Kelly Schmaeling
HONS 2011J
Professor Hernández-Ojeda
Hunter College-CUNY
Introduction
I came across Emma Goldman’s name while looking for women writers in the Spanish Civil War. While I found many famous male fiction and nonfiction writers (Hemingway, Hughes and Orwell, etc.) that reported on and wrote about the war, there were very few women. I had originally wanted to write this narrative on an author because of my love for literature. I wanted to choose a female because, as a feminist, I wanted to further shed light on the important roles that women played in the Spanish Civil War. When I came across Emma and read a little bit about who she was and what she did, I was was taken aback by her radicalism, her accomplishments, and quite frankly, her awesomeness. I felt that I had to learn more about her and the more that I learnt, through archival research as well as articles of hers that I found online, the more impressed I became. Although she was never a part of the Abraham Lincoln Brigades, I chose to research Emma Goldman because I
believe that her story should be preserved. In our class, we discussed the importance of preserving memory as a way to keep a person alive. Yes, Emma Goldman was relatively well-known during her life and during the Spanish Civil War. Her life and work are quite easy to research on, nowadays. However, I had never heard about her and neither had the people that I mentioned her too. I believe she is not taught in schools because of her radicalism, which is a great shame, as Emma Goldman is a significant figure in women’s rights as well as workers’ rights. I chose to research Goldman because I feel that her story is one that deserves to be told. Although she is better known than most volunteers in the Civil War, I had never come across her during any of my educational research over the last decade, not even in my feminist research. She played a large role in the Spanish Civil War and devoted her entire life to fighting for those who were oppressed. Without even knowing it, Emma fought for the Spanish cause before the war had even begun.
Emma Goldman was born on June 27th, 1869 in Kovno, Lithuania. In 1884, Emma immigrated to New York where she already had family. There, she got a job working in a sweatshop making shawls and gloves. Although she worked in extremely hazardous and unsafe conditions, she was only paid $2.50 per week. The factory workers rioted often for better wages and working environment. Emma was often at the forefront of these protests. She was always “courageous enough to raise her voice against injustices regardless of the consequences” (Abraham Lincoln Brigade Archives Vertical Files). As a result, Emma had several arrests and even landed herself in Blackwell’s Island Penitentiary in 1893 after giving a speech at a strike in Union Square. These circumstances influenced Emma’s view on politics and eventually lead her to be the powerful anarchist advocate that she became. The injustices that she fought as a young adult became precursors to the ones she would tackle throughout her life as an activist and political leader.
Anarchism and the Workforce
It was the Haymarket Riots of 1886 in which many anarchists were persecuted that struck Emma’s interest with the political philosophy. The riots were also what inspired her to move to New York City from Rochester (Porter). Soon after, she began writing and speaking out about anarchism. In 1934, she described anarchism as “harmony and freedom from restrictions by man-made laws” (Abraham Lincoln Brigade Archives Vertical Files). She also began participating in anarchist discussion groups as well as demonstrations where she met political leader Johann Most and soon- to-be close friend Alexander Berkman. The three participated in the very publicized Homestead Strike of 1892 in Pittsburgh in which steel workers were revolting against the notorious Andrew Carnegie. Their plan to take down Andrew Carnegie’s Homestead manager, Henry Clay Frick resulted in Berkman’s arrest and 22-year-life sentence. Afterward, Most denounced Berkman and left Emma to be attacked by the capitalist press (Porter). During this time, in which she had lost her best friend and gained a new negative reputation, Emma began to grow stronger and even more rebellious than she had been. Her multiple prison sentences which would come in the following years would only aid to Emma’s political campaigns and philosophical beliefs.
