Why Studs Terkel Mattered - He gave voice to the voiceless

[UpInArms]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/arts/chi-terkel-matters-1102nov02,0,2482597.story

He took the obscure academic exercise known as oral history and turned it into literature. In transcribing the words and hopes of ordinary people, he gave voice to the voiceless. But, in the tradition of Jacob Riis and Upton Sinclair, he used his words, whether on radio or on the page, to celebrate the People with a capital "P" and to protest their oppression by the stupid and powerful.

<snip>

Few people realize it, but Terkel is the only white writer to be inducted into the International Literary Hall of Fame for Writers of African Descent at Chicago State University.

"He was not afraid of other cultures. He was comfortable among all cultures," said Haki Madhubuti, the groundbreaking African-American poet and founder of Third World Press on the South Side. It was Madhubuti who nominated Terkel for induction. The approval vote was unanimous.

"America is a better place as a result of Studs Terkel being here," he said.

:wipeseye:

fare thee well,
Studs Terkel

You shall be missed
and we were a greater nation
because of you

[mucifer]

1. listen live online to old Studs interviews. Right now they are playing Woodward and Bernstein

www.wfmt.com

They are playing Studs stuff all day long. He did his interview show for over 40s lots of history there.

[noel711]

2. Studs was a true friend to the REAL Joe the Plumbers of the world..

He was a populist professor,
he could talk the talk,
and walk the walk.

A genuine example of a Chicagoan,
a man of the streets, of the people,
of the raw-boned honesty, and integrity.

He could spin gold from the brutal straw of life,
and make a worker's life seem like the American ideal.

They don't make 'em like that anymore..

[johan helge]

3. Terkel and McCarthyism

From http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/01/books/01terkel.html?pagewanted=2&sq=terkel&st=cse&scp=1:

"In January 1952, with McCarthyism in full flower, NBC canceled (Terkel's) show shortly after picking it up for national broadcast, nervous because Mr. Terkel had a habit of signing petitions in support of liberal and left-wing causes. Executives in New York told him that he could clear his record by saying he had been duped into signing the petitions. Mr. Terkel refused. “Duped” made him sound stupid, he said."

The conservatives tried to destroy every good person in America. They don't believe in freedom and democracy.