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Fight Like Hell
Fight Like Hell: The Untold History of American Labor | Kim Kelly
3 posts | 3 read | 5 to read
The definitive history of the American labor movement from Teen Vogue columnist Kim Kelly. The history of organized labor in America all too often conjures a bygone era and generic images of slick-haired strongmen and hard-hatted construction workers. But in fact, one of Americas first unions was founded by Black Mississippi freedwomen in the 1860s. Jewish immigrant garment workers were instrumental in getting worker protections incorporated into FDRs New Deal. Latino- and Asian-American farmworkers in California were 1970s pioneers in the fight for racial inclusion and a fair wage. And today, Amazon warehouse employees struggling to unionize in Bessemer, Alabama are 85% Black. In Fight Like Hell, Teen Vogue labor columnist and independent journalist Kim Kelly tells the definitive history of the labor movement and the peopleworkers, organizers, and their allieswho risked everything to fight for paid overtime, sick leave, disability protections, and an eight-hour workday. That history is a 1972 clothing company strike that saw 4,000 Chicana laborers start a boycott that swept the nation. It is Ida Mae Stulls 1934 fight for the right to work in an Ohio coal mine right alongside the men. Dorothy Lee Boldens 1960s rise from domestic workers union founder to White House anti-segregationist. It's Lucy Parsons, Mother Jones, Ben Fletcher, and Frank Littles militant fight against the ravages of capitalism. Its the flight attendants union that pushed to root out sexual assault in the skies and ended a 2019 federal government shutdown. And it is Bayard Rustin, a queer civil rights pioneer who helped organize Dr. Kings March on Washington and promoted the alignment between movements for labor and civil rights. As America grapples with the unfinished business of emancipation, the New Deal, and Johnsons Great Society, Fight Like Hell offers a transportive look at the forgotten heroes whove sacrificed to make good on the nations promises. Kim Kellys publishing debut is both an inspiring read and a vital contribution to American history.
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RowReads1
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I‘ve finished both the first and second part, “The Trailblazers” and “The Garment Workers”. It covers things that I‘m very familiar with like “The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire”. It‘s a good overview. I‘ve already learned a thing or two as well.

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Floresj
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I really enjoyed the breadth of the story of labor- the garment workers, cleaners, harvesters, transportation, sex workers to the prisoners. Kelly‘s tone is to rally the troops to motivate to stand up and fight like hell. If you are picking up a book on labor, you are probably already in that demographic and more emphasis on the people not the movement was called for.

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MaggieCarr
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Holy cow! I was kinda out of the loop when it comes to Unions. I didn't grow up with the need to know what they were nor who they protected and now I feel like I'm 34 years behind in fighting for my friends, community, country and world. These pages were filled not only with history but of current events, including forced labor preparing PPE during the Covid-19 pandemic and essential workers. So many of my other reads tied in as well with....

MaggieCarr ...with chapters on sideshow/curiosity circuits and their rights, wildfire inmate firefighters in California and even into the menstruation movement and being able to purchase and afford period products as inmates. I'm definitely going to pay more attention when I hear about or drive by picket lines from here on out. This book was definitely an education to me 2y
Suet624 I‘m so happy you learned so much! I‘m always nervous that people don‘t know the importance of unions. 2y
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