.
Great video, keep it up! Wobble on, comrades!
I’m not sure if I joined the IWW when you released that video, but it was around that time so noncompete gets credit
credit accepted lol
Almost none of the people in the iww are trade workers anymore. Its worth talking about.
There's definitely a lot of rebuilding and outreach to do. I'm not sure about the whole country, but I do electrical and construction work in Charleston sometimes and at least where I work, construction trades have been heavily affected by shifts in the industry to petty bourgeois takeover. Basically, people get trained by the IWW then once they complete training they form their own small businesses and just do a bunch of residential work. Industrial work might be union, but since SC is right to work they do a lot to avoid it. Tough nut to crack, I might try to make a video on it some time. In the South, the IWW is mostly making inroads in service sector jobs and retail, if I'm not mistaken, which is an interesting development since a century ago. Just the fact that they've risen from the ashes at all is remarkable to me!
@@NonCompete I'm actually an industrial electrician. I've 32 and have been with the trade for a decade now. The more radical electricians are mixed in with the IBEW but it's mostly liberals. There's the United Electrical workers but that union hasn't had any electricians in it for a really long time. Idk why socialist youtubers don't encourage people to start trade careers. For example with the IBEW if you're accepted into the apprenticeship program, 1st year apprentices make $25/hr in a lot of places. I'm non union and work in the energy sector, which is the highest paying sector for electricians in general. I personally think the government should bring back the the draft but instead of conscripted military service they require all graduating youth to attend aapprenticeship program for 4/5 years in a trade union. Fix some of this fucked up shit in our infrastructure and get domestic industrial and commerical production up, as it once was.
Hyped for part 2! :)
Us too, lol. Part 2 has an amazing story :D Stay tuned!
I'm part of a union for retail workers in my country and they do sweet eff all for us. However, I still think it is important to be part of the union. I've also bookmarked the IWW page to look at after this video.
I know there are a lot of wobblies out there without a branch. If you're an IWW member without a local GMB or organized shop, consider becoming a delegate!
Really solid video!! Eagerly awaiting part 2. :D
I'm pissed off every day because of inflation and because I hate our capitalist system. But there's nothing I can do. The only thing I can do is support my fellow comrades on the internet. Feeling helpless. 😔
I always learn something from your videos. Very cool to hear about the history of the IWW and the Wobblies.
Looking into joining the IWW!
Awesome! Some local branches are less active than others, so you might have to be a bit proactive and/or follow up with the national branch or another nearby branch. Also, it's fairly easy to start a local chapter if that ends up being something you have to do. Let us know if you need any help!
Thank you for this video!
Super interesting and inspirational video, thank you! It's so depressing how youtube crushes historical and complex content (except when it is agressively "controversial" so it gets a lot of hateful engagement) when this could be such an powerful educational platform. Not suprising of course but depressing nonetheless.
Thanks so much for the kind words! And yup, censorship and suppression of speech is the standard under capitalism!
Just applied to join I.W.W. Thank you for your content @NonCompete!
Great video! "Somehow" i wasn't notified about this video. I will definitely recommend this to people
Yo, I loved Old Timey Labor History! I would love to see more of it. I feel like it would be a fun way to learn about workers' struggles and victories in the past to inspire the comrades of today and tomorrow! Educating and entertaining the masses is the way to go. 😁✊️
WOBBLY ALWAYS AND FOREVER
Been part of the IWW for two years but there isn’t a chapter in my city or in the city over.
Have you looked into starting a chapter? Or gone through the basic training? Even if you don't have a chapter the training is very valuable, you can do it online!
@@NonCompete There was a discord server that talked about starting a chapter much closer to my city but it fell through. I wasn't aware you could do the training online actually! I got emails for the basic training but that was in person and it always conflicted with my work schedule. I'll look into the online training now that I know it exists lol. Thank you :)
The fallacy of “economic class before all else” still entraps many a (especially white) socialist today!
“race is just a distraction, it’s all about working class vs bourgeoisie” - “talking about racism is divisive and alienating to white people” etc... persist today!
If working class struggles are black struggles, then black struggles are also working class struggles.
Race *is* a class system, and it operates primarily on an economic level, therefore to dismiss it is as secondary, or worse unimportant, is a grave mistake
We must support black movements first, as well as women’s movements, trans, gay and queer movements, migrants movements, disability justice, and other movements, instead of attempting to minimize their unique struggles in a misguided effort to bring them “over” to a worker’s movement exclusively.
Woohoo! Go unions!
Mad respect for the wobblies. Thank you for this!
Ever consider doing a live streaming while watching the IWW to discuss?
You mean like, watching an IWW meeting? Is it possible to watch those somewhere?
@@NonCompete woof sorry, auto corrected. I meant while you watch the IWW movie. Documentary? It was made a while back. Although the first time I watched the IWW movie was during a wobbly meeting. It's on youtube though I will admit you give a much more honest depiction of the racial disparity that kind kf went ignored
czcams.com/video/K7fDSzQcIuE/video.html
Great video! I knew little about the IWW and this video really opened my eyes to how truly revolutionary and anti-racist they were--and still are! I am going to join the IWW. Keep up the good work!
I tried to join the IWW but they never got back to me
Couple things, first it varies a lot from local branch to local branch, and second, since COVID they've had a huge spike in interest. Sometimes you have to be a little extra proactive. Have you reached out to your local or the national branch to see what's going on? I'm just finally getting my red card after waiting almost a year but they DID help me when I followed up! Hope you can start building soon. Solidarity!
Old timey movie dialogue cards would indeed be super fun and awesome tho. I mean- I'm down. 😄
Neat
Another awesome and informative Vid, y'all (also EJ's newsboy attire looked rad).
Thank you, I learned a lot of cool stuff from this vid, very well done, and much appreciated.
You are probably aware that I claim Anarcho-Pacifist-Syndicalism, and have the deepest respect for revolutionaries that use the mightier pen and strike above America's fetishistic obsession with brutal and bloody revolutions, where as Gandhi liberated a nation from imperialism without a single gunshot... I have mad respect for my fellow comrades, and especially those who can effect massive systemic change without threatening others with direct violence. Keep up the good works, homie!
Watch Andrewism’s video on nonviolence
I consider myself a pacifist in the sense that I would never harm another person without provocation, unfortunately the wobblies did have to act in self-defense very often in the 1910s and 20s, since capitalists were sending death squads after them and their families and even using the government's police and military forces against strikers. It's definitely a chapter of our history for us all to study and reflect on!
For the algorithm
. This was a great video and I learned cool shit from it!
Thanks! I had great material to start from, with the original article and the amazing history of the IWW 😁
Based
Solidarity forever!
You're gorgeous and look like Billie Joe Armstrong and yes, I AM in love with you.
HA! You're the second person to tell me that I look like Billie Joe. I don't see it myself but I'm happy to take any and all compliments, lol 😂
For some reason the video doesn´t load for me 😭
It does now?
@@figurefiguras4104 no, maybe tomorrow...
Hey, heard from a couple other folks about similar issues, I think youtube is having issues now. Maybe try another device? Please contact us or drop another comment if there are any more problems!
@@NonCompete it worked after some houes. Greate video ^^
Adam Hotschild talks about the Wobblies and IWW and many other strikingly pertinent going-ons from early 20th century US in his new book American Midnight! Terrific book, Chris Hedges just interviewed him on Real News