Boxcar Betty

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Boxcar Betty was a fictional organizer with the IWW (Industrial Workers of the World, or Wobblies) earlier in the 20th century, popularized by a Depression-era book by Ben Reitman. The Wobblies were among the first to organize itinerant workers, and some of their most dedicated organizers were homeless themselves. Boxcar Betty became one of those "larger than life" characters, a fictionalized amalgam of various women (1) and a part of American folklore:

Today, if you really want to, you can probably find Boxcar Betty roaming the railroad yards across the country. Her name itself has become synonymous with rollicking, rough and tumble adventure. And wherever she goes, Boxcar Betty is a railroad tramp's worst nightmare and most delicious dream. Hopping freights and bouncing from one boxcar to another, Boxcar Betty is brawling her way across this great land. (2)

[edit] Bibliography:

1. See for instance AK Press/Nabat, Ben Reitman, Sister of the Road: the Autobiography of Boxcar Bertha, Retrieved Jan. 21, 2006
2. C. James, "Boxcar Betty", Retrieved Jan. 21, 2006

[edit] See also

• Industrial Workers of the World
• David Rovics
• Freighthopping
• Hobo

[edit] External links

• Song for Boxcar Betty, the lyrics of a song by David Rovics
• IWW free speech struggles