The life and times of a Black Wobbly: Ben Fletcher
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December 9, 2020 @ 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
You are invited to the Claudia Jones School’s next event, “The Life and Times of a Black Wobbly: Ben Fletcher.” Peter Cole, professor of history at Western Illinois University and author of Wobblies on the Waterfront, will speak about Ben Fletcher, an African American who helped lead the IWW’s most militant and effective interracial branch, epitomized the union’s brand of anti-capitalism and anti-racism. Fletcher (1890−1949) was a tremendously important and well-loved member of the IWW during its heyday, the first quarter of the 20th century. A brilliant union organizer and a humorous orator, Fletcher helped found and lead Local 8 of the IWW’s Marine Transport Workers Industrial Union. When founded in 1913, this union was a third African American, a third Irish and Irish American, and a third other European immigrants. Despite being hated by the bosses and red-baited by the government, Local 8 controlled the waterfront for almost a decade.
Date: Wednesday, December 9
Time: 6:30 p.m. Eastern Time, 5:30 Central, 3:30 Pacific
Register here.
Co-sponsored by the DC Industrial Workers of the World, Sankofa Video, Books & Cafe, and PM Press.
