Which Side Are You On?

By: George Ella Lyon
Art Work by: Christopher Cardinale

Publisher: Worzalla   Copyright Date: 2011      ISBN: 978-1-933693-96-5

Genre: Informational      Format: History

Major Awards Received: 

Notable Books For A Global Society Selection, Choices, 2012

Summary:  Sam Reece supported his 7 children by working for J.H. Blair in the coal mines.  He was paid in scrip that was good only in the company store where they could charge whatever they wanted for their products.  When the minors went on strike, J.H. Blair decided to take matters into their own hands trying to pressure the workers not to strike. 

Personal response: This book tells a story of a sad, greedy company that did not care about their employees. The fact that companies put their employees families in the middle in order to scare them into coming back to work as a SCAB shows that they are capable of anything.  All of this just because they wanted to avoid giving the employees their fair share is despicable.  

Classroom connections: I feel that I could incorporate this story into a bullying lesson. 


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nzudto-FA5Y&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&feature=fvwp&v=TfWzLa1faLA