Why "I Don't Dream of Labor" Doesn't Work

[@shaguarbass]

"Black women have never not worked in this country." What a great concise bit of commentary that says so much.

[@SpaztasticSheep]

This!

[@theewildrose]

The myth of women not working is 100% bullshit across the board. Women were just expected to work for less, denied leadership roles, and put child rearing first. Yet almost all had some kind of hustle if not an official job. If there was a family business they almost certainly helped run it but didn't get the credit

[@trevorhaddox6884]

"I sit here working like a dog, DAY and NIGHT, drinking coffee from a pot NONE OF YOU WANNA TOUCH!" (Hidden Figures)

[@CC3GROUNDZERO]

Yeah that one instantly stuck with me too.

[@leannezezeski-sass2773]

All women black or white or whatever race work harder than most when they have children at home and they don’t even get paid or get appreciated for it

[@tREXrules27]

Stopping halfway through to say that the John Henry story is the reason why I’ll always support people like Simone Biles who wisely choose to protect themselves instead of succumbing to the dangerous American ideal of martyrdom for a glory they may not be able to enjoy in the end

[@ChrisDavis-wi4yn]

Absolutely!!!

[@iriejones8292]

This is so profound

[@krsouff]

100% this. I remember that story making me feel very sad as a child. He did all that, and for what? He deserved better. And so do we.

[@DeannaBaileytheRavensFan]

All of this!

[@NickRaven]

We Americans have this dreadful attitude toward mental health (including the lack of education) and the religious value of labor/work. Signifier points out correctly: you can't just say "I Don't Dream of Labor" in a society that requires labor to live. I hate working in a warehouse 40 hours a week, plus the extra 10 hours to commute to/from just so I can put food on the table and have a small 1br apartment. I do dream of labor, I dream of working on art and making KZbin videos (I have another channel where I do that for reals), but I can't do that while, as Signifier also points out, that metes out pennies until you get lucky with the algorithm or someone calls you out. The former I've kinda had, the latter I haven't, so I get by with "man, why doesn't this channel have hundreds of thousands of subs yet?" and I'm like "shyeah, rly?" This idea that I should have to take 50 of my most productive hours, 5 of the 7 days of the week to make someone else rich who doesn't even work for the company I work for, they just control the capital, I'm against that. IT goes against the egalitarian spirit that this nation was built on, full blast. But I dream of work and I dream of creatio nand I dream of making things. I'll always work because I love working and not because I'm subjugated or brainwashed into believing that.

[@commentry959]

Im not Black but as a first generation latino kid whos mother kept inforcing that, "im her retirement plan", this video explains the grievences i have towards, "i dont dream of labor" so well. Truly obsessed with ur videos !

[@TravellerZasha]

Omg i'm a first generation sri lankan kid and i'm also my moms retirement plan. It's all my mom talks about/lives for. It makes me depressed so much that my mom stays in a job she hates because she wants retirement even though these days who can even retire but the rich. And I feel expected to make it come true but I struggle to even find a job I like. I don't want to end up like her, stuck in a job i hate for many years just to barely make enough for retirement or even work more.

[@omnisexualidiot3750]

@@TravellerZasha tell your mom this. I doubt any mom would want to purposely put their kid in emotional distress over something like this. Idk what either of your home lives/living situations are, but if that’s her plan I’d just make everyone living in the household who’s old enough pay a small portion of rent so she can save up. And then just continue living together until she’s got enough saved up, or you guys just don’t want to. Not a perfect plan, but it’s the best I could come up with.

[@jestrel]

@@omnisexualidiot3750You'd be surprised how manu mothers can be well selfish as fuck but hopefully they do figure it out Ill just say they need to worry for themselves

[@Fatelvis2]

do you have brothers and sisters to share the load ? many guys end up as 'son husbands' when my friend's father left he told him its your turn now WOW to what be a husband to his mother and father to his sister!!!

