•Mother Jones•
"Mary Jones' greatest achievement may have been creating the persona of Mother Jones." —Elliott Gorn [1]
Mary Harris Jones was a master of marketing. She presented the elements of protagonist, antagonist, and victim in a way that garnered maximum public support for child labor reform.
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Protagonist
The persona of Mother Jones, the heroine, was instantly recognizable amongst the public. Her grandmotherly image was in stark contrast to her fiery speeches. She used her frail, elderly appearance to shame others into taking action. This persona was so iconic that Upton Sinclair, renowned author of The Jungle, even used her as a character in one of his books [2].
Mother Jones. Herbert French, May 1929, Library of Congress.
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"I have been in jail more than once and I expect to go again. If you are too cowardly to fight, I will fight." |
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Antagonist
Mother Jones effectively portrayed corporations and factory owners as the enemy. She traveled across the country delivering scathing speeches that vilified wealthy businessmen.
A cartoon showing a wealthy employer oppressing child laborers. Lewis Hine, 1912, Library of Congress.
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"There are no limits to which powers of privilege will not go to keep the workers in slavery." |
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Victim
Mother Jones presented child laborers as victims, parading the solemn, crippled youngsters through towns. In speeches, she compared them to slaves, creating compelling imagery after the animosity generated by the Civil War.
A cartoon showing children being auctioned to Northern capitalists. Nebraska Department of Education.
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"Fifty years ago there was a cry against slavery and men gave up their lives to stop the selling of black children on the block. Today the white child is sold for two dollars a week to the manufacturers." —Mother Jones [5] |
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