Books on the South

[Adil3tr]

What are the best books on the revolutionary potential of blue collar workers and farmers that could win over someone with a southern mentality? (I mean besides all of marx)

[fa2991]

Would it be fair to assume that by "southern mentality" you mean "religious"?

[Adil3tr]

No

[Adil3tr]

I mean a anti welfare blue collar red neckish mentality, I mean it can;t be that hard. Their argument is terrible, and socialism id built on workers and farmers.

[The Douche]

Look into some histories of the "share our wealth" movement (Huey Long) and about the miner's struggles (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Blair_Mountain) (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Matewan)

[fa2991]

Might be a good idea to look into how the Oklahoman socialists won over 40% of the Oklahoman voters by catering to farmers. I don't have any specific books to correspond with that, though.

As for anti-welfare farmers, you should read up on government subsidizing crops or paying farmers to grow grass, etc. - that's tantamount to welfare, really.

"The Grapes of Wrath" could be a good book to recommend to farmers.

[Ele'ill]

Myles Horton wrote a book "The Long Haul".

I don't know how people on this forum would react to it but I suggest it. It's a great written record of his journey to organize amidst blue collar racism and xenophobia.

[Chimurenga.]

I mean a anti welfare blue collar red neckish mentality

Well, that's a really stupid generalization, to be honest. That's like saying all "northerners" are pretentious, all "mid-westerners" are batshit insane christians, etc.

Anyways, the only book that I know of, off the top of my head, is Hammer and Hoe, which is about the Southern Communists role in the civil rights struggles. I've heard great things about the book but I haven't read it myself.

[A.R.Amistad]

I found this book at the library. Even though its about the CP in the 1930s, its still a great book imo. Wish there was a similar one about the American SWP.

http://www.amazon.com/Hammer-Hoe-Communists-Depression-Morrison/dp/0807842885

also, a simply epic movie that every Red has to watch:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093509/

[RED DAVE]

Although it's from a liberal POV, What's Wrong With Kansas (http://www.amazon.com/Whats-Matter-Kansas-Conservatives-America/dp/0805073396)? is useful.

RED DAVE

[redasheville]

Read Gastonia, 1929 as it is about a militant and violent textile mill strike in 1929 in Gastonia, North Carolina. The CP was involved in the strike.

[Adil3tr]

Well, that's a really stupid generalization, to be honest. That's like saying all "northerners" are pretentious, all "mid-westerners" are batshit insane christians, etc.

Anyways, the only book that I know of, off the top of my head, is Hammer and Hoe, which is about the Southern Communists role in the civil rights struggles. I've heard great things about the book but I haven't read it myself.

I'm not generalizing, there are actual red necks in my area, I know very well that the south is actually a lot more diverse than it is portrayed.