[@PancakeTheKat]

I’m a first generation Syrian kid and my mom says that all the time. as much as I love my mom, she puts a bit too much on me. I don’t even have a drivers liscence(just started high school) and I feel that I have to be successful and make a ton of money the moment I leave college, heck even be successful the moment I leave high school! She’s not doing this with malicious intent, but yk?

[@kmfdm5]

The actual story of John Henry is meant to tell the story black labor exploitation under black codes. Its basically our coal miner's tale. The way its commonly portrayed now is very minstrel like

[@thetommydLuffy]

Facts

[@khango6138]

As an Southeast Asian, I can relate to this. Our story of personal perseverance and dedication often get co-opted by the ruling class as a "the good minority" trope and weaponized against other communities, but also to keep us in line with what they expect us to be: quiet laborers that don't complain or think for ourselves.

[@Zom13y]

@@khango6138 hey it’s a hell of a win win for US politicians in the 60’s and 70’s though. They get to win over Asian allies during the build up of the Cold War, racist Whites can scapegoat the Asian community to prove that if Blacks were just more well behaved then they would be more prosperous in society, and “liberal” politicians can champion a minority community that is popular at the moment. It’s seriously messed up, but now with all these assaults and slurs ramping up against the Asian communities and individuals Asians in the US because of the association with COVID, we can see through how thinly vailed America’s racism against it’s Asian people really is. For your community to work so hard to be seen, like actually seen, and only to have it be used as propaganda to further another’s means that’s freaking tragic.

[@lsmmoore1]

I'm pretty sure it's also co-opted to glorify the idea of dying on a hill for the sake of a company in general - but then again, that's also a facet of other forms of inspiration p0rn about other marginalized groups (i.e. poor kids in Africa - and it's usually Africa in these stories portrayed as if it's a single country - or disabled people in general) - it keeps those groups down, but is also used as a cudgel for members of groups that are not marginalized (or marginalized only due to poverty) so as to "keep them in their place".

[@ayametheepic]

@@khango6138 same but I'm Pakistani and people don't think I'm a good person because of that

[@mutantchiki3988]

Name discrimination is definitely a thing. I had a discussion with my boss because he was literally passing on resumes based on the way the name sounded or looked. When I confronted him about it he said that he didn't want to talk to them and not be able to pronounce their name 😖

[@SeymourDisapproves]

😬

[@itsmefm]

As someone who has a name that's "difficult to pronounce" and it's so hard to find a job when people named "Sarah Johnson" are also applying to the same job 😐 How is the way a name is pronounced even remotely related to the skillset of a person?? I literally cannot sometimes

[@thisisside01]

@F M and how hard is it to start an interview with a handshake and a “hello I’m [interviewer], how do I pronounce your name?”

[@kaylastarr7863]

Wow you can literally Google a KZbin video to pronounce ANY name. I've done it for interviews and other situations!!! That's just lazy and discrimination at its finest

[@wordforger]

You know how to fix that? ASK.

[@ValensBellator]

I always loved the John Henry and Paul Bunyan stories, but I always thought of them as Tragedies. They’re stories about the rise of mechanization and the declining value of human physical labor. In the end, while putting up an admirable fight, they can’t turn back time.

[@MTGirlthegamer]

Yes I really loved the folk story’s

[@aick]

Same here, but I was raised in that white "work ethic" culture, by and large, so I think the ground was laid for me to admire those characters despite the horror they represent.

[@blakeduckly2875]

But wouldn't the rise of the automated labor lead to safer conditions. It was one of the most dangerous jobs in America at the time, leading to over 200 deaths each year, not including injuries. I agree it's not right for a company to go back on a contract to save money (and I'm sure they didn't have the safety of the laborers as top priority). But isn't automation of dangerous jobs the goal we should thrive for.

