Our Picks for Fun on Labor Day

Adventure 1: On Labor Day,  re-enactors will be on hand as historic personalities associated with labor struggles throughout the years,

including young Jennie Curtis, who headed the “girls” local union in 1894, Eugene V. Debs, president of the American Railway Union during the Pullman Strike of 1894, a major appearances by A. Philip Randolph, president of the Sleeping Car Porters Union , and  President Franklin D. Roosevelt .

This year is the 75th anniversary of the New Deal, and it was then that Pullman plant employees were organized once again, this time by the newly formed United Steelworkers of the CIO.  

 

The free program is sponsored by the Pullman Civic Organization, the Pullman Historic Foundation, the Illinois Labor History Society, Illinois AFL-CIO, the Bronzeville/Chicago Black History Society and other organizations.   

 

For more information contact Tom Shepherd of the Pullman Civic Organization at 773-370-3305 or the ILHS at 312-663-4107.

 

For directions and more, our web site is: http://laborday.pullmanevents.info

Adventure 2:

The African Festival of the Arts runs over Labor Day weekend August 29 - September 1 in Washington Park located at 5100 S. Cottage Grove. It is presented by Africa International House and Chrysler Financial. This is not the racetrack, Washington Park, but one of Chicago's legacy of grand parks. There is plenty of nearby parking, but you can find out how to get there on public transporation, too.

The Festival theme, Nuah Woo, is from the Kpelle language of Liberia and translates as, Voice of the Community. This year marks the 19th year of this festival, which includes music, spoken word, poetry, a market with goods from all over what is the called the African Diaspora community. The festival aims to see people of the Diaspora become part of the culture and the larger scheme of society, while maintaining and celebrating all their unique contributions.