History, Marx said, “weighs like a nightmare on the brains of the living”. Movements in the present find themselves shaped and constrained by the decisions of those that came before them, try as they might to break the mould. In this session of Night School, we’ll look back at two key moments in American history - the labor movement upsurge of the 1930s and the New Left of the 1960s - to think about the unique path taken by American labor and social movements, and answer the question, why study history?
This year, the Philly Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) Summer School will meet via Zoom once each month to discuss the growing socialist movement.
Summer Schools are not “schools’’ in the traditional sense. There are no fees, grades, or prior readings. All are welcome regardless of previous experience, whether you’re an expert Marxologist or new to DSA. This summer, we’ll be hosting three sessions: Theory, on how we understand capitalism and the world more broadly; History, exploring that which “weighs like a nightmare on the brains of the living”; and Politics, how we “unite the many to defeat the few.”
If you’re interested in getting involved, join the Philly DSA Political Education mailing list for the readings and other updates! Have questions? Email us at [email protected].
Optional email code
Isn’t it time to do something? Get involved with the Local.