Ben Fletcher: The Black Labor Leader Most People Never Heard About

In this episode of Neglected Stories, host Pedro Rodriguez is joined by acclaimed historian Peter Cole for a look into the extraordinary but overlooked life of Ben Fletcher — one of the most dynamic labor leaders in Philadelphia’s history.Fletcher, a Black union organizer and member of the Industrial Workers of the World (the Wobblies), led a 1913 strike of over 4,000 multiracial dock workers in Philadelphia’s bustling ports. His courage and leadership broke barriers in an era of legalized segregation and labor exclusion. Despite his achievements, Fletcher's story has been largely erased from mainstream labor history.Professor Cole, author of Ben Fletcher: The Life and Times of a Black Wobbly, will unpack the racism Fletcher faced, the interracial solidarity he built, and the federal persecution that landed him in prison—all while inspiring a new generation to rethink what labor organizing can and should be in 2025.