The struggle for labor across the color line has often been credited to white activists. However, as sociologist Cedric de Leon argues, the black labor movement, independently organized outside of the official union movement, propelled such efforts. He discusses the black labor movement’s divisions, including in the face of the state’s attempt to destroy it.
Cedric de Leon, Freedom Train: Black Politics and the Story of Interracial Labor Solidarity UC Press, 2025
Frann Michel hosts this rebroadcast from Against the Grain, a program of ideas, in-depth analysis, and commentary on a variety of matters—political, economic, social, and cultural—important to progressive and radical thinking and activism. Against the Grain is produced and hosted by Sasha Lilley.
Annoucements:
Oregon Investments & Respect for Human Rights
If you object to the Oregon State Treasury investing your tax dollars in corporations like Caterpillar, Geo Group, and Palantir, that make their money from war, surveillance, and violations of international law on human rights, you can make your voice heard by urging Oregon Treasurer Elizabeth Steiner to align Oregon's investments with the human rights values of Oregonians and require that state investments comply with international law on human rights. The next Oregon Investment Council meeting is on March 4, and you can submit written testimony by Wednesday noon, February 25, by going to the OIC website at https://www.oregon.gov/treasury/invested-for-oregon/pages/oregon-investment-council.aspx and sending comment to OIC.PublicComments@ost.state.or.us You can find the names of corporations in which the State invests at the Oregon State Treasury website. https://www.oregon.gov/treasury/invested-for-oregon/pages/default.aspx
Gaza and the US Academy: Scholasticide and Educational Resilience in Palestine
A talk by Abdel Razzaq Takriti, Associate Professor of History and Arab-American Educational Foundation Chair in Arab Studies at Rice University. Fri Feb 27, 2026 12:00 PM Central / 10am Pacific
Register here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/havenswrightcenter/2013910
Fighting For Portland’s Future
The Portland Rising committee of Portland Jobs with Justice will host a four-session reading group, starting Wednesday March 11th, 2026, to discuss the recently published book, We’re coming for you and your rotten system: How socialists beat Amazon and upended big-city politics, by Jonathan Rosenblum.
Find out more: https://jwjpdx.org/were-coming-for-you-and-your-rotten-system/