Emma Goldman (1869-1940) considered herself a revolutionary. Physically, Goldman wasn't an intimidating presence, but her clarity of thought and her command of language made her a great public speaker. She was called "Red Emma," "High Priestess of Anarchy," and "Anarchist Queen" by the newspapers of her time. She believed that governments would always side with the rich against the poor, that government should be destroyed, and that human beings should be able to fully express themselves and their desires, restricted only by respect for the rights of others. To Emma, Anarchism was the cure for society's ills and she gave many lectures attempting to clear common misconceptions about Anarchism.
Goldman's feelings about the use of violence in a revolution are difficult to pin down. Her feelings change depending on her audience and on where she was in her life. In a 1931 letter to Henry Alsberg, she shows great respect for the "Gandhi method." In discussing the Spanish Revolution, Goldman defended the necessity for armed defense. She was conflicted with the idea of non-violent resistance throughout her life.
Works Cited:
Burrows, Paul. "Apostle Of Anarchy:" Emma Goldman's First Visit To Winnipeg In 1907."
Minitoba History 57 (2008): 2-15. Academic Search Premier. Web. 4 Mar. 2012.
Kensinger, Loretta. "Radical Lessons: Thoughts On Emma Goldman, Chaos, Grief, And Political
Violence Post-9/11/01." Feminist Teacher 20.1 (2009): 50-70. Academic Search Premier.
Web. 4 Mar. 2012.
By Corey Daniel Burris
She seems like an interesting character. I'd like to see what inspired her to start speaking about anarchism and what made her so interested in anarchism to begin with. It's interesting to see that she was influenced by the world around her instead of solely her own experiences. I'm actually quite interested in learning more about her now.
ReplyDelete-Lenea Patterson