Rocker's 50th

I actually think the introductory essays were quite informative. They put the book in perspective of the times. Let me suggest to folks that they also check out Rocker's "London Years" also distributed by AK Press. Also, Freedom Press's little book by Rocker's son Fermin Rocker's. Both of these little volumes puts East End of London class struggles in a personal light and gives a real feel for the people involved in the events.

In regards to why Rocker would not be critical of events in Spain or anarcho-syndicalism in general in this book would be related to the purpose of the book. Emma Goldman encouraged Rocker to quickly write the book to help get out the word as to the positive nature of anarcho-syndiicalism and anarchism. This was to try and use interest in Spain (as the revolution & civil war were well underway) as a catalyst to advance libertarian ideas primarily in the english speaking world. In essence, the book was meant as a well written piece of propaganda. An agitional to gain adherants, so to speak.

Perhaps where criticisms could have been raised is in his Epolouge written in, I believe, 1947. But his post-war analysis of the libertarian movement was sober and somber. I doubt given the better than a decade of facism and the flames of war would have given Rocker to want to be critical. In fact, as I recall, he did his best to put a good foot forward and objectively describe the international situation.

I wish Rocker would have shared his insights into the internal debates within the anarcho-syndicalist IWA in 1937. This would have been quite ineresting. Anarco-syndicalists were actually quite split and debated in a very hard manner the role of the CNT during this time period. The criticisms were led primarily by the Russian exiles and French. The Russian comrades primarily arguing aganist collaboration based on their experiances during/after the Russian Revolution. It was quite a debate and lots of criticisms.

I would also think Rocker, by his own view, would not have publically trashed the efforts of the Spanish comrades. Like Goldman, he was torn between ideas and that of defending the revolutionary gains of the anarcho-syndicalists.

As for Rocker not addressing community organization or racism, I would suggest that thisis probably more a reflection of the times. I suspect if he was in the US longer, the question of racism -- as an issue of color --- might have been addressed. Though, he might have written something about anti-imperialism, something anarchists wrote little about in the pre-WW 2 period. Well, that I am aware of in the english language.

I do know that syndicalist organizations quite routinely set up, what we would call today, workers centers in working class neighborhoods. Some syndicalist unions had working class woman's organizations (the FAUD in Germany, the SAC in Sweden and the closely associated Mujeres Libres in Spain and so on). Syndicalist activity outside the workplace was reflected in, for example, the Barcelon rent strike. Or in Rocker's London years boycotts of price gorging butchers. Perhaps this sort of stuff should have been part of the book.

I was wondering if any comrades held any ebvents or went to any events for Rocker?

Nothing happened in the US thatI'm aware of.