Happy Labor Day weekend! Many Americans enjoy this long weekend by spending time with friends and family and celebrating with parades, picnics and parties.
In the United States, Labor Day is a holiday that celebrates the hard work and sacrifice of people involved in the labor movement. These people are called organizers because they help people work together to fight for fair and safe working conditions, including 8-hour workdays and a 40-hour, five-day work week. Here are some books you can read to learn more about the labor organizers!
The Life of / La vida de Dolores: This bilingual board book covers the early life and career of labor organizer Dolores Huerta, including her work with Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers.
The Teachers March!: Meet Reverend F.D. Reese, a teacher and principal who led a group of 104 teachers on a march through the streets of Selma, Alabama, in 1965 to demand Black citizens’ right to register to vote.
Clara Lemlich: This book in the She Persisted series focuses on Clara Lemlich, a Ukrainian immigrant who worked to organize garment workers in New York City in the early 1900s.
A Seed in the Sun: Set during the 1965 Delano grape strike, seventh grader Lula Viramontes has big dreams but a troubled family. When she meets Dolores Huerta, Lula learns how to stand up and use her voice for good.
Three Strike Summer: This Dust Bowl-era story by Chicago author Skylar Schrempp follows Gloria and her family as they head to California to look for work. While they manage to find jobs picking peaches on a farm, trouble over low wages and organizing puts them in jeopardy.
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