Hillbilly Nationalists, Urban Race Rebels, And Black Power: Community Organizing In Radical Times
by James Tracy /
2011 / English / EPUB
6.9 MB Download
THE STORY OF SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT AND LITTLE-KNOWN
ACTIVISTS OF THE 1960s, IN A DEEPLY SOURCED NARRATIVE
HISTORY
THE STORY OF SOME OF THE MOST IMPORTANT AND LITTLE-KNOWN
ACTIVISTS OF THE 1960s, IN A DEEPLY SOURCED NARRATIVE
HISTORY
The historians of the late 1960s have emphasized the work of a
group of white college activists who courageously took to the
streets to protest the war in Vietnam and continuing racial
inequality. Poor and working-class whites have tended to be painted
as spectators, reactionaries, and, even, racists. Most Americans,
the story goes, just watched the political movements of the sixties
go by.
The historians of the late 1960s have emphasized the work of a
group of white college activists who courageously took to the
streets to protest the war in Vietnam and continuing racial
inequality. Poor and working-class whites have tended to be painted
as spectators, reactionaries, and, even, racists. Most Americans,
the story goes, just watched the political movements of the sixties
go by.
James Tracy and Amy Sonnie, who have been interviewing activists
from the era for nearly ten years, reject this old narrative. They
show that poor and working-class radicals, inspired by the Civil
Rights movement, the Black Panthers, and progressive populism,
started to organize significant political struggles against racism
and inequality during the 1960s and 1970s. Among these
groups:
James Tracy and Amy Sonnie, who have been interviewing activists
from the era for nearly ten years, reject this old narrative. They
show that poor and working-class radicals, inspired by the Civil
Rights movement, the Black Panthers, and progressive populism,
started to organize significant political struggles against racism
and inequality during the 1960s and 1970s. Among these
groups:
+
+ JOIN Community Union
JOIN Community Union brought together southern
migrants, student radicals, and welfare recipients in Chicago to
fight for housing, health, and welfare . . .
brought together southern
migrants, student radicals, and welfare recipients in Chicago to
fight for housing, health, and welfare . . .
+ The
+ TheYoung Patriots Organization
Young Patriots Organization and
andRising Up
Angry
Rising Up
Angry organized self-identified hillbillies, Chicago greasers,
Vietnam vets, and young feminists into a legendary “Rainbow
Coalition” with Black and Puerto Rican activists . . .
organized self-identified hillbillies, Chicago greasers,
Vietnam vets, and young feminists into a legendary “Rainbow
Coalition” with Black and Puerto Rican activists . . .
+
+ In Philadelphia, the
In Philadelphia, theOctober 4th Organization
October 4th Organization
united residents of industrial Kensington against big business,
war, and a repressive police force . . .
united residents of industrial Kensington against big business,
war, and a repressive police force . . .+
+ In the Bronx,
In the Bronx,White Lightning
White Lightning occupied hospitals
and built coalitions with doctors to fight for the rights of drug
addicts and the poor.
occupied hospitals
and built coalitions with doctors to fight for the rights of drug
addicts and the poor.
Exploring an untold history of the New Left, the book shows how
these groups helped to redefine community organizing—and transforms
the way we think about a pivotal moment in U.S. history.
Exploring an untold history of the New Left, the book shows how
these groups helped to redefine community organizing—and transforms
the way we think about a pivotal moment in U.S. history.