Mar 28The Real Story in Bessemer, ALA brave group of workers in Bessemer, AL, a small town outside Birmingham, work long hard hours in an Amazon warehouse. They are Black and white, young and old. Many drive for miles to do the grueling work because it pays better than the local minimum wage of $7.25 an…Amazon3 min read
Jan 14Keep Your Hope Machine RunningWorker Organizing Fueling Hope for 2022 First — huge HT to The Marginalian for Woody Guthrie’s “Keep your hope machine running” which hit my inbox just as I started this list. …Workers Rights9 min read
Dec 19, 2021Advent Resilience to Weather the StormsAdvent Resilience to Weather the Storms Shining a Light on Essential Workers The wind whips outside on another beautiful dark morning, candles lit and Christmas tree lights now up. I light the fourth candle on my wreath and reflect again on my deep love of Advent On this last Sunday of Advent, we quietly reflect on…Tornado4 min read
Dec 5, 2021A Light in the DarknessI reflected earlier on my love of Advent; how it brings me back to cherished lessons from my Catholic family, connects me to centuries of my people yearning for meaning, and provides necessary moments of stillness to ponder the darkness and treasure the flickers of light that will sustain hope…Advent4 min read
Nov 28, 2021Welcoming AdventI love Advent. Every year I make my wreath, light the candles, immerse myself in the music of Gentle Night — the St Louis Jesuits music that filled my childhood home. I am forever grateful to my parents for my Catholic upbringing, which for me was my introduction to social…Advent3 min read
Nov 23, 2021What is Amazon really selling this Cyber Monday?Anyone else a little skeptical of the Facebook ads bombarding us with messages about how committed they are to new regulations for the internet? Not sure how the NFIB ended up in my feed with the dire warnings about raising taxes. But what really takes the cake for me is…Amazon4 min read
Nov 10, 2021The Kellogg’s workers in Omaha are standing up for all of usBruce Springsteen’s Glory Days blasts on the Classic Rock station at the back entrance to the Kellogg’s plant in Omaha. I’m home for a visit to family and have joined the picket line with the workers who have been on strike here since October 5. A lot of folks don’t…Striketober3 min read
Jun 16, 2021What I’d Like to Order on Amazon Prime DayWhat I’d Like to Order on Amazon Prime Day An algorithm for worker justice My name is Mary Beth and I am an Amazon Prime member…it has been 2 days since my last 1-click order… If you don’t know Amazon Prime Day is coming you must be living under a…Amazon5 min read
Apr 19, 2021Why I am so hopeful about Bessemer(Lessons for Jeff Bezos from George Pullman) Nearly 100 years ago (1925) A.Philip Randolph began organizing the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, the first all Black union. Pullman porters worked exhausting hours on long stretches away from home, and suffered incredible indignities (literally having to answer to “George” not their…Workers Rights4 min read
May 15, 2020It is still Mothers’ DayIt is still Mothers Day in our house. I mean, really — isn’t everyday Mother’s day to do the laundry, help my son with homework, venture out (masked) for groceries, argue about chores and well…almost everything.. …Mothers Day4 min read
