A rather important historical event comes to life in ‘1919’
I have been lucky to read some pretty amazing graphic novels lately. Some of them star famous DC characters. While others focus on lesser known characters. I have never read something like 1919 before. When I heard about it I was hoping I would get to read it. I was able to get a digital copy of this graphic novel and this is what I thought of it.
You can read the plot of 1919 here:
In May and June 1919, more than 30,000 workers walked off the job in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They struck for a variety of reasons—higher wages, collective bargaining rights, and more power for working people. The strikers made national and international headlines, and they inspired workers to mount sympathy strikes in many other Canadian cities. Although the strike lasted for six weeks, it ultimately ended in defeat. The strike was violently crushed by police, in collusion with state officials and Winnipeg’s business elites.
One hundred years later, the Winnipeg General Strike remains one of the most significant events in Canadian history. This comic book revisits the strike to introduce new generations to its many lessons, including the power of class struggle and solidarity and the brutal tactics that governments and bosses use to crush workers’ movements. The Winnipeg General Strike is a stark reminder that the working class and the employing class have nothing in common, and the state is not afraid to bloody its hands to protect the interests of capital. In response, working people must rely on each other and work together to create a new, more just world in the shell of the old.
I was very impressed with 1919. It wasn’t just the story it was telling but to see it come to life this way was truly fascinating. It tells a tale about workers who go on strike so they can get fair wages and more rights. This graphic novel shows how the strike was put together, and how it ended. If you know nothing of this story then you may want to check this graphic novel out.
1919 is available now. You can order this graphic novel on Amazon and at Barnes and Noble.