[@JacobMoonsMocs]

@@blakeduckly2875 I"m no expert but I think the fear of the mechanical age was the loss of jobs. Imagine finding a job without an education a mode of transport and all without the internet to to have the ability to email job postings People needed the job so they wouldn't be against the unsafe conditions as that was what they were paid to do

[@blakeduckly2875]

@@JacobMoonsMocs what are your thoughts on shutting down the keystone pipeline job which would've provided 11,000 jobs?

[@vsboardza]

I feel like I manifested you, I needed black male thought from black men who do not call women 'females'

[@FDSignifire]

The bar is so low😔 Ima exceed it though we gon do better

[@ShermanWilliamsVideo]

@@FDSignifire Except she called you a male. It's disingenuous at best to use the term male and balk at the term female.

[@FDSignifire]

@@ShermanWilliamsVideo I have never been in. Situation where being called a male felt disrespectful or threatening though. The context changes the dynamic a lot.

[@AntoniaSweet1]

@@ShermanWilliamsVideo ZimboCapetonian didn't call him a male. "Black male" is used as an adjective in the sentence; it's describing "thought". Zimbo used men (not males) when referring to Fiq. Fiq already addressed the sociological distinction of being called male vs female, but I wanted to point out that male wasn't used as a noun at all in this situation.

[@robertreed9818]

@@FDSignifire "Black women have never NOT worked..." I had to pause the video for a praise break. You can have all of these amens and hallelujahs, and I will even throw in an "I am a fan of you today" just for good measure.

[@marrble4166]

I know that these videos are primarily for black men and boys, but I just needed to let you know how much these videos mean to me. I’m a fifteen year old girl, my mom is white and my dad is black, but he hasn’t been in my life in a long time. The things he would have taught me when I was growing up he obviously never has, and my mom wasn’t much help in that department, as much as I appreciate her. You have no idea how much it means to have found a male role-model who CAN teach me about the world, it’s an extremely comforting thing to have. Thank you so much, man, I really hope more people can be exposed to your content :)

[@thetommydLuffy]

We got ya back g!!!!

[@JBOYTHEPROD]

💕the world is yours💕🌍

[@WillElMagnifico]

@@JBOYTHEPROD 🎶Itsmineitsmineitsmine Who's world is this? 🎶

[@jubilantsleep]

Aww. Super happy for you.

[@chrislloyd415]

This right here! 🔥

[@leekestner1554]

I love this. I am 61, white, and I learned a version of John Henry in the 70's that had two verses about him having a wife, Polly Ann. When he drops she runs to him and his dying words if for her to be "true" and not remarry when he is dead. My mother, who taught me the song, hated this verse. She told me that it was entirely unfair for him to ask that of her because it severely limited her options for making a good life for herself in those days when women, especially black women, were so limited in what way they could make a living. So Disney didn't create these verses about Polly Ann. I haven't seen their John Henry because my kids were hitting middle school at that time and not as keen on Disney, so I don't know how there verse went. She also pointed out that it was stupid from the point that he killed himself and proved nothing and the steam engine was put into use anyway.

[@kotandkotik]

I'll have to dig up some of my old books. I wasn't taught the story of John Henry, but rather read it. He was, of course, discussed in English classes in the lessons on tall tales, but it was always a flat telling of the bare bone basics. I always knew? Assumed? He was married, but I can't recall any direct mention of his wife. It makes me curious if I, myself, was reading an...abridged version or if I just didn't retain the details of the matter. (Honestly, what always stuck with me is the kid that held the ties in place. That one errant blow could kill the kid but he knew/ trusted John would keep true.) Perhaps it's because I, myself, am a luddite but I've a lot of respect for him. Sometimes you can fight like hell and still lose. What's important is that you fought. Yes, he died but he also proved man could do a job as well as any machine. I suppose for me it's a principle thing? He had a belief, and he fought for it. I guess I always thought that had been the point. I live in a state where mining for coal and gathering oil are big industries. Those and ranching are the biggest jobs. So when I hear cries of "We need to quit depending on fossil fuels. Shut all these things down!" In a perfect world I agree, but the world ain't perfect. If you wanna close those down you damn well have jobs to replace them with. Until then I'm gonna be against it. Don't take a person's livelihood then just be like "Sucks to suck, buttercup. Should've gotta a better job". ( The jobs in "better" fields frequently being horrifically over saturated as is. Let alone with millions more vying for the jobs) Yes, in the end he died, but he died for something he believed in, and felt was worth fighting for, y'know? I have some mad respect for a lot his actions.( Him asking his wife not to remarry, yeah, not cool, especially all things considered)

