It’s another Labor Day here in America. Just another holiday for most, one that marks the end of summer and the transition into autumn. That’s what it was to me in my younger days. But it began as a way of honoring the contributions of the working class to our country’s growth and progress. From the fields and factories to the shipyards and mines, labor has been the backbone that held this country up. The idea of labor has taken on added meaning for me as I became more and more aware of the importance of it in our history as well as its relevance to my own well-being and identity.
You see, I consider myself a working man, probably before I consider myself an artist. I learned in my early days working in a factory and toiling as a laborer in other jobs the value of being able to put my head down and focus on the task at hand. I learned that effort was the one variable I could control and that effort often overcame my deficiencies. I might not be as strong or smart or as talented as the next guy but I firmly believed that I could always outwork him. Effort brought out the most in whatever limited attributes I might possess. I believe that any success I have achieved as an artist can be directly tied to these lessons learned with a shovel in hand and the sweat running down.
This value of labor is often portrayed in my work, most often in the form of rows of fields. This piece above, from my early Exiles series, always reminds me of the tenant farmers in the Dust Bowl-era photos of Walker Evans in the famous James Agee book, Let Us Now Praise Famous Men. Labor and effort was all they knew.
I could go on and on here about the value of the labor movement in America and the great debt we owe to those ancestors who fought and died for the rights and protective regulations which we take for granted today. Too many of us don’t realize how difficult the battle was for these rights and how quickly they could erode without continued effort and vigilance. So, enjoy your holiday but remember what it means.
Redtree Times 
Reblogged this on denis day.
“Too many of us don’t realize how difficult the battle was for these rights and how quickly they could erode without continued effort and vigilance.” – Thank you for this post! I wish you would “go on” about the value of the labor movement 😉
Thanks. I have aired my grievances over the years with the short memory many of us have concerning the role of organized labor in the formation of our country. Here’s a post from Labor Day back in 2009 that features one of my favorite pro-labor folk artists, Ralph Fasanella.
https://redtreetimes.com/2009/09/07/labor-day/
Beautiful piece. Beautiful art. Three cheers for a good work ethic!!
This may come as a surprise, but I consider the work “ethic” to be part of the problem with our society. Work has no intrinsic value on its own. We have the technology to reduce the full-time work week to less than 20 hours, if not less, easily. Instead productivity gains over the decades have gone to the profits of parasites.
Oh Gosh, I totally agree!
Stole my freaking words man
Funny! My son and I were recently lamenting the lack of work ethic in the workplace!
Like like LIKE!!
Check out the Labor Day entry on Wikipedia. It’s very interesting to know just how it came about. Here it is: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labor_Day
Well said!
Powerful reflection!
Congrats on being FP’d
Great read, thanks for sharing!
Great read!
Something about this piece of art reminds me of Munsch’s, “The Scream.” Labor Day has special meaning too, for those who are unemployed and who are trying to find a job at which to labor.
You’re right. It’s also a reminder of the need for the individual to have a task before them, for the dignity and the purpose it bestows. Thanks for reminding me of that.
Love the line “I might not be as smart or talented as the next guy but I always firmly believed I could outwork him.”
I work with the least gifted to the genius and I know this—I was always more impressed by the work ethic than the giftedness. Watching those given the most humble tasks work that task to perfection and watching the genius work their talents to the max both enhance the lives of all.
It’s not about the talent or intelligence. It’s about what you do with what you have and the work ethic applied makes all the difference. Taking pride in the task you’ve been given is the core of true accomplishment.
I rarely do this but this topic reminded me of a quote I posted by Martin Luther King. I think it relates well to this post.
http://simplysage.org/2012/01/15/your-master-piece/
Thanks for bringing this to our attention. Great topic.
Peace,
Alexandria Sage
Thank you so much for the well thought out comment. The King quote is perfect. It speaks to the need to find dignity and purpose in whatever we find ourselves doing. I have had numerous menial jobs over the years and have always treated them as though they were the most important jobs in the world because at that moment they truly were that to me. As a result, I learned to appreciate and respect the efforts of others which has helped me as this career has evolved.
I’ve had the exact same journey. And I thank those currently in menial jobs that make my job easier. Hard work always reaps success no matter what you do.
Congratulations on being FP. Your artwork is as moving as this post. Thanks for making me re-think Labor Day.
I learned that effort was the one variable I could control and that effort often overcame my deficiencies. – Thanks for inspiring me to work harder! 🙂
To the Republicans, the concept of LABOR day must mean nothing. They would be highly glad to get rid of all those “regulations” (what they deem to be entitlements) so that business can be freed to make even more money for wealthy CEO’s and board members while giving nothing back to the country.
We are at our strongest point as a country when we have a prosperous working class. When labor is undervalued, we all suffer.
Hmm I see the point you are trying to make but america has not gained much labour protection laws in my view. There are much weaker unions than in the uk and the uk unions are much weaker than before thatcher. Companies in america actually kill people, espically eco car developers, who are a threat and get away with it, the only reason they don’t kill more is because they don’t percieve a lot of people as being a threat. Work is good but should be adequately rewarded otherwise we all live in an “al brei macht frei” society.
Check My blog out.
Three cheers for the working men and women all over the world. Congrats on the FP.
I totally get what you mean about effort overcoming deficiencies. I’ve definitely had to overcome being in the bottom of the barrel and it was through a whole lot of effort and work that got me through that! 🙂