As a writer, Emma use the written word to enlighten the public of the plight of the working class and anarchism. She wrote about the significance of May Day, or the International Worker’s Day. She also reported on and wrote about many of the strikes she attended. In 1906, Emma along with a handful of friends created an anarchist periodical called Mother Earth that eventually amassed over 10,000 readers and became the most influential anarchist journal in the US. In 1910, she published Anarchism and Other Essays, a collection of essays published originally in Mother Earth. In this publication, Goldman expresses not only her political views but also her “mental and soul struggles of twenty-one years” (Porter). She also shares her social beliefs especially those about women and their roles in society, marriage and love. Of anarchism, Emma wrote in the publication:
Anarchism, then, really stands for the liberation of the human mind from the dominion of religion; the liberation of the human body from the dominion of property; liberation from the shackles and restraint of government. Anarchism stands for a social order based on the free grouping of individuals for the purpose of producing real social wealth; an order that will guarantee to every human being free access to the earth and full enjoyment of the necessities of life, according to individual desires, tastes, and inclinations. (“Anarchism: What It Really Stands For.”)
Connections to Spain
Though Emma may have been late to joining the fight for the Spanish Republic during the war, she had already been advocating for the same social causes her whole life. For example, Emma was opposed to the role of the Church in society. She believed that blind faith was a trap for the helpless and that “any spiritual movement that impedes creative insight must eventually challenge the authority of theology” (Abraham Lincoln Brigade Archives Vertical Files). She was also against the Church because of the limitations it enforced upon women. Throughout her life, she advocated for women’s rights in marriage as well as divorce. These are very similar to the beliefs that the Second Republic of Spain upheld. Emma was also a pioneer of the birth control movement. She became inspired by the women she met at Blackwell’s Island and believed that children brought into the world under poverty and ignorance must either become criminals or face social problems of some form. However, the Church was firmly opposed to birth control for women and Emma was ultimately imprisoned for advocacy. Although she never called herself a feminist per se or aligned herself with the feminist movement, she still constantly fought for women’s rights rallied women to “ally themselves with new freedoms and securities” (Abraham Lincoln Brigade Archives Vertical Files). She also honored the women who fought in the Spanish militia during the war. She shared with the Second Republic defenders the restructuring and reforming of prisons as well as education reform. Emma believed in a Libertarian form of teaching and defended Francisco Ferrer, a Spaniard who was assassinated in Barcelona in 1909 for his progressive methodological philosophy. Again, these beliefs aligned with those of the Second Republic which she would soon devote her life to fight for. Being the radical anarchist she was, Emma also had some controversial views. For example, in an article about women’s suffrage, she wrote: “In her blind devotion woman does not see what people of intellect perceived fifty years ago: that suffrage is an evil, that it has only helped to enslave people, that it has but closed their eyes that they may not see how craftily they were made to submit” (“Woman Suffrage.”). While it may seem like Emma is advocating against a woman’s right to vote, she is actually speaking out to women who think that the end goal for equality is the right to vote. She’s urging women to keep fighting and not give up once they have earned suffrage. As a feminist, I can totally understand the notion of having to encourage women to keep fighting despite seeming equality. In today’s society many women believe that there is no need for feminism because they don’t personally feel oppressed. Even if they are getting paid the same as their male counterpart, there are so many women out there who aren’t and so many other issues to fight for nationally and globally.
Emma’s interest in the war also stemmed from its similarities with the revolution in her home-country of Russia. Emma often compared the uprising in Spain to that of the Russian Revolution of 1918. In 1917, Goldman was imprisoned and ultimately deported back to Russia. It was her first time back since she left in 1885 and it was her first time experiencing the rule of the Soviet Union. At first, Emma viewed the revolution positively. However, after touring the country and seeing repression of the people by the new government, she strongly opposed the revolution. Emma even cites the Russian Revolution and Stalin as reasons for the Spanish Civil War starting. Throughout the Civil War, she warned the Republicans fighting in Spain to not accept help from the Soviet Union (Porter). Though she left Russia at a young age, Emma always felt a strong connection to her homeland and was therefore greatly hurt to see the results of the Russian Revolution and its repercusions in Spain only years later.
