History

November 1989: The working class trapped under the Velvet Tricolour

Submitted by wojtek on Jan 15 2013 14:24

Kolektivne Proti Kapitalu's analysis of the working-class and Stalinism's demise in the Czech Republic with the Velvet Revolution.

In 2009, when the pamphlet was originally published, KPK wrote:

The CNT defense committees in Barcelona 1933-1938: An interview with Agustín Guillamón

Submitted by Alias Recluse on Jan 15 2013 00:41

A discussion of the rise and fall of the revolutionary institutions that were the foundation of the Spanish Revolution in the anarchosyndicalist stronghold of Barcelona, the social and organizational context of the anarchosyndicalist movement during the Civil War at the neighborhood level, the conflict between the rank and file militants and the collaborationist “superior committees” of the anarcho-syndicalist union the CNT, the meaning of the “spontaneity” of that movement and the process that led to its destruction at the hands of the republicans and Stalinists.

On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Spanish Revolution, our friend and collaborator Agustín Guillamón was interviewed by the editors of the website alasbarricadas.org about his latest book, Los Comités de Defensa de la CNT en Barcelona (1933-1938).

Alasbarricadas—An obligatory question: What were the Defense Committees?

Anarchists against World War One: Two little known events- Abertillery and Stockport

Submitted by Battlescarred on Jan 14 2013 15:35

A short account of little known episodes in the history of anarchist opposition to World War One

There have now been a reasonable number of publications on British anarchist opposition to World War One- the trailblazing and well-documented book on opposition in North London by Ken Weller, the relevant chapter in John Quail’s book on British anarchism, etc. However, much wore investigation needs to be done.

Guillaume-Schack, Gertrud (1845-1903)

Submitted by Battlescarred on Jan 13 2013 17:02
Gertrud Guillaume-Schack

A short biography of the "Anarchist Countess" Gertrud Guillaume-Schack, active in the Socialist League.

Gertrud Guillaume-Schack was born on 9th November 1845 in Uschütz,Silesia. In this period the village counted 1.365 people and was the most populous in the Rosenberg district. Gertrud’s father was the Graf (Count) Alexander Schack von Wittenau who owned a 1787 hectare estate .Her mother was Elizabeth Countess of Königsdorf.

Anarcho-feminism and Louise Michel - Marian Leighton

Submitted by wojtek on Jan 12 2013 22:59

Marian Leighton on the beliefs and eventful life of the revolutionary Louise Michel.

Our Generation, 21, (Summer 1990) pp. 22-29
http://blackrosebooks.net/our_generation_journal/volume21

Pelliccia, Nelly (1925-1945)

Submitted by Battlescarred on Jan 12 2013 14:05
Anarchist column in Carrara region

A short biography of Italian anarchist partisan Nelly Pelliccia

Nelly Pellicia was probably the daughter of the anarchist quarryman Domenico Pelliccia from Carrara, who during the Mussolini regime was cautioned and warned and put on file in 1931, and together with his son Florio and daughter Nelly, fought as a partisan.

Why I joined the Party: An Africana womanist reflection

Submitted by wojtek on Jan 9 2013 01:42

Regina Jennings' personal account on why she joined the Black Panther Party, her personal development and the sexism that she faced within the organisation.

TRIGGER WARNING: sexual harassment

As seen in Chapter Eleven of Charles E. Jones' book The Black Panther Party Reconsidered, pages 257 - 265.

Soccer civil rights

Submitted by wojtek on Jan 9 2013 00:58
Obdulio Valera

A vignette about the 1949 Uruguayan footballers' strike by Eduardo Galeano, self-professed beggar of good soccer and author of Soccer in Sun and Shadow.

The grass was getting long in the empty stadiums.

Strikers on strike, and defenders too; Uruguay's soccer players, slaves of their teams were simply demanding acknowledgment of their union and its right to exist. Their cause was so scandalously just that people supported them, even as time wore on and each soccerless Sunday became an insufferable yawn.

The 1926 general strike in Hackney

Submitted by Steven. on Jan 8 2013 20:00
Armoured vehicles protect scab deliveries during the general strike

Barry Burke's account of the UK general strike of 1926 in the East London borough of Hackney.

When the strike was declared in May 1926, the Hackney Council of Action took over a local boxing hall, the Manor Hall in Kenmure Road [I think at number 16], as the headquarters and ran the strike from there. Throughout the duration of the strike the Council of Action was in continuous session organising the strike locally.

A Review of Jared Diamond's 'The World Until Yesterday: What Can We Learn from Traditional Societies?'

Submitted by Lyceum on Jan 7 2013 20:22
Jared Diamond's 'The World Until Yesterday

(First published in the Times Higher Education Supplement)