Courageous Call to Collective Change

Standing in Solidarity for a Safer America

My Grandmother’s Fight for Workers' Rights in 1940s America

In 1941, at just 21 years old, my grandmother took up a daunting mission: she traveled to factories across the Midwest, advocating for the rights of women laborers who were facing exploitation, low wages, and unsafe conditions. Working for the Union, she empowered these women to demand the dignity and protections they deserved, giving them the tools and courage to secure fair wages, safe working conditions, and legal backing. At a time when many of these workers were struggling to rebuild their lives after the Great Depression, she gave them the tools and courage to demand the dignity they deserved. Her journey was filled with challenges—she faced opposition, threats, violence, and profound trauma. Yet, she stood her ground, transforming the lives of countless workers and securing justice that would echo for generations.

Techniques of Empowerment

To inspire and unite the factory workers, my grandmother utilized motivational techniques that focused on upliftment, solidarity, and collective action. She read Mein Kampf, studying how Hitler used fear, division, and manipulation to control crowds. But unlike Hitler’s coercive tactics, she aimed to bring people together, inspire them to see their own worth, and build a shared commitment to justice.

Here’s how her approach contrasted with the techniques outlined in Mein Kampf:

1. Empowerment vs. Manipulation: By inspiring workers to see their worth and fight for it, she helped build a foundation of self-respect and strength that persisted beyond her immediate influence. In contrast, Mein Kampf promoted manipulative techniques designed to exploit vulnerabilities and control people through intimidation and division.

2. Unity for Justice vs. Unity for Division: Her focus on solidarity empowered workers to support one another, creating bonds that provided strength during and after her efforts. In contrast, Hitler’s tactics aimed to create an “us vs. them” mindset, fostering fear, distrust, and division to serve his own ends. My grandmother’s efforts focused on uniting workers for a common cause that would benefit everyone involved.

3. Raising Awareness vs. Fear-Mongering: While Mein Kampf emphasized fear-mongering and scapegoating to manipulate the masses, my grandmother used education to raise awareness of workers’ rights and highlight the importance of fair treatment and safe conditions.

4. Encourages Empowerment Over Fear: In Mein Kampf, Hitler relied on fear as a tool for control. His tactics were designed to manipulate large crowds by inciting fear and mistrust, creating a sense of dependency on a strong authoritarian figure. This approach didn’t empower individuals to think for themselves or take positive action on their own. Instead, it aimed to deepen feelings of vulnerability and increase reliance on centralized power by stoking a constant sense of threat and insecurity, making people more susceptible to manipulation and control.

   By contrast, my grandmother’s approach sought to build courage and self-reliance among workers. She encouraged them to recognize their value, speak up for their rights, and act as a unified force. Her focus on empowerment fostered confidence and independence, inspiring workers to take proactive steps toward better conditions and fair treatment. Instead of creating dependency, she cultivated collective strength and resilience, encouraging each person to contribute to a larger cause that benefited everyone involved.

5. Nonviolent Protest vs. Aggression: Labor organizing typically involves strikes, marches, and other peaceful forms of protest to achieve fair treatment. My grandmother demonstrated this through nonviolent protest, even sitting outside jail cells to sing songs of hope to detained workers. Hitler’s techniques, in contrast, advocated aggression and violence as tools to overpower opposition, rather than to seek justice.

6. Hope and Resilience vs. Fear and Control: At the heart of her mission was a focus on hope, resilience, and empowerment. Her aim was to uplift these workers, enabling them to feel strong and capable of standing up for themselves. Hitler’s approach, by contrast, was designed to instill fear and seize control.

Heroism and Hardship

My grandmother’s work was far from easy. Factory owners wielded immense power in small towns, often controlling law enforcement and using intimidation tactics to suppress organizing efforts. Many of them threatened her, even promising to “tar and feather” her if she didn’t leave. But she stood her ground, determined to make change.

In one horrific incident, factory owners tricked her into drinking with them and subjected her to violence and gang rape, resulting in a pregnancy. She bravely sought an illegal abortion and, recognizing the need, began quietly helping other women who needed the same care. She took up a new form of protection, traveling with a trusted female companion and arming herself as she continued her mission. Despite the trauma she endured, she remained steadfast in her mission to secure fair wages and safe working conditions for the workers.

Lessons from History

My grandmother’s strategies of empowerment and collective action offered a stark contrast to the divisive and fear-based crowd control outlined in Mein Kampf. Where Hitler aimed to manipulate people through fear, chaos, and divisiveness, sound familiar? She motivated others through dignity, unity, and hope.

Here are five key benefits of her approach:

1. Cultivates Long-Term Resilience: By inspiring workers to see their worth and fight for it, she helped build a foundation of self-respect and strength that persisted beyond her immediate influence.

2. Fosters Community Support: Her focus on solidarity empowered workers to support one another, creating bonds that provided strength during and after her efforts.

3. Promotes Justice and Equality: Her actions sought to uplift all workers, regardless of background, pushing toward fair treatment as a right, not a privilege.

4. Encourages Empowerment Over Fear: By promoting confidence rather than fear, she inspired workers to become proactive about their rights, cultivating courage and self-reliance.

5. Lays the Groundwork for Systemic Change: Rather than causing division, her efforts unified communities, resulting in safer working conditions, fair pay, and back pay—creating a legacy of justice that continued to inspire.

A Legacy of Strength

My grandmother’s journey was one of resilience and transformation. With a deep belief in justice and a dedication to unity, she was victorious in her mission, helping countless workers achieve fair wages, back pay, and improved working conditions by signing up with the union. Her story stands as a powerful reminder of the strength that lies within unity and the courage it takes to demand justice—even in the face of overwhelming adversity. She is a hero, not only to those she helped but to the generations that follow in her path of resilience and righteousness.

Final Thoughts : Messages of Empowerment

Throughout her journey, my grandmother delivered powerful messages that resonated deeply with the factory workers. These words helped them see their worth, unite in their struggles, and understand the importance of their fight. Here are some of the messages she shared:

• "You deserve respect and fair treatment."
  She reminded the women that, regardless of their economic background, they were deserving of safe work environments and fair wages, just like anyone else.

• "Our voices are strongest when we unite."
  Alone, each worker was vulnerable; together, they were a powerful force. By standing together, they could amplify their voices and make a much greater impact.

• "This work builds our country; it’s worth fair pay."
  She reminded them of their essential role in America’s economy, especially as the nation prepared for wartime production. Their labor was crucial, giving them leverage to demand fair wages and treatment.

• "For our children and their future, we must stand up now."
  Many of these women were supporting children or younger siblings. She framed their struggle as one that would positively affect future generations, inspiring them to fight not only for themselves but also for their families.

• "You are not alone; we’re in this together."
  Solidarity was a key message, especially for those who felt isolated or afraid. Knowing they were part of a united group gave them the courage to take risks and stand firm.

• "If we stand firm, we can make them listen."
  She encouraged them to recognize the power of strikes and protests. By refusing to work under unfair conditions, they could force factory owners to the negotiation table.

• "Courage is contagious; by stepping forward, you inspire others."
  She reminded them that taking the first step was often the hardest. Each act of bravery inspired others, helping to build momentum for the movement.

• "When we fight for our rights, we are rewriting history."
  She gave their efforts a deeper meaning, showing them that their struggle was part of a larger movement for justice and equality—a legacy of courage that would be remembered.

The checks they helped Mable Veto and Fern Culling to collect form back wages, 1942. Margaret and Marie, about 1942; friends for life.

“The juice is worth the squeeze.” ~ The Girl Next Store