The Fire In The Heart Of The City with David Conrad-Perez

In this episode of Read the Damn Book, Michelle Glogovac interviews David Conrad Perez about his new book, Fire in the Heart of the City. They explore the history of New York City through the lens of the tragic Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire, examining its lasting impact on labor rights, workplace safety, philanthropy, and social reform. Perez shares the historical inspiration behind his work and discusses how this pivotal moment continues to shape conversations about workers, inequality, and the responsibility of communities to create meaningful change.What We're Talking About...The history and lasting impact of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory FireThe rise of modern philanthropy and charitable giving in New York CityHow media manipulation and public relations shape public perceptionThe influence of wealthy elites and philanthropy on social policyThe contributions of immigrant women to the labor movement and workers’ rightsThe evolution of labor unions, workers’ rights, and social activism in AmericaChapters00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction01:04 Overview of the Book and Its Significance03:29 The Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire: What Happened04:55 The Aftermath and Public Reaction to the Fire06:20 The Rise of Philanthropy and Its Complexities07:02 The Connection to New York Times and Media12:43 Why the Author Chose to Tell This Story14:51 Research Process and Archival Work24:23 Lessons and Legacy of the Fire and Social Movements29:10 Final Thoughts and Call to ActionLinks MentionedDavid Conrad-Perez's website: www.davidconradperez.com