The People, Process, & Progress Podcast - How America Made it to and Established the Labor Day Holiday | PPP #86

Episode Date: September 6, 2021

A poem to pay homage to all that contributed to America and the hardships that lead us to Labor Day.

Hey everyone, welcome to People Process Progress, episode 86, The Hard Path to Labor Day. Did some history, some research on this, was going to do kind of a history focus, what does Labor Day come from? I'll let you all do that. There's tons of info, but needless to say, and hopefully you all know, it came from really horrible working conditions. Too long of hours, not access to healthcare, child labor in factories, unsafe conditions, and then the labor movement and unions helped fix that, not through loss of life,

both from the police side, from civilians, and a few different incidents. So go check that out. But what I wanted to do is really say thank you to everyone of every ilk that's been in this country that has contributed to it because I truly believe that's been in this country that has contributed to it, because I truly believe that's it, right? I think everyone has contributed in some way, shape, or form. Hasn't always been pretty. So without further ado, to keep this episode kind of short, I'm going to just read something that I wrote to all those that have contributed. To the early settlers of Jamestown who sailed across the sea,

to the enslaved who were brought here unwillingly. To those that fought and died to break free from tyranny. To those that toiled and debated what the laws of this country should be. To the settlers that headed west not knowing what they'd find. To the native peoples who lost so much and so many of their kind. To the industrial north that built factories and manufactured goods. To the agricultural south that worked the land and cleared the woods. To the people that fought to free those who were in bondage across this land. To the humans that helped new immigrants

by offering a helping hand. To the inventors and industrialists who made their ideas come true. To the ones who fought so women could have the same rights too. To the young ones working factories that lost legs, arms, fingers, and toes. To those along the way that cleared the land and built the railroads. To those that created vehicles to move people and goods across the land. To all who've worn the uniform when it was time to take a stand. To those that marched for freedom and went on to heaven's gate, to this melting pot that's often boiled with hostility and hate, to those whose collar is blue and work so very hard with their hands, to those in suits who run the companies across the lands.

To us all who have labored to help build America, I say, we have all contributed to this nation and the world in our own way. And thank you for the hardship you endured to lead us to Labor Day. Stay safe everyone, wash your hands, and Godspeed.