Ben Fletcher facts for kids

Benjamin Harrison Fletcher (born April 13, 1890 – died 1949) was an important African-American leader in the early 1900s. He was known for his work with trade unions and his powerful speeches.

Fletcher was a key member of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), also known as the "Wobblies." This was a powerful trade union during his time. Back then, it was rare for African Americans to be allowed in American unions. Even fewer joined more left-wing groups. But Fletcher became famous across the country. He helped start and lead Local 8, a special branch of the IWW's Marine Transport Workers Industrial Union. This union welcomed workers of all races.

Early Life of Ben Fletcher

Benjamin Harrison Fletcher was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on April 13, 1890. When he was young, he worked as a day laborer. He also worked as a longshoreman, which means he loaded and unloaded ships.

Around 1912, Fletcher joined the IWW and the Socialist Party. He first heard IWW speakers talking to workers by the river. Soon after, Fletcher became a leader for the IWW in Philadelphia. He started a career in public speaking and was very good at it.

Local 8: A Union for Everyone

In 1913, Ben Fletcher and other IWW members started Local 8. This was a branch of the Marine Transport Workers Industrial Union in Philadelphia. Local 8 was special because it was an interracial union. About one-third of its members were African American. Another third were Irish American. The rest were mostly other European immigrants.

In May 1913, thousands of longshoremen went on strike. They wanted better pay and for their new union to be recognized. Fletcher helped lead Local 8 from the start. Local 8 spoke out against unfair business practices and racism. Because of this, some bosses and government officials tried to cause trouble for them. By 1916, Local 8 controlled almost all of Philadelphia's docks. This union had a lot of power on the waterfront for about ten years.

Working for Workers Across the East Coast

After Local 8 became successful in Philadelphia, Ben Fletcher traveled a lot. He went up and down the eastern coast of the United States. He did this to help the Industrial Workers of the World organize more workers.

Arrest and Time in Prison

While in Boston, Fletcher found out he was going to be arrested for his union work. He decided to go back to Philadelphia, saying he "preferred to be placed under arrest" there. When he returned, Fletcher and 165 other union activists were officially charged.

At that time, the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) had about 1,000,000 members. This included 100,000 Black workers who were not allowed in other unions. The IWW's organizing efforts were seen as going against the United States' efforts during World War I. Philadelphia was a very important port for the war. Even though Local 8 only had one work stoppage (a one-day strike each year), the government targeted its leaders, including Fletcher.

Fletcher was arrested on February 9, 1918. His bail was set at $10,000. Two weeks later, the amount was lowered to $1,500, which the IWW quickly paid.

Fletcher was accused of treason. He was the only African American among the 166 IWW members put on trial. There was no direct proof against Fletcher, Local 8, or the IWW. Most of the "evidence" was just about the IWW's beliefs, not any plans to stop the war. Still, all the people on trial were found guilty. The jury made their decision in less than an hour.

Fletcher was fined $30,000 and sentenced to ten years in the Leavenworth federal prison in Kansas. While in jail, many African American activists worked to get Fletcher released. His cause was supported by The Messenger, a magazine co-edited by A. Philip Randolph. Fletcher served about three years. His sentence, along with most other jailed Wobblies, was shortened in 1922.

Life After Prison

After he was released, Fletcher continued to support the IWW. However, he was not as active as he had been before prison. He stayed involved with Local 8 but was not a main leader.

In the 1920s, Fletcher worked with the Communist Party USA. Later, he said that the organization was not sincere. He warned that it was trying to take over the IWW's unions. Fletcher continued to give speeches sometimes, even into the 1930s.

Like many longshoremen, Fletcher faced health problems when he was still quite young. He later moved to Bedford-Stuyvesant in Brooklyn with his wife. He worked as a building superintendent until he passed away in 1949. He is buried in Brooklyn, New York.

Ben Fletcher's Legacy

Ben Fletcher was one of the few African American leaders in the IWW. He worked alongside people like Hubert Harrison. The union he helped lead, Local 8, is a great example of how people of different races could work together equally in the early 1900s.

See also

In Spanish: Ben Fletcher para niños