“Radical Roots, Socialist Visions,” a multi-media presentation by filmmaker Joel Saxe which explores the roots of early 20th century Jewish radicals, their cultural activism and socialist visions, will take place on Tuesday, October 21, 7 p.m., at New York University’s Tamiment Library, 10th floor of the NYU Bobst Library, 70 Washington Square South. The event, which is free and open to the public, celebrates an on-going exhibit at Tamiment, entitled “Socialist Summers: Radical Camps and Colonies,” on display through January 31, 2004. For further information call (212) 998-2630.
In the 1980s Saxe filmed the last gatherings of elderly Jewish radicals in Miami and New York. A turn-of-the-century generation, these immigrant activists created a vital socialist culture, combining political activism and labor organizing with literary clubs, newspapers, singing societies, workers’ theatre, and schools. Through slides, video, and audio recordings, Saxe will present scenes, oral histories and folksong performances that explore this early Jewish radicalism.
The on-going exhibition, “Socialist Summers,” features photographs, flyers, advertisements and memorabilia from left-wing summer camps and colonies in the first half of the 20th century. Gallery hours are: Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-5:45 p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
The Tamiment Library at NYU is a unique center for scholarly research on the history and culture of American radicalism and labor. Tamiment’s many collections document the history of the anarchist, communist, labor, radical, feminist, and socialist movements in the U.S. from the Civil War to the present.