James Oppenheim
James Oppenheim was an influential American poet, novelist, and editor born in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1882. He moved to New York City with his family, where he pursued education and began his professional career. Oppenheim is best known for founding and editing "The Seven Arts," a literary magazine that featured prominent writers of his time. He was deeply engaged in social issues, evident in his notable poem "Bread and Roses," inspired by the 1912 textile workers' strike and later adopted as an anthem for the labor movement and the Civil Rights movement. His literary works often reflected themes of social justice and working-class struggles, a commitment that also permeated his novels and plays. Oppenheim's significant contributions to literature and activism were shaped by his experiences as a teacher and a member of various social organizations. Despite facing personal challenges, including poverty and health issues, he continued to write until his death from tuberculosis in 1932. Oppenheim's legacy remains impactful in both literary and social contexts.
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James Oppenheim
Poet
- Born: May 24, 1882
- Birthplace: St. Paul, Minnesota
- Died: August 4, 1932
- Place of death:
Biography
Born in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1882, James Oppenheim was the son of Joseph and Matilda Oppenheim. His family moved to New York City, where he attended public school and lived much of his life. Oppenheim took extension courses at Columbia University. He became a secretary and teacher for a time and then married Linda Gray, with whom he had two sons, Ralph and James, Jr.
Oppenheim founded and edited The Seven Arts, an early twentieth century literary magazine. As editor of this magazine, he worked with such literary luminaries as Waldo Frank, a novelist and social historian, and George Jean Nathan, a prominent drama critic. In the early 1900’s, Oppenheim was assistant head worker at the Hudson Guild Settlement in New York City, and he later was a teacher and acting superintendent at the Hebrew Technical School for Girls. He left this job in 1907 to devote himself more fully to his writing career.
He became a very productive poet, writing chiefly in free verse, or what is occasionally referred to as polyphonic poetry, much in the style of American poet Walt Whitman. His best-known poem, “Bread and Roses,” had tremendous impact decades after he wrote it. The poem was inspired by the 1912 textile workers’ strike in Lawrence, Massachusetts, in which the workers protested a marked reduction in their salaries. Striking women workers carried placards demanding “bread and roses,” equal pay for equal labor, and decent working conditions. Soon, the poem became a catchword for the labor movement. Upton Sinclair included it in The Cry for Freedom: Anthology of Social Protest, a collection of socially conscious poetry he edited in 1915. Folk singer Mimi Farina set the poem to music in 1961, and the song “Bread And Roses” became an anthem of the Civil Rights movement.
Oppenheim wrote several novels, including The Nine- Tenths, which concerns labor disputes, the women’s suffrage movement, and other liberal issues. His play, Night: A Poetic Drama in One Act, was a sort of prose poem set atop a hill. It ran for only one night at Wallack’s Theatre in New York City.
Oppenheim’s career reflected a deeply held commitment to social justice and democracy. His poems often had at their heart a working-class sentiment and affinity. After years of poverty and poor health, Oppenheim succumbed to tuberculosis and died on August 4, 1932.