National Nurses United

National Nurse magazine July-August-September 2018

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Class War, USA: Dispatches from workers' struggles in American history By Brandon Weber; Haymarket Books class war, usa demonstrates in powerful narrative a rich history of collective struggles that cross race and gender lines. Brandon Weber weaves together how the struggles of one era provide the foundation for the next genera- tion, mixing in songs, photo- graphs, and iconic imagery that show how culture was inspired and shaped by workers' collective efforts and how they will live on. I gained an insight into his- tories I thought I knew, had light cast upon phrases such as "yours is not to wonder why, yours is but to do or die," and learned of efforts that were completely new to me. While labor history is often told from the perspective of white labor history, and usually white male history, Weber clearly demonstrates the intersectional nature of working-class struggles throughout (pri- marily) United States history. Communities of color, women, immi- grants, LGBTQ, and communities that have been traditionally shut out have always been critical, and leading, in successful social and labor movements. Communities without voting rights, or recognition of whole personhood by the government or those in power, have organized and changed the narrative on what is politically realistic. The power of direct action is a theme throughout the book, reiterating the cumulative nature of social movements, and the social nature of successful labor movements. The role of community power is fundamental to the success of labor struggles and strikes. Working-class fights need community-controlled media and modes of communication and popular education, and community support and inclusion in labor, safety, and health issues. J U LY | A U G U S T | S E P T E M B E R 2 0 1 8 W W W . N A T I O N A L N U R S E S U N I T E D . O R G N A T I O N A L N U R S E 13 Don't use it, you lose it In times of fake news and alternative facts, learning, scholarship, and the pursuit of knowledge are more critical than ever. Feel your brain growing 100 percent smarter with each page of our 2018 book reviews. With the current state of things, it's no surprise that people have a lot to say. Browsing through publishers' catalogs of new books, authors are providing plenty of research and analysis on how to interpret our present place and time in political, economic, and social history. That said, we have a nice assortment of reviews for you, ranging from the political, to the practical, to the personal. We hope they loop you into what people are pondering these days, and help you gain some knowledge and insight into the wider forces at play in your life and your profession. Happy reading!

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