Voices Louder Than Words was a presentation of poetry of the homeless recorded at a pubic event in Chicago in 1991. It incudes readings by the poets themselves as well as readings by others. It shows the depth of feelings and complexity of understanding of the homeless given the opportunity and encouragement to express themselves.

It was first broadcast on the Chicago based radio program Labor Express.

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International union solidarity is an important part of the labor movement. There are numerous examples of working people and their organizations supporting working people in other parts of the world fighting the good fight.

However, since at least 1900 the leadership if the American Federation of Labor has had an unholy relationship with the U.S. government in international affairs. This top-down approach to solidarity has led the AFL, and the AFL-CIO after the 1955 merger, to be often more in sympathy with dictators, corrupt union bosses and reactionary politics rather to the needs of rank-and-file workers.

Out guest today, Jeff Schuhrke, does an excellent job of describing this top-down approach in his book Blue Collar Empire – the Untold Story of U.S. Labor’s Global Anticommunist Crusade. Jeff is a labor historian and Assistant Professor at the Harry Van Arsdale Jr. School of Labor Studies, SUNY Empire State University. The book is published by Verso Press.

After the interview we will have musical examples of bottom-up labor solidarity during the 1930s Spanish Civil War. We will have songs from the International Brigades sections from Germany, Italy and the United States. Hope you can stick around.

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Tish and Adam Turl are both from central and southern Illinois and connected to Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. Tish is working on a Masters of Fine Arts at SIU and Adam has a MFA from the Sam Fox School of Design and Visual Art in St. Louis.

I’m glad you are able to join me today in Facing Reality 4 Social Justice as we talk to them about how they are using their imagination and their art and their poetry to tear down walls of ordinary perception. They are part of a group that uses a journal – Locust Review – and a podcast – Locust Radio – and a space – Born Again Labor Museum – all of these to challenge us to think about things differently about our lives, our future and our past. See their work at https://www.locustreview.com/.

Along the way we'll have some poetry and music as well.

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