[@JohnEusebioToronto]

Exactly. John Henry didn't "win." He beat the machine once but the machine went on to beat him every single day afterwards. Did he think that his boss would refuse further mechanization because one of his workers could work slightly faster than the machine so long as he worked at a pace that would kill him? John Henry is either the story of a man working himself to death to justify his continued existence through labour at best, or the story of dying for ego at worst. Neither is a happy story.

[@CC3GROUNDZERO]

@@JohnEusebioToronto Or maybe it's a story of pure desperation about a demographic class of people who knew what their only assigned value in the shameful capitalist system was (and obviously still is).

[@redjoker365]

@@kotandkotik That's why I recommend building factories for manufacturing solar panel and wind turbine components in places like former coal and oil towns

[@jinx1987]

I thought the point of John Henry’s sacrifice was so that his family and the workers can get the land they were promised if they finished the work.

[@breadpilled2587]

I cant speak about black experience when it comes to "I dont dream of labor" but I'd love to see this topic viewed thru a disabled lense as well. I CAN'T dream of labor, I dont even have a choice because it is impossible for me.

[@thatboringone7851]

Same here. Because I don't have a visible disability, I'm expected by most to fully and completely take part in labor that I have no way of maintaining - "I don't dream of labor" is an important concept to me directly because of that. Even if suddenly I get adequate recognition and support, it wouldn't erase that I had to spend years undiagnosed and in poverty being told I must be able to do any labor or else I'm a lazy/shitty person, and it still wouldn't solve that I'm expected to live on a poverty level income despite an inability to participate in labor. Even something like KZbin as a passion project would require things I can't consistently manage. I've been itching to see a take on this (other than my own or the odd KZbin comment) from the perspective of being disabled, neurodivergent, etc, or otherwise one that recognises barriers in all forms of labor.

[@louisachalarca6494]

Same I’m on this hellish journey to get on disability after my seizures became too much and unsafe to drive and no one seems to understand the entire process is so uphill and it’s like but I’m dealing with an illness I’m battling how am I supposed to pay for my necessary meds if I need to drive to get paperwork faxed where it needs to go for the separate financial assistance paperwork let alone get birth certificates as an adoptee for disability. I need funds now for meds yesterday I’m having more seizures and it gets harder and harder it’s hell. I feel like a failure and lazy

[@louisachalarca6494]

Not to mention work and sexual assault and violence being synonymous for years isn’t supposed to stop from expected get right back to work every time

[@soupythecat]

Same.

[@marocat4749]

That is nessesary, if you want to have a good labor union, they need to be inclusive, caue people, are different. With different needs. And yeah bieing not rassist and thoughtful of that is baseline too.

[@sundaesorceress]

I don't really understand how "start a side gig/small business/side hustle" is supposed to be somehow an antidote to 'not dreaming of labour'.

[@amberjohnson9789]

Overtime if your small business blows up, you can retire earlier, or make residual income etc

[@SmileyAdventures]

@@amberjohnson9789 key word: “IF” which is not enough in the greater scheme of things for all, because having your own business is not meant for everyone, or not enough people can sustain a successful business to pass down to their lineage to develop generational wealth.

[@abigailrowe5024]

@@amberjohnson9789 That's a big IF Amber

[@phxcppdvlazi]

@@amberjohnson9789 99% of businesses fail in the first 2 years.

