Aunt Molly Jackson Passes (1960)
Thu Sep 01, 1960
Aunt Molly Jackson (Mary Magdalene Garland Stewart Jackson Stamos, 1880 - 1960) was an American folk singer and a union activist who died on this day in 1960. Aunt Molly Jackson was an American folk singer and a union activist who died on this day in 1960. Arrested at age ten for her family's union activities, she grew up to author songs such as "I Am a Union Woman" and "Poor Miner's Farewell".
Born into a poor, mining family, Jackson was involved in labor unions from a young age. She became a member of the United Mine Workers (UMW) and began writing protest songs like "I Am A Union Woman", "Kentucky Miner's Wife", and "Poor Miner's Farewell". When Jackson was jailed because of her unionizing activities, her husband was forced to divorce her in order to keep his mining job.
In December 1931, Jackson traveled to New York City to support and raise money for striking Harlan coal miners, at one point appearing before an estimated crowd of 21,000 at the Bronx Coliseum. In the mid-1930s, she performed in New York City together with Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Earl Robinson, and others.
- Date: 1960-09-01
- Learn More: en.wikipedia.org, lomaxky.omeka.net, www.youtube.com.
- Tags: #Labor.
- Source: www.apeoplescalendar.org
