LP
Lucy Parsons
15quotes
Full Name and Common Aliases
Lucy Parsons was born as Luigia Ciucci on June 7, 1853, in Italy. She is more commonly known by her adopted name, Lucy Parsons.
Birth and Death Dates
Parsons was born on June 7, 1853, and died on March 7, 1942.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Parsons was an American anarchist, labor activist, and writer of Italian descent. She spent most of her life in the United States, advocating for workers' rights and social justice.
Early Life and Background
Lucy Parsons immigrated to the United States with her husband, Albert Parsons, at the age of 17. The couple settled in Chicago, where they became involved in the labor movement. Lucy quickly immersed herself in the world of activism, attending meetings and rallies for workers' rights. Her early life was marked by hardship and loss; she suffered a miscarriage and struggled to make ends meet.
Major Accomplishments
Parsons co-founded the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) with her husband and other notable labor leaders. She played a significant role in shaping the organization's radical ideology, which advocated for direct action and worker control over industry. Parsons was also a prolific writer, publishing articles in various anarchist publications.
Notable Works or Actions
Parsons' most notable work is perhaps her involvement in the 1886 Haymarket Riot, where she helped to organize protests against poor working conditions. The event became a catalyst for the labor movement and led to significant changes in labor laws across the United States. Parsons was also involved in several other notable events, including the Lawrence Textile Strike of 1912.
Impact and Legacy
Parsons' legacy extends far beyond her own lifetime. She played a pivotal role in shaping American labor history, inspiring generations of activists and writers to follow in her footsteps. Her advocacy for workers' rights has had a lasting impact on social justice movements worldwide.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Lucy Parsons is widely quoted and remembered due to her unwavering dedication to the cause of social justice. Her passionate writing and activism continue to inspire people today, making her one of the most influential figures in American labor history.
Quotes by Lucy Parsons
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If, in the present chaotic and shameful struggle for existence, when organized society offers a premium on greed, cruelty, and deceit, men can be found who stand aloof and almost alone in their determination to work for good rather than gold.
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The coming change can only come through a revolution, because the possessing class will not allow a peaceful change to take place; still we are willing to work for peace at any price, except at the price of liberty.
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Anarchists know that a long period of education must precede any great fundamental change in society, hence they do not believe in vote begging, nor political campaigns, but rather in the development of self-thinking individuals.
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So many able writers have shown that the unjust institutions which work so much misery and suffering to the masses have their root in governments, and owe their whole existence to the power derived from government we cannot help but believe that were every law, every title deed, every court, and every police officer or soldier abolished tomorrow with one sweep, we would be better off than now.
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Strike not for a few cents more an hour, because the price of living will be raised faster still, but strike for all you earn, be content with nothing less.
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Let every dirty, lousy tramp arm himself with a revolver or a knife, and lay in wait on the steps of the palaces of the rich and stab or shoot the owners as they come out. Let us kill them without mercy, and let it be a war of extermination.
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Concentrated power can be always wielded in the interest of the few and at the expense of the many. Government in its last analysis is this power reduced to a science. Governments never lead; they follow progress. When the prison, stake or scaffold can no longer silence the voice of the protesting minority, progress moves on a step, but not until then.
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If, in the present chaotic and shameful struggle for existence, when organized society offers a premium on greed, cruelty, and deceit, men can be found who stand aloof and almost alone in their determination to work for good rather than gold
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