Who is 'Jimmy Higgins?'

[Blanquist]

In a letter to the militant Trotsky writes that socialists need a jimmy higgins but when i googled the name i found a socialist but he was born in 1935, how could trotsky have possibly been referring to a 2 year old baby?

[Raúl Duke]

Are they talking about this revleft poster who I believe was named jimmy higgins on here?
(or is my memory fucked and there never was such a poster? 0_0 )

[gorillafuck]

Jimmie Higgins is a guy who lives in Oakland.

[marl]

Upton Sinclair



"Jimmie Higgins" is the fellow who does the hard work in the job of waking up the workers. Jimmie hates war--all war--and fights against it with heart and soul. But war comes, and Jimmie is drawn into it, whether he will or no. He has many adventures--strikes, jails, munitions explosions, draft-boards, army-camps, submarines and battles. "Jimmie Higgins Goes to War" at last, and when he does he holds back the German army and wins the battle of "Chatty Terry." But then they send him into Russia to fight the Bolsheviki, and there "Jimmie Higgins Votes for Democracy."A picture of the American working-class movement during four years of world-war; all wings of the movement, all the various tendencies and clashing impulses are portrayed.

[NewLeft]

What letter are you referring to?

[Blanquist]

What letter are you referring to?

I read it in a book, I'll look if its on the Marxists site.

He (Trotsky) was saying there are party members who have liberal professions and only care about socialism part-time, he said we don't need those who are not willing to do dirty-work and he says "we need a proletarian jimmy higgins!"

[hatzel]

liberal professions

What a strange thing to say...

[Blanquist]

What a strange thing to say...

That's what he said. Why do you think it is strange?

[Prometeo liberado]

Why does jimmy talk in the third person? Does jimmy like Elaine Bennis?

[Blanquist]

Why does jimmy talk in the third person? Does jimmy like Elaine Bennis?

""Benes", you jackass! Her last name is Benes!"

[Prometeo liberado]

""Benes", you jackass! Her last name is Benes!"

Jbeard does what it wants.

[Ocean Seal]

""Benes", you jackass! Her last name is Benes!"
No need to get angry over a spelling error and start name calling.

[hatzel]

That's what he said. Why do you think it is strange?

You tell me. What's a 'liberal profession' when it's at home?

[Jimmie Higgins]

I read it in a book, I'll look if its on the Marxists site.

He (Trotsky) was saying there are party members who have liberal professions and only care about socialism part-time, he said we don't need those who are not willing to do dirty-work and he says "we need a proletarian jimmy higgins!"

Jimmie Higgins (not-me) is a fictional working-class socialist "everyman". He was used to try and illustrate the concept of a grassroots working class organizer at a time when the concept of parties still universally meant passive membership parties where active involvement wasn't a requirement. Socialist writers from the late 1800s to early 1900s in magazines like "Appeal to Reason" would write stories about him and Eugene Debs always talked about him in speeches. Representations of him range from a sort of romanticized working class everyman figure to a kind of an embodiment of polemical argument about who will actually organize and build a socialist movement (a better use of the character in my opinion).

Upton Sinclair wrote a book about him which I've read - it's strange but interesting because of Sinclair's weird take on socialist politics.

I wasn't familiar with this quote by Trotsky, but man am I blushing - lol. I've read many quotes where Trotsky was taking issue with the personnel of the US socialist milieu. He basically complained that they were dilettantes and would discuss socialism for several hours a week and then go for a drive to attend the opera. On the other hand he also saw the US working class as one of the most explosive and combative working classes among the industrial countries - I'm sure the gap between the Socialist Party (and other groups before the CP) and the potential for a working class movement was the source of this frustration with many of these figures. And even in Sinclair's book about Jimmie Higgins, he is one of the few actual workers in his local party whereas all the other Socialist Party members are professionals with a very social-democratic, or even liberal view of socialism. So I'm pretty sure what Trotsky is saying here is don't focus on the Fabian-types, agitate in the working class, aim for a workers movement not a movement on the behalf of an abstract working class.

EDIT: 1935 is much later than I was thinking, so the explanation I suggested for why Trotsky said that doesn't fit the historical situation of the US Left, so I'm not sure what he was specifically arguing for.

[Blanquist]

You tell me. What's a 'liberal profession' when it's at home?

I think he might have said 'dentists and lawyers' but I might be mixing it up.

He said these gentleman go to their liberal professions 6 days a week and on the 7th want to cleanse their soul. He said these 'socialists' are afraid of dirty work and are worthless.

