Arturo Giovannitti
Arturo Giovannitti was an influential Italian-American labor activist and writer born in the late 19th century. Initially studying to become a Protestant minister in Canada, he later worked in manual labor before renouncing his religious beliefs and embracing Marxism, becoming a prominent leader within the Italian Socialist Federation (ISF) in the United States. Giovannitti served as the editor of the radical ISF journal, Il proletario, and was known for his linguistic abilities. He played a significant role in the 1912 Lawrence textile strike, which involved over seven thousand workers and highlighted workers' rights issues. Following a tragic incident during the strike where a worker was shot, Giovannitti and his associate Joseph Ettor faced murder charges but were eventually acquitted after several months in custody. During this time, he wrote "The Walker," a critique of prison conditions that has since been recognized as a classic. Additionally, his poetry collection, Arrows in the Gale, addressed the struggles of Italian immigrants and the working class. Giovannitti's extensive body of work, including poems, speeches, and essays, underscores his commitment to advocating for the rights and dignity of workers. He passed away in 1959, leaving a lasting impact on the labor movement.
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Subject Terms
Arturo Giovannitti
Author
- Born: January 7, 1884
- Birthplace: Ripabottoni, Italy
- Died: December 31, 1959
- Place of death: New York, New York
Biography
Arturo Giovannitti was born in the late nineteenth century in Italy. He moved on to study to become a Protestant minister in Canada. Later, he worked on a railroad gang until he renounced his beliefs and moved to the United States as a Marxist leader in the Italian Socialist Federation (ISF). Giovannitti was the editor of the radical ISF journal, Il proletario. He was a strong linguist who was fluent in many languages. In spite of this, he was forced to take several manual labor jobs throughout his life, and this led to his hatred of the higher classes. He helped Joseph Ettor in the organization of the textile strike of Lawrence, Massachusetts, in 1912, which included over seven thousand workers.
During the strike, a worker was shot by a policeman, and Giovannitti and Ettor were charged for the murder. They were held for several months without trial. During this time, Giovannitti wrote “The Walker.” It criticized and exposed the way people were treated in prisons and is regarded as a classic tale. The men were later acquitted. He also wrote Arrows in the Gale, a collection of poetry that focused on the treatment of Italian immigrants and the working class in general. Giovannitti wrote not only poems but also speeches, plays, essays, and articles in order to better the life of the common man. He is considered one of the most-influential proponents of labor workers’ rights. He died in 1959.