Joe Hill (born Joel Emmanuel Hägglund, 1879-1915) was a Swedish-American labor activist, songwriter, and member of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW). Here’s a brief summary of Joe Hill and his connection to the Raise Your Banners Festival:
- Early life and activism: Born in Sweden, Hill emigrated to the United States in 1902. He joined the IWW around 1910 and became a prominent organizer and songwriter for the union.
- Musical contributions: Hill wrote numerous influential labor songs, including “The Preacher and the Slave,” “There Is Power in a Union,” and “The Rebel Girl.”
- Arrest and execution: In 1914, Hill was arrested and charged with murder in Utah. Despite controversial evidence, he was convicted and executed in 1915.
- Legacy: After his death, Hill became a martyr figure in the labor movement. His songs and story continue to inspire activists and musicians.
- Connection to Raise Your Banners Festival: In 1995, the first Raise Your Banners festival of political song was held in Sheffield, England. This inaugural event was directly inspired by the 80th anniversary of Joe Hill’s death, highlighting his enduring impact on political music.
- Festival details: The Sheffield Socialist choir, formed in 1988, organized the event. They performed an arrangement by Nigel Wright of Earl Robinson’s song about Joe Hill, further cementing Hill’s connection to the festival.
- Ongoing influence: Following its inception, the Raise Your Banners Festival was held approximately every two years, continuing to celebrate political music and, by extension, Joe Hill’s legacy.
While Joe Hill didn’t participate in the festival directly due to his earlier death, his life, work, and legacy were fundamental to its creation and ongoing inspiration. The festival served as a modern continuation of the tradition of political music that Joe Hill helped establish through his influential songs and activism.