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]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Freighthopping — or train hopping is the act of surreptitiously a on a railroad freight car. In the United States of America, this became a common means of transportation following the American Civil War as the railroads began pushing westward, especially among… …   Wikipedia

  • Folklore of the United States — The folklore of the United States, or American folklore, is one of the folk traditions which has evolved on the North American continent since Europeans arrived in the 16th century. While it contains much in the way of Native American tradition,… …   Wikipedia

  • Hobo — is a term that refers to a subculture of wandering homeless people, [cite web | authorlink = Answers.com | title = hobo. | work = The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition | publisher = Houghton Mifflin Company |… …   Wikipedia

  • Ben Reitman — (1879 1942) was an American anarchist and physician to the poor ( the hobo doctor ). He is best remembered today as radical Emma Goldman s lover.Reitman was a flamboyant, eccentric character. Goldman conveys a sense of this when describes first… …   Wikipedia

  • David Rovics — sings at the A16 rally in Washington DC in spring of 2005. Background information Origin New York City, New York, U.S …   Wikipedia

  • List of accidents and incidents involving military aircraft, 1950-1974 — This is a list of notable accidents and incidents involving military aircraft grouped by the year in which the accident or incident occurred. For more exhaustive lists, see the [http://www.baaa acro.com/ Aircraft Crash Record Office] or the [http …   Wikipedia

  • List of stage names — This list of stage names lists performers alphabetically according to surname (assumed or genuine) and their nickname. Individuals who have dropped their last name and substituted their middle name as their last name are listed. Also listed are… …   Wikipedia

  • Nom De Scène — Un nom de scène est un pseudonyme utilisé par les acteurs, comédiens, musiciens et autres célébrités. Sommaire : Haut A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z A …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Nom artistique — Nom de scène Un nom de scène est un pseudonyme utilisé par les acteurs, comédiens, musiciens et autres célébrités. Sommaire : Haut A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z A …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Nom de scene — Nom de scène Un nom de scène est un pseudonyme utilisé par les acteurs, comédiens, musiciens et autres célébrités. Sommaire : Haut A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z A …   Wikipédia en Français

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”