Emma Goes to Spain
It was in June of 1936 that the anarchist movement in Spain caught Emma’s attention. Emma had visited Spain from 1928-29 and had been paying attention to their political landscape for some time. She had even supported the liberal takeover of the government. However, when the war began she felt prompted to go to Spain and advocate for their cause. Throughout the course of the Spanish Civil War, Emma visited Spain multiple times. The first time, the Confederación Nacional Del Trabajo (CNT), or the Spanish group of anarcho-syndicalist labour unions, invited her. Around 1936, Emma flew to Catalonia from France. While there, she visited factories, farms, battlefronts, labor union meetings and farms. She told the the CNT that she was ready to fight on the battlefields with the Spaniards for “liberty and justice”, asking, “Where could you better use my knowledge and abilities?” (CITE). The CNT, however, had other plans. They asked her to go abroad to England and other western countries and advocate the Republican cause. They wanted her to help build a campaign for the Spanish people as well as represent the Spanish Libertarian Organization. The CNT also wanted Emma to leave immediately, but she refused. She said: “You know I cannot get data from an empty bag. I have to get the information if you want me to do a thorough job”. Emma’s persistence became a common thread throughout her coverage of Spain. During her visit, she went to Barcelona, cities of Catalonia, Valencia, Alicante, as well as farms and factories in Madrid. She insisted on talking to the people wherever she went. She interviewed factory workers, militiamen, members of government and even Fascists in prisons. “No other person who visited Spain during the war did so much in defending the Spanish cause as Emma did”. This is said not just of Libertarians but anyone who knew of her and her work (Abraham Lincoln Brigade Archives Vertical Files). Emma agreed to establish CNT-FAI Information offices in England and organize a Bureau in London. Through these institutions, she raised money to send goods and packages to Spain especially to the children. Emma was also tasked with dispelling falsehoods and negative misrepresentations of the Loyalists abroad. Emma stayed in Spain for three months during her first visit. In 1937, she returned after the Communist provocation. Once again, she visited the factories and talked to the workers. During this visit, she witnessed first hand the devastation and destruction that the German and Italian bombings had caused to the people of Spain. On her third and last visit in 1938, she mostly talked to prisoners in war camps. She also attended the POUM trial and reported on it. At this point in the war, there was little hope of Republican victory. However, Emma remained her same determined self.
On one visit, Emma braved the war front where she met with Catalonian and fellow anarchist, General Buenaventura Durruti. An account in Jeanne’s Levey’s Emma Goldman Speaks recalls Emma’s meeting with him. Both Durruti and Emma discussed how Europe would be affected if the Republicans lost. In response, Emma says these potential consequences must be “conveyed to European workers, to union leaders… it has to reach the workers, the whole population”. Durruti also informed Emma that the the biggest problem that the Republic faced was not lack of men but arms and ammunitions “to fight a modern war”. Emma then requested to talk to the front line fighters to which Durruti objected. When the general informs Emma of how dangerous of a proposition it is, she replies: “I presume it is. But…are you not risking your life everyday? Are they not risking theirs? Why should I not risk mine? You know, I am a revolutionary. We are exposing our life everyday” (Abraham Lincoln Brigade Archives Vertical Files). This is just one example of how courageous and determined Emma was. She would rather risk her life than remain silent on this injustice. Eventually and reluctantly, Durruti allows her to meet with the militiamen on the front line. The men, who all know of and are excited to meet Emma, are also all a part of the CNT. They even show their appreciation towards Emma who has spread the word about the war to much of Europe and the US. Emma is especially excited to meet the young soldiers and ask them why they have decided to join the fight in Spain. One volunteer admitted that he didn’t want to fight but was compelled to by the fascist movement. Another said that he fought so he could live and enjoy the sun. One more volunteer expressed that he volunteered because he wanted to start a revolution. When Emma asked him how he was to do this, he said “It is simple, we have done it already” (Abraham Lincoln Brigade Archives Vertical Files). Soon after Emma’s visit, Durruti died in battle in Madrid (Porter).
