#OtD 7 Mar 1942 Lucy Parsons, African-American anarchist, founding member of the Industrial Workers of the World (@IWW), and powerful orator for women, working people, and political prisoners died in a house fire. More about IWW women in our podcast: workingclasshistory.com/2018/12/02/e16-women-in-the-early-iww/

March 07, 2026 - 21:10 UTC

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Yup. By the time she died, Parsons was a committed and vocal Communist. After she died, the remaining contents of her house - every book and paper and stick of furniture - were seized by the FBI and never returned.
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I recommend the book 'The Haymarket Tragedy' by Paul Avrich. It provides a brilliant look into Lucy as well as her husband Albert.
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This fact I did not know.
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