Earl George

It all began for Earl George on February 9, 1894. He was born into a working class family in Denver, Colorado. His father was a laborer and bartender. Earl's participation in politics started at an early age - he joined his first organization in 1906 at the age of twelve. The United Brotherhood of Friendship was active in Denver's Black community, presenting programs which dramatized the oppression of Black people.

High school presented new challenges. Earl's first victory was won when he gained acceptance into a previously all-white group of cadets. But he learned a lesson in economics when he couldn't participate because he didn't have the $22.50 uniform fee.

Earl remembered the spirit of those days in Colorado. The United Mine Workers was one of the few unions with both Black and white members, and they looked to the community for support in many bitter strikes. Earl had a vivid recollection of the Ludlow massacre, when the Governor called out the National Guard to "protect" company gunmen who opened fire, killing striking miners and their families.

In college, Earl majored in chemistry. He studied German so he could read scientific texts. But World War I cut his education short and he was drafted during his junior year. He was sent to Fort Lewis, where he spent two years in the segregated army. Discharged in 1919, he moved to nearby Seattle.

The 1919 Seattle General Strike found Earl on the picketlines. For five days, "nothing moved but the tide," according to Earl. He joined the Wobblies, marched with the Worker's Alliance and the Unemployed Citizen's Council. He was active in the Washington Commonwealth Federation and the Washington Pension Union. In 1937, Earl joined the Communist Party after reading the Communist Manifesto.

In 1938, he found work as a warehousman and joined the International Longshoremen's and Warehousemen's Union (ILWU). He held many positions in Local #9, including many terms as President. He is thought to be the first Black president of a union local in Washington State. He was also a candidate for state legislature. He led the fight in 1948 to force Tradewell and Safeway to hire Black workers. He was a delegate to the Labor Peace Congress in 1949. He helped found the National Negro Labor Council in 1951.

When Paul Robeson came to Seattle to sing at the Blaine Peace Arch Concert in the early 50s, he stayed with Earl, who by that time had met and married Vivian.

Earl retired in 1961, joining the ILWU Pensioner's Club; as Executive Secretary, he managed the pensioner's social hall into his late eighties.

Earl became a photographer, and official one for the ILWU Dispatcher and the People's World.

Text adapted from a "Tribute to Earl George" by Juana Mangaoang and Marc Brodine.