E73 Ben Fletcher, part 1

First in a double podcast episode about Ben Fletcher, a very important but little-known dock worker and labour organiser in the US with the Industrial Workers of the World union.<br />In these episodes, we speak with historian Peter Cole, author and editor of <i><a href="https://shop.workingclasshistory.com/products/ben-fletcher-the-life-and-times-of-a-black-wobbly-peter-cole" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Ben Fletcher: The Life And Times Of A Black Wobbly</a></i>. We also hear words written by Fletcher, voiced by fellow Wobbly, Alki.<br />In part 1 we learn about his early life, as well as his union branch, Local 8, which in the early 20th-century organised thousands of workers on the Philadelphia docks and was the most powerful multiracial union in the country at the time.<br /><i>Our podcast is brought to you by our patreon supporters. Our supporters fund our work, and in return get exclusive early access to podcast episodes, ad-free episodes, bonus episodes, free and discounted merchandise and other content. Join us or find out more at <a href="https://patreon.com/workingclasshistory" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">patreon.com/workingclasshistory</a></i><br />Full information, acknowledgements, sources and a transcript are on the webpage for this episode: <a href="https://workingclasshistory.com/podcast/e73-ben-fletcher/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://workingclasshistory.com/podcast/e73-ben-fletcher/</a><br /><b>Acknowledgements</b><br /><ul><li>Thanks to our patreon supporters for making this podcast possible. Special thanks to Jazz Hands and Jamison D. Saltsman.</li><li>Words of Ben Fletcher voiced by Alki. Check out <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnfHdFGB7IdhfTd07jsdoJA" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">his YouTube channel here</a>, or <a href="https://twitter.com/AlkiHistoriker" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">follow him on Twitter here</a>.</li><li>Episode graphic: Ben Fletcher in 1918, enhanced by WCH. Courtesy US National Archives