Boxcar Betty

Boxcar Betty

Boxcar Betty was a fictional organizer with the IWW (or Wobblies) earlier in the 20th century, popularized by a Depression-era book by Ben Reitman. The Wobblies were among the first to organize itinerant workers, and some of their most dedicated organizers were homeless themselves. Boxcar Betty became one of those "larger than life" characters, a fictionalized amalgam of various womenSee for instance AK Press/Nabat, [http://www.bookcounter.com/big/1-902593-03-0 Ben Reitman, Sister of the Road: the Autobiography of Boxcar Bertha] , Retrieved Jan. 21, 2006 and a part of American folklore:

Today, if you really want to, you can probably find Boxcar Betty roaming the railroad yards across the country. Her name itself has become synonymous with rollicking, rough and tumble adventure. And wherever she goes, Boxcar Betty is a railroad tramp's worst nightmare and most delicious dream. Hopping freights and bouncing from one boxcar to another, Boxcar Betty is brawling her way across this great land.C. James, [http://www.thevalkyrie.com/stories/misc2/boxcar.txt "Boxcar Betty"] , Retrieved Jan. 21, 2006

Notes

ee also

*Industrial Workers of the World
*David Rovics
*Freighthopping
*Hobo

External links

* [http://www.soundclick.com/pro/view/01/default.cfm?bandid=111310&content=lyrics&songid=763662 Song for Boxcar Betty, the lyrics of a song by David Rovics]
* [http://www.iww.org/en/culture/articles/zinn13.shtml IWW free speech struggles]


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