I will try to find the correct quote online, it's a bit hard, I read it in a book.

It was a letter to the militant and he covered a few things although it was pretty short, 3-4 book pages.

[hatzel]

So pretty much what you mean to say is that matey was: a) throwing around meaningless buzzwords like it ain't no thanggg; and b) fetishising the factory? Got it!

[Jimmie Higgins]

So pretty much what you mean to say is that matey was: a) throwing around meaningless buzzwords like it ain't no thanggg; and b) fetishising the factory? Got it!Lighten up comrade, this is Learning and the other comrade was paraphrasing a quote. I don't see anything that suggests a fetishization of factory workers over other workers - I think you're reading into this. I don't think "dirty work" in the context of the Jimmie Higgins figure means "factory work" vs. other kinds of proletarian (or professional) work, Jimmie Higgins is always describes as constantly wanting to go out, talk with workers about Socialism and doing the "dirty work" of actual material organizing. In the Sinclair book, the party is the SP and while Jimmie promotes meetings and participates in struggles directly, the other members (who are shown as professionals) like to talk and discuss and be the "idea people" behind Socialism.

Given the history of the Bolsheviks and what I read about the US Left in the 20s and 30s, I think Trotsky had no issue with professionals joining the socialist cause, rather the lack of working class involvement. So I'm fairly sure "dirty work" means roll up your sleeves and get out and get to organizing - don't treat socialism as a moral salve.

[Blanquist]

I'm having trouble finding it, its very memorable because he says something like "the workers must find their way to the darkest layers of the proletariat, beginning with the Negroes"

I thought it was an interesting wording.

He also said something about every party member taking 14 year old kids under their wings and being their socialist mentors.

Give me a little time, I will find it.

[Blanquist]

Found it!

It's in Russian so I just used Google translate.


For most of the Socialists - I mean steering layer - of socialism is a side and a secondary activity to mark the hours of leisure. These gentlemen, six days a week, devote their liberal or commercial professions, not without success, rounding out his fortune, but on the seventh day is not averse to care for the salvation of souls. In the book of his memoirs, I tried to outline the type of socialist Babita. Apparently quite a few of these gentlemen successfully repainted in the Communists. This is not ideological opponents, but class enemies. The opposition is headed not for petty Babita, and the proletarian Jimmy Higgins for whom the idea of ​​communism, when he was filled with it, becomes the content of his life and work. There is nothing more disgusting and dangerous in the revolutionary activities, such as petty-bourgeois dilettantism, conservative, egotistical, selfish and unable to sacrifice themselves in the name of a great idea. It is necessary that the advanced workers are firmly assimilated a simple but infallible rule: the chiefs or leaders of the candidates that are peaceful, everyday time is not able to donate their time, their strength, their funds for the cause of Communism in the revolutionary period most often turn to direct traitors, or else will be in camp, expectant, on which side will win. If such elements are at the head of the party, they will certainly destroy it when it's a big check. None, however, is not better than they are unprincipled officials, who are simply in the service of the Comintern, as they would serve as a notary, and humbly equal to the next owner.

[Blanquist]

Lighten up comrade, this is Learning and the other comrade was paraphrasing a quote. I don't see anything that suggests a fetishization of factory workers over other workers - I think you're reading into this. I don't think "dirty work" in the context of the Jimmie Higgins figure means "factory work" vs. other kinds of proletarian (or professional) work, Jimmie Higgins is always describes as constantly wanting to go out, talk with workers about Socialism and doing the "dirty work" of actual material organizing. In the Sinclair book, the party is the SP and while Jimmie promotes meetings and participates in struggles directly, the other members (who are shown as professionals) like to talk and discuss and be the "idea people" behind Socialism.

Given the history of the Bolsheviks and what I read about the US Left in the 20s and 30s, I think Trotsky had no issue with professionals joining the socialist cause, rather the lack of working class involvement. So I'm fairly sure "dirty work" means roll up your sleeves and get out and get to organizing - don't treat socialism as a moral salve.

Sorry. In the Russian it is "chernoya rabota" which translates literally as "black work" some translators translate it as 'spadework' which is a term i never heard before but appears to have a similar meaning to the Russian. Also it is translated as 'dirty work' and sometimes 'rough work'

[blake 3:17]

EDIT: 1935 is much later than I was thinking, so the explanation I suggested for why Trotsky said that doesn't fit the historical situation of the US Left, so I'm not sure what he was specifically arguing for.

Trotsky only really engaged in American politics at this time -- he was kind of busy before...