General Textile Strike of 1921

General Textile Strike of 1921

Author: Gabe Christy and Young Sam James September 7, 2025 Duration: 33:28
The General Textile Strike in Philadelphia helped set the stage for the very radical hosiery workers who continued to fight throughout the 1920s and into the Great Depression. Originally aired: March 8, 2022. Support the show www.laborjawn.com

There’s a particular rhythm to a city’s past, one often drowned out by the usual stories of founders and famous figures. Labor Jawn tunes into a different frequency, following the beat of everyday life and collective struggle that truly built Philadelphia. Hosted by historian Gabe Christy and musician Young Sam James, this podcast digs into the rich, gritty, and frequently overlooked working-class history of the city and the wider world it connects to. Each episode feels like a conversation you’d overhear in a neighborhood taproom, blending rigorous historical research with the cultural echoes found in music and art. You’ll hear about the factory floors and union halls, the dockyards and domestic spaces where ordinary people organized, created, and pushed for change. The dynamic between Christy’s expertise and James’s cultural insight makes the past feel immediate and surprisingly relevant, revealing how yesterday’s fights for dignity and a fair wage still resonate today. It’s a deep, engaging listen for anyone curious about the real foundations of a city, understanding that history is never just about dates, but about the sound of countless voices rising together. Find more from Labor Jawn wherever you get your podcasts.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Labor Jawn
Podcast Episodes
UNITE HERE Local 274 - Interview with Rosslyn Wuchinich [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:50
Sam and Gabe chat with Rosslyn Wuchinich, president of UNITE HERE Local 274, representing Hotel and Food workers in Philadelphia, from Center City to the stadiums. They discuss the fight for fair wages, invisible labor,…
Striking at Kings - Interview with Mindy Murray [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:30
Sam and Gabe sit down with singer-songwriter Mindy Murray to talk about "Striking at Kings," her new song about the 1938 farmworkers' strike at King’s Farm in Morrisville PA, which was released to coincide with the fifth…
State of the Podcast (January 2026) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:13
Our second "annual" address to the world detailing updates to the show and more exciting news! Support the show www.laborjawn.com
1962-63 Longshoremen Strike [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:12
Philadelphia has always been a city dominated by its waterfront commerce. But the workers who make that commerce possible have always had to fight hard for their fair share. In the midst of a strike covering the whole of…
State of the Podcast (May 16, 2024) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 13:13
Our first address to the world detailing updates to the show and some exciting news! Ben Fletcher Mural Unveiling and Celebration Saturday May 18, 2024 2pm-4pm 301 S. Columbus Blvd. Philadelphia PA SEIU - Philadelphia La…
Labor Jawn: In Story & Song [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:55:28
On November 18, 2022, Labor Jawn hosted their first live show In Story and Song at the Philadelphia Folksong Society. Join the hosts of the Labor Jawn podcast in celebrating the labor movement through song and story. Rel…
Greater Philadelphia Volumes - Interview with Dr. Francis Ryan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:31
Sam and Gabe sit down to chat with Dr. Francis Ryan, Associate Teaching Professor & Director of Master of Labor and Employment Relations Program, Labor Studies and Employment Relations (LSER) at Rutgers University, to di…
1936 Berkshire Knitting Mill Strike [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:33
By 1936, Berkshire Knitting Mills was one of the largest hosiery manufacturers in the world, and the American Federation of Hosiery Workers knew that if they could organize it, they could apply pressure to the entire ind…