Wisconsin Historian Reflects On Pete Seeger’s Contributions To Labor Movement

A Wisconsin labor historian is marking folk singer Pete Seeger’s contributions to working people. Seeger passed away on Monday night.

Seeger sang in Wisconsin several times, and songs that he wrote or helped make popular are still sung at events here, including inside the state Capitol.

At least one of Seeger’s albums is also used as a teaching tool: University of Wisconsin Extension School for Workers Professor David Nack uses the album in his labor history classes.

Nack said many songs on the album — from “Solidarity Forever” to “Union Maid” — are labor-oriented and are “all classics.” He said Seeger had a feel for working people, organized labor and struggle.

“The struggle to make a decent living, and the struggle that workers have gone through over the decades and generations,” he said.

Nack also argues Seeger’s songs were more than accompaniment for the labor movement and did make a difference.

“A lot of times, if you’re listening to somebody making a speech, even if you’re in agreement or whatever, it doesn’t pull on your emotional drawstrings the same way,” said Nack.

Nack called Seeger irreplaceable, but said other artists continue to convey the same message and spirit, despite those ongoing struggles of the labor movement.

Listen to Seeger’s “Solidarity Forever” ​below: