Paterson's Italian Anarchist Silk Workers and the Politics of Race

Abstract

The article explores how first generation Italian immigrant radicals looked at race as well as their involvement in struggles for national liberation. Italian American anarchist silk workers based in Paterson, New Jersey became part of the Industrial Workers of the World foreign translational network of mixed locals in 1906. In Paterson, the group pioneered multiethnic forms of organizing. Such community‐based multiethnic and racial strategies are typically associated with the Congress of Industrial Organization in the 1930s and the English‐speaking second generation of industrial workers. In fact, these organizational forms were prevalent with “Latin” first generation immigrants who played important roles as pioneers of the new unionism. This article also challenges the dominant way Italian immigrant radicalism has been portrayed.

Seething With the Ideal: Galleanisti and Class Struggle in Late Nineteenth‐century and Early Twentieth‐century Usa

“…Galleani's inner circle would never become involved out of principle, but that did not preclude other Italian anarchists from union activity. Although a minority as an ethnic group, the Italian Gruppo L'Era Nuova proved to be pivotal in keeping the union alive during the factional disputes of 1905–1909 (Salerno 2005). A prominent member of the group, Ludivico Cannita, had also worked for Galleani's Cronoca Soversiva before relocating to Patterson, while quotations from Galleani could be found inside their paper Il Proletario —also the first Italian language periodical to take the Wobbly logo (Salerno 2005, 620).…”

“…Although a minority as an ethnic group, the Italian Gruppo L'Era Nuova proved to be pivotal in keeping the union alive during the factional disputes of 1905–1909 (Salerno 2005). A prominent member of the group, Ludivico Cannita, had also worked for Galleani's Cronoca Soversiva before relocating to Patterson, while quotations from Galleani could be found inside their paper Il Proletario —also the first Italian language periodical to take the Wobbly logo (Salerno 2005, 620). Alberico Pirani also attests to the general popularity of Galleani and the influence of Cronaca Sovversiva among Italian anarchists involved in IWW organizing in Chicago (Avrich and Paul Avrich Collection 2005, 142).…”