Writing About the War
Although Emma Goldman did not physically fight in the Spanish Civil War, the words and articles she wrote can be considered just as powerful to the cause. Throughout the war, Emma wrote in multiple papers in order to rally people for the Second Republic as well as to inform them of the dangers of the Nationalists posed. When Durruti died, Emma wrote an article about him entitled “Durruti Is Dead, Yet Living” in which she commemorates his life and work for the Spanish cause. She ends the article by saying: No, Durruti is not dead! He is more alive than living. His glorious example will now be emulated by all the Catalan workers and peasants, by all the oppressed and disinherited. The memory of Durruti’s courage and fortitude will spur them on to great deeds until fascism has been slain. Then the real work will begin–the work on the new social structure of human value, justice and freedom. No, no! Durruti is not dead! He lives in us for ever and ever. (“Durruti Is Dead, Yet Living.”)
This is an important quote because it emphasizes exactly what we discussed in our class on the Spanish Civil War. It also illustrates exactly what I wish achieve with this narrative. Her words are proof that by preserving one’s memory, you are keeping them alive. This piece was definitely one that created empathy and pathos amongst the readers. In another example, Emma wrote an article addressed to the editor of New York Times in which she criticizes the newspaper for its negative depictions of the Republicans. In it, she says the anarchists are misrepresented. She also applauds Catalan’s political freedom due to the efforts of the CNT-FAI and expresses her trust in the Spanish people: “I have abiding faith in the resiliency of the Spanish people. Persecution, prison, torture, suppression of their movement, their publications and their works-they overcame everything” (Abraham Lincoln Brigade Archives Vertical Files). Perhaps without even realizing it, Emma is stating the importance of her own writing to the cause.
Conclusion/Impact
Though Emma Goldman did not physically fight in the Spanish Civil War, she definitely left an impact on both the War and the people of Spain. Goldman devoted her whole life to fighting for those who were underrepresented and oppressed. Although she did not advocate for the people of Spain until the Civil War began, her fights for the working class translated worldwide. Emma was so well known for her activism that when she finally visited the Republican battlefront, the militiamen were all familiar with her and her work and showed great appreciation for her support. In addition, Emma Goldman tried to help the Spanish cause in any way she could by sending supplies, using her voice to spread the Loyalist’s message, and debunking negative press about them. In the US and Europe, she publicly denounced the western countries’ decisions not to intervene in the war to aid the Republicans. When Emma was visiting Spain, several accounts described her intense work ethic, stating that she had mostly 24-hour days (Abraham Lincoln Brigade Archives Vertical Files). She did not rest until she had done everything she could for the Spanish cause. A year after the war ended in 1940, Emma passed away due to a heart attack, proving that she really had dedicated the last few years of her life to Spain and the Spanish people: the women, children, militiamen, and all those who believed in the Republic.
Works Cited
Abraham Lincoln Brigade Archives Vertical Files. Goldman, Emma: ALBA.VF.002. Box 9.
Tamiment Library/Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives, New York University.
Goldman, Emma. “Anarchism: What It Really Stands For.” Mother Earth (1910): n. pag. Marxist
Internet Archive. Goldman Reference Archive, 200. Web. 20 May 2017.
Emma, Goldman. “Durruti Is Dead, Yet Living.” (1936): n. pag. Marxist Internet Archive. Hoover
Institution on War, Revolution and Peace. Web. 20 May 2017.
“Goldman, Emma (1869 – 1940).” Glossary of People: Go. Marxist Internet Archive, n.d. Web. 20
May 2017.
Goldman, Emma. “Woman Suffrage.” Mother Earth Second Revised Edition (1911.): n. pag.
Marxist Internet Archive. Web. 20 May 2017.
Porter, David. Vision on Fire: Emma Goldman on the Spanish Revolution. Edinburgh: AK, 2006.
Print.