Educational Media Reviews Online

The great "Uprising of the 20,000" was a landmark in the women's garment workers labor movement and it catapulted Clara Lemlich into instant fame. Her impassioned November 1909 declaration at Cooper Hall, "I am tired of the talking; I move we go on a general strike," made history. The `spark that ignited the strike' according to historian Alice Kessler-Harris, Clara Lemlich was among the early feminist activists who championed human rights and dignity.

Thirsting for knowledge Clara used the resources at a New York Public Library to read all she could on socialism and trade unionism. She used this knowledge to help in organizing women for the International Ladies Garment Workers Union. Using readings from Clara's well written diary her daughter and grandchildren review her life and times. Along with her diary are audiotapes of an older Clara (she died at age 94) still promoting political activism and imbuing that spirit in her offspring. Readings and film clips from newsreels and archives, Yiddish ballads song by the strikers as well as other cultural icons adorn the film. Tired of the inaction of the male leaders Clara rose to the occasion and inspired the workers to take action. Although the strike lasted until February and was not entirely successful it did encouraged the union movement and reinforced Clara's role. Clara continued to organize and promote socialism throughout her life.

Students looking for a hero might well consider Clara Lemlich. She believed in her mission and worked tirelessly to promote her ideas. However as an advocate of socialism and trade unionism Clara would be disappointed at the still lingering working conditions of garment workers in New York City today. The film takes us to the present day recent wave of cheap immigrant workers suffering under sometimes unsafe and unhealthy working conditions. This film is well worth viewing for a glimpse into the history of the labor movement and to discover the struggles involved.