“Prejudices of Race and Nationality Benefit Only the Master Class”

While most labor unions excluded workers from membership on the basis of race and ethnicity, the IWW preached a message of inclusive unionism. Here Wobbly cartoonist, Maurice Becker, warns workers of the inherent dangers of allowing themselves to be deluded with notions of racial supremacy. Through this work, Becker conveys the message that all workers regardless of color or ethnicity, are members of the same class and racial divisions can only dilute the strength of the labor movement.

Illustration by Maurice Becker from the IWW publication the Industrial Pioneer, July 1921.

See other Maurice Becker works such as The Masses cover of October 1913, the cover of September 1914, and the cover of May 1916.

View the IWW exhibit for more information.