The Legacy of Mother Jones: A Woman Deemed One of the Most Dangerous in America

Avery Emberly

Updated Friday, August 2, 2024 at 12:00 AM CDT

The image captures the essence of a formidable woman known as Mother Jones, once considered by the authorities to be one of the most dangerous women in America. Seated indoors, she exudes determination and wisdom. Her light-colored hair appears slightly disheveled, and she is adorned in a high-collared, lace-trimmed blouse with a brooch at the neck, partially covered by a dark overcoat. Holding a pen and paper, Mother Jones looks as if she is deep in thought or mid-writing.

To the left of the image, a poignant quote attributed to her reads: "I asked a man in prison once how he happened to be there and he said he had stolen a pair of shoes. I told him if he had stolen a railroad he would be a United States Senator."

Mary Harris "Mother" Jones, born in 1837, was a prominent labor and community organizer. Her efforts to protect the rights of workers and her fearless advocacy earned her the title of "the most dangerous woman in America" by the authorities of her time. She was instrumental in organizing labor strikes and marches, including the significant 1903 march of 284,000 child laborers from the textile mills and coal mines to confront President Theodore Roosevelt with their plight.

Mother Jones Magazine continues her legacy today, with in-depth reporting and investigative journalism on their website, www.motherjones.com. Many people, such as one Imgur commenter, express their enduring admiration for the magazine's dedication to truth and justice.

Utah Phillips, an American labor organizer and folk singer, even penned a song about her, further cementing her place in history. A commenter shared a link to a duet performance by DiFranco and Phillips, highlighting the cultural impact Mother Jones has had beyond just activism.

In today's politically charged environment, the call to vote and make one's voice heard is stronger than ever. A commenter emphasized the importance of voting and provided resources like vote.gov and ballotpedia.org to help citizens stay informed and committed to participating in every election.

Mother Jones' legacy is a testament to the power of steadfast advocacy and the importance of standing up for justice. Her life reminds us that significant change often starts with the courage to challenge the status quo, a message that resonates deeply in the ongoing fight for liberty and justice for all.

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View source: Imgur

Top Comments from Imgur

TChallaVanDam

I loved Mother Jones Magazine, and still love the reporting on their website. Worth looking into if you’re unfamiliar. www.motherjones.com

TheGhostofElizabethShue

They were in an utter panic, the people were taking that whole “liberty and justice for all” shtick seriously.

kindpanda

I will not be making sure everyone in my circle votes. Nearly everyone I work with is a Republican

CanYouBelieveThisNameWasntTakenAlready

VOTE YOUR ENTIRE BALLOT every election! • Register/check/RECHECK registration at vote.gov • Confirm your state's requirements & voting dates/times -- early voting is often easier than waiting for Election Day • Decide now when you'll go vote (or mail your ballot) & put it in your calendar so you're committed -- 🤩GET OTHERS TO COMMIT TOO • Start learning about your ballot at ballotpedia.org -- take your notes with you to vote! • Use trackvote.org for ballot tracking/confirm your vote's counted

LordKitchenersValet

Utah Phillips has a cool song about her.

dishonor

Mother Jones organized a March of 284,000 child laborers from the textile, mines, and mills in 1903 to march through new jersey, new york, and on to oyster Bay to confront president Theodore Roosevelt. They carried the banner "we want time to play". She described the children, " some with their hands off, some with the thumb missing, some with their finger off at the knuckle. They were stooped little things, round shoulders and skinny..." quote via Howard Zinn's "a people's history of the US"

Shaodyn

"Steal a few dollars and you were a petty thief. Steal thousands of dollars and you were either a government or a hero." - Terry Pratchett, from his book Going Postal

JohnnyLawlessEsq

Give a man a gun and he can rob a bank. Give a man a bank and he can rob the world.

DontYouHateWhenAllUsernamesAreAlreadyTaken

If you steal enough you can Bruce others to look the other way. POLITICS!

Useyourhead165

I wish I could get my family and friends to vote but no matter what I say or proof/sources/whatever they just don't care or want to understand 😕

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