The Radical (and Suppressed) Origins of Labor Day

By Mike Morrell on September 1, 2008 in Justice, Leadership, Restorative Justice

This Labor Day I’ve been thinking about how the American Empire has (beginning in 1882 and adding insult to injury in 2003) co opted a time for subversive direct action and turned it into a day of mindless barbecuing and Frisbee.

About Mike Morrell

Michael Morrell is the collaborating author, with Fr. Richard Rohr, on The Divine Dance: The Trinity and Your Transformation. He's also the founder of Wisdom Camp, a day-retreat for mystical misfits, and a founding organizer of the justice, arts, and spirituality Wild Goose Festival. Michael curates contemplative and community experiences, taking joy in holding space for the extraordinary transformation that can take place at the intersection of anticipation, imagination, and radical acceptance. Michael is also an avid writer, publishing consultant, author coach, futurist, and curator of the book-reviewing community, Speakeasy. His two children are growing up entirely too fast and he lives in Asheville, North Carolina.

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2 Responses to The Radical (and Suppressed) Origins of Labor Day

Benjamin Williams September 2, 2008 at 12:32 am #

So if one is part of “American Christianity” that has a problem with Socialism and maybe Unions, should they have worked today, ignoring the holiday?

Jon Reid September 3, 2008 at 2:30 am #

Wow! I did not know the history.