The Labor of Days

Does it seem a bit odd to celebrate a day honoring labor by not working? And, extrapolating one absurd idea by piggybacking it onto a blog dedicated to the plight of many people who are historically unemployed, seems even stranger. Right?

Not so fast, my friend. In fact, Labor Day is the ideal day to remember those around us who are looking for work. The whole notion and history of this holiday screams redemption as it pays homage to some of the greatest American attributes: tenacity, morality, and a right to self-determination. This amazing day arose from the ashes of one of our darkest eras- the throes of an impersonal Industrial Revolution- that valued profit and economic wealth over human dignity, safety, and the right to make a fair wage.

In the late 1800s, most Americans worked 12-hour days for six or seven days in order to scrape together a meager living. And in spite of restrictions in some states, children as young as 5 or 6 worked in textile mills, factories and coal mines across the country, eking out a fraction of what the adults made. Immigrants were also victim of a vicious labor structure that enslaved them once they began running up debts to company stores and tenement slumlords. In addition to these factors, workers also faced unsafe working conditions with few sanitary facilities or breaks.

After a series of reforms were finally made, built upon the backs of progressive agents, strikes, riots, and countless protests, change finally came and working conditions slowly improved as the beginning of the 20th century dawned. Things were far from perfect (and still are) but were heading in the right direction. All because people refused to accept a system that held them captive rather than providing financial freedom. And today we celebrate Labor Day as a reminder that we do not have to live in a world run by puppeteers who pull our strings and make us dance to their own symphonies. If we truly want to improve our situations, we have resources and access to tools to do so.

We can vote. We can look out for each other. We can chip away at the obstacles creating homelessness. We can present an opportunity for others to have a future based on what was accomplished in the past.

With high unemployment being a major contributing factor to homelessness in America, it is our hope that children born into cycles of homelessness can also rise above their environments. The right to a good education and proper nutrition is just the beginning of a world that does not have to be debilitating. College or career training must be a realistic hope and goal if future generations are to raise their own flags on their own Labor Days.