Genora Johnson Dollinger
CELEBRATING WOMEN OF CHARACTER. COURAGE & COMMITMENT!
Genora (Johnson) Dollinger was called "the Joan of Arc of Labor" for her role in the Flint sit-down strikes. At the age of 23 she organized the Women's Auxiliary of the UAW and led its military wing, the Women's Emergency Brigade. Brigade members armed themselves with clubs to defend sit-downers from GM's plant police, hired Pinkerton strike-breakers, and the Flint city police who also served the corporation.
Over 300 women sat down initially, but the male United Auto Workers’ leadership did not allow them to stay inside the plants. Nevertheless, women were absolutely indispensable.
In their traditional role they kept the men alive, cooking for the hundreds and sometimes thousands of their co-workers and loved ones inside the plants. They set up first-aid stations, and child care for women picketers.
The Flint Journal wrote about the formation of the Women's Emergency Brigade, calling it the "Rolling Pin Brigade" and quoting organizer Genora Johnson as saying, "We will be ready in the future to have women at the scene of trouble within 10 minutes. If there is a fight, we will get into it ... police bullets don't frighten me."
Johnson, described by The Journal as a mother of two and wife of a striker, said the time had come for women to join the fight.
"The women, when called out will wear red arm bands with white lettering, denoting they belong to WEB -- Women's Emergency Brigade," the story said.
Johnson told The Journal then that her group would fight with "rolling pins, brooms, mops and anything else we can get."
The brigade was formed as a unit of the Women's Auxiliary and similar organizations were formed in Detroit, Celveland, Toledo and elsewhere as strikes spread around the country, according to "Sit-Down," a book about the Flint Sit-Down strike by the late Sidney Fine.
Genora Johnson organized the Women’s Emergency Brigade, which proved pivotal when police attacked. The New York Times reported that strikers had a "large supply of blackjacks ... whittled down so that they can be swung or jabbed readily." In fact the clubs had been whittled down by the Women’s Brigade to fit their smaller hands.
When tear gas was fired into the plants, women smashed the windows to allow the gas to escape.
Norman Bully, who would procure food donations from supportive farmers and deliver it to the kitchens, remarked years later: "God, all the women. The Women’s Brigade was something." The Women’s Emergency Brigade was rescued from obscurity by the 1979 documentary "With Babies and Banners."
Here's their story...
With Babies and Banners: Story of the Women's Emergency Brigade
Genora and the Women’s Emergency Brigade represent the courage of women in the history of the Labor Movement. They were positive role models and should be remembered for their efforts in the auto industry and elevating workers/families economic and social conditions leading to the rise of the middle class of our area.
Genora devoted over six active decades of her life on behalf of labor, civil liberties, civil rights, women’s equality, and for the betterment of all human kind.
Be sure to read an interview by Susan Rosenthal with Genora, February 1995 despite her advanced age and very poor health, Genora's passion for the cause of labor was undiminished.
http://susanrosenthal.com/pamphlets/striking-flint
~MORE~
VIDEO- Flint Sitdown Strike -- Pt. 1
http://youtu.be/8aLUNW4zoPQ
Flint Sitdown Strike -- Pt. 2
http://youtu.be/N8wf3iwr9wI
75th Anniversary of the FLINT SIT DOWN STRIKE - a UAW documentary
http://youtu.be/0uww6tkbNpM
RESOURCES/CREDITS
http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/136/
http://www.zontaflint1.org/GenoraDollinger.htm
http://www.mlive.com/auto/index.ssf/2012/01/75_years_ago_womens_emergency.html
http://www.workers.org/2007/us/flint-0315/
http://www.sloanlongway.org/sloan-museum/exhibits-and-galleries/flint-sit-down-strike
