Red Chicago: American Communism at Its Grassroots, 1928-35 (Working Class in American History) Review

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Red Chicago: American Communism at Its Grassroots, 1928-35 (Working Class in American History) ReviewThis is the first book I read that was specifically focused on American communism. Randi Storch has given us a superb view of the movement surrounding the Communist Party of America in the Depression years. From the Unemployment Councils to the John Reed Club, Storch surveys how many participants in the movement came to it. From party leaders to minor figures in the movement, everything is here in detail. Of particular interest to me was the TUUL, or the Trade Union Unity League. Storch dedicates two chapters specifically to this organization. Although short lived, Storch emphasizes the effects that activity centered around the TUUL had on the Party and American labor.
The first and last chapters are probably the best. The first, "Sam Hammersmark's Chicago," tells the story of Hammersmark's life and how he came to join the Communist Party. This illuminates many details I previously did not know about Sam Hammersmark. The last chapter, "'Not That These Youths Are Geniuses'," is a fascinating window into the activities of the Youth Communist League (YCL) in Chicago during the Depression.
One of the most surprising things about the Communist Party during this time was the ability of many of its members and even its leadership to buck the party line. Members often disagreed vehemently with the line sent from Moscow and the Comintern. During these so-called "Third Period" years, the Communist Party in America effectively pursued a united front strategy, much to the chagrin of the leadership in Moscow. Indeed, they mostly rejected calls to label socialists and other leftists as "social-fascists." With the rapid rise of Hitler and the Nazi Party in Germany, Stalin switched to UF tactics in the mid-1930s. In many ways, the Party in Chicago was ahead of its time in this respect.
I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in the activities of the Communist Party in America. By focusing on Chicago, Storch reveals how utterly complex the relationships were between the Party leadership and its cadres. The members were not simple automatons that obeyed all orders from the Center. Storch shatters many commonly-held myths about inter-Party factionalism and relations. This is one of the best books I've read in quite some time.Red Chicago: American Communism at Its Grassroots, 1928-35 (Working Class in American History) Overview

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