Description
A rich collection of stories about ordinary people who resisted oppression and exploitation, Brandon Weber's short essays capture the little-known moments of struggle when workers and veterans built movements of hope and defiance. From the mines to the factories to the fields, Weber shares the experiences of the real-life men and women who organised, heroically resisted, and battled the bosses and corrupt politicians. In the spirit of A People's History of the United States, this book conveys engaging and accessible narratives of ordinary people who have indelibly shaped US history.
Promotion on the author's website and through his social media page which has over 500,000 followers. Outreach to school and public libraries to purchase the book for their collections. Excerpts sent out to union newsletters and posted online to drive books sales leading up to the publication date. Promotion specifically targeting unions like SEIU and UFCW highlighting how the book can train low wage worker organizers and activists around Fight for Fifteen campaigns in basic labor history. Author available to tour nationally to promote the book. Outreach to teachers and labor history professors to use the book as instructional material for their classes. Excerpts on Upworthy website with direct links to online book purchasing options. Promotion at education and teacher union conferences promoting the use of the book as part of classroom instruction in labor and US history. Features and/or excerpts in Rethinking Schools, Jacobin and AFT and NEA magazines.
About the Author
Brandon Weber (1963-2020) wrote for The Progressive, Upworthy, Big Think, and many other online publications, where wrote extensively on labor history and current events. He also was a union activist for more than 30 years.
Reviews
"Brandon Weber knows how to tell a good story, and he has a knack for labor history. There are stories here you've never heard of and ones that you have - but read them all. They'll light a fire under you!" -Mrill Ingram, The Progressive "At a time when unions face the possibility of extinction, Brandon Weber's Class War, USA shows us that working-class struggle is the only strategy that has ever advanced the labor movement historically-and is also the only way forward today. This book is indispensable reading for today's generation of young workers who-through no fault of their own-have no knowledge of the US working class' vast tradition of struggle, or its relevance for the future. At the same time, Class War, USA is just as valuable for those who have withstood the relentless assault on unions over the last four decades-and will undoubtedly find tremendous inspiration in the history Weber so convincingly tells. It is also worth noting that Weber also recounts the stories of working-class struggles far beyond the realm of the official union movement, including the Stonewall Rebellion that launched the gay liberation movement in 1969 and the Attica prison uprising in 1971. At fewer than 150 pages, written in accessible language, illustrated with an abundance of original photographs, this book should be on the coffee tables of all those invested in returning to a tradition of class struggle in the US." -Sharon Smith, author of Subterranean Fire "Brandon Weber's Class War USA isn't just a retelling of well-known and not-so-well-known strikes. Weber has done for a new generation of social and labor activists what Sid Lens did for an earlier one: bring to life the hard scrabble union, social, and political struggles of working class people from the past to the present. And by the way, in case you ever wondered why Woody Guthrie's "This Land is Your Land" never became the national anthem, Weber has the answer." -Kim Moody, a founder of Labor Notes and author of On New Terrain: How Capital is Reshaping the Battleground of Class War "Brandon Weber does a masterful job at succinctly bringing to life many gripping and insightful episodes from the rich history of American labor, allowing readers to draw invaluable lessons for today's struggles. Yes, this was, and is, class war. In his colorful collection, Weber vividly shows that people working together can, against all odds in a culture that fetishizes individualism, bring about social progress. Now, let's get these stories and lessons into the hands of those who buy into the prevailing divisiveness and tribalism, so that they too can unite across racial, ethnic, gender and other barriers and be heard!" -Dr. Thomas Greven, Freie Universitat Berlin/Germany "[Class War, USA is] a brave attempt to focus attention on a subject, the need for strong unions, at a time when too many people appear to be dissatisfied with their situations, but don't want to commit themselves to organisations which could help to resolve their problems." Northern Review of Books
Book Information
ISBN 9781608468478
Author Brandon Weber
Format Paperback
Page Count 128
Imprint Haymarket Books
Publisher Haymarket Books
Promotion on the author's website and through his social media page which has over 500,000 followers. Outreach to school and public libraries to purchase the book for their collections. Excerpts sent out to union newsletters and posted online to drive books sales leading up to the publication date. Promotion specifically targeting unions like SEIU and UFCW highlighting how the book can train low wage worker organizers and activists around Fight for Fifteen campaigns in basic labor history. Author available to tour nationally to promote the book. Outreach to teachers and labor history professors to use the book as instructional material for their classes. Excerpts on Upworthy website with direct links to online book purchasing options. Promotion at education and teacher union conferences promoting the use of the book as part of classroom instruction in labor and US history. Features and/or excerpts in Rethinking Schools, Jacobin and AFT and NEA magazines.
About the Author
Brandon Weber (1963-2020) wrote for The Progressive, Upworthy, Big Think, and many other online publications, where wrote extensively on labor history and current events. He also was a union activist for more than 30 years.
Reviews
"Brandon Weber knows how to tell a good story, and he has a knack for labor history. There are stories here you've never heard of and ones that you have - but read them all. They'll light a fire under you!" -Mrill Ingram, The Progressive "At a time when unions face the possibility of extinction, Brandon Weber's Class War, USA shows us that working-class struggle is the only strategy that has ever advanced the labor movement historically-and is also the only way forward today. This book is indispensable reading for today's generation of young workers who-through no fault of their own-have no knowledge of the US working class' vast tradition of struggle, or its relevance for the future. At the same time, Class War, USA is just as valuable for those who have withstood the relentless assault on unions over the last four decades-and will undoubtedly find tremendous inspiration in the history Weber so convincingly tells. It is also worth noting that Weber also recounts the stories of working-class struggles far beyond the realm of the official union movement, including the Stonewall Rebellion that launched the gay liberation movement in 1969 and the Attica prison uprising in 1971. At fewer than 150 pages, written in accessible language, illustrated with an abundance of original photographs, this book should be on the coffee tables of all those invested in returning to a tradition of class struggle in the US." -Sharon Smith, author of Subterranean Fire "Brandon Weber's Class War USA isn't just a retelling of well-known and not-so-well-known strikes. Weber has done for a new generation of social and labor activists what Sid Lens did for an earlier one: bring to life the hard scrabble union, social, and political struggles of working class people from the past to the present. And by the way, in case you ever wondered why Woody Guthrie's "This Land is Your Land" never became the national anthem, Weber has the answer." -Kim Moody, a founder of Labor Notes and author of On New Terrain: How Capital is Reshaping the Battleground of Class War "Brandon Weber does a masterful job at succinctly bringing to life many gripping and insightful episodes from the rich history of American labor, allowing readers to draw invaluable lessons for today's struggles. Yes, this was, and is, class war. In his colorful collection, Weber vividly shows that people working together can, against all odds in a culture that fetishizes individualism, bring about social progress. Now, let's get these stories and lessons into the hands of those who buy into the prevailing divisiveness and tribalism, so that they too can unite across racial, ethnic, gender and other barriers and be heard!" -Dr. Thomas Greven, Freie Universitat Berlin/Germany "[Class War, USA is] a brave attempt to focus attention on a subject, the need for strong unions, at a time when too many people appear to be dissatisfied with their situations, but don't want to commit themselves to organisations which could help to resolve their problems." Northern Review of Books
Book Information
ISBN 9781608468478
Author Brandon Weber
Format Paperback
Page Count 128
Imprint Haymarket Books
Publisher Haymarket Books