[@EritreanGamerOfficial]

i understand u. but personally i'm 22, i currently got a side hustle to make some bread. i fully understand that I need to get a more stable job with a better income. but, even though I got a college degree , I've been rejected everytime that I applied for a job in my field of studies. so, for the meanwhile I keep on hustling around as I don't got anything better (I'm still doing some studies too). i hope that my small business blow up someday or I get accepted somewhere.

[@chocolateaddictedartist5924]

As an Indian whose family has constantly been surrounded by 'work hard and good things will happen to you' rhetoric, (both my grandfathers were the first in their families to become literate), it's fascinating to see how after years of colonization around the world, marginalized groups have been spoonfed the ideals of meritocracy when the game is rigged. Great to hear your perspective.

[@FDSignifire]

Hey everyone! This production was a bit... messy. I got it out in time but not unscathed. The angle is different, I kind of like it but you guys tell me if you prefer the old view. With the change in angel came some lighting and audio problems that I tried my best to correct in post. I think it's minimally distracting but for the eagle eyes out there (and I know you're out there) I know there's some kinks. This also sadly led to me having to cut doing a shout-out to all my new patrons in this video. I'm so sorry yall, I'll make it up to ya! That said I hope you all enjoy.

[@AdamKirbyMusic]

I prefer the old angle tbh, and yeah there's something weird-looking about your video segments. Audio and video always sucks to get right.

[@Itzryan288]

This angle is okay the microphone in the shot is a bit destracting though

[@josephjoestar9269]

All about the topics for me! Great content, made me rethink a lot of things!

[@23ahndra]

The angle change will take a bit of getting used to but its fine. Long as the audio is crisp…you could film in a treehouse. 🤷🏾‍♀️ Excellent work as us usual.

[@mkthbud]

*Me listening to this as a podcast * 🧐 where?

[@TheDarkAdventure]

Do you know how frustrating it is trying to get my white coworkers to understand that working extra hours to be under paid is definitely not the wave? They find it odd that as soon as 4pm hits I'm out the door. One of them said that "you're paid what you're worth" and "if you bring more value you'll get paid more". It's an interesting form of brainwashing. Even our direct manager said he's being under paid. The average wage for my position is 64k and I make 55k. In the tech industry there is a heavy focus on not hiring Black Americans. There is also a focus on never giving raises. It's "industry standard" to have to jump ship in order to get a pay raise. That is why I do not agree with the jump ship method. I can't just find a new job at will. I keep telling them, if we don't show up they go broke, but they don't see how that means we should be paid more. It's pretty interesting. Definitely a deep brain conditioning.

[@marocat4749]

I knew about the harassment and manosphere and lack of diversity, but that is, should get more focus that its rassist too, damn. And you being, there is the toxic grind mentality, but you literally want everyone to get paid better. Good luck at least convincing some people that its nessesary that things have to change, Head up?!

[@TheDarkAdventure]

@@marocat4749 The manosphere? What're you talking about?

[@marocat4749]

@@TheDarkAdventure Sexism.

[@TheDarkAdventure]

@@marocat4749 uhh right. I was talking about the tech industry

[@BoykoMix]

This isn’t entirely related but I’ve kinda become that person at my new job. Everyone else will stop working and start packing up 10 minutes before close, while I’m still doing shit up to the last minute (or sometimes a few minutes beyond). And like, it’s not because I care about the company or the wealth of the rich people who own it, it’s not because I believe that extra effort will genuinely improve things for me. Instead, it’s just something that’s been metaphorically beaten into me by my past jobs, where the expectation was to be 100% focused on maximum productivity for every second of your shift and beyond, where working 30 minutes to an hour and a half post the technical end of your shift was the norm. Not fitting into those expectations would result in getting yelled at, getting written up, getting hours cut, or eventually just being fired. Those latter two meaning homelessness for me. And like, I realize that’s not a good habit to have and that I should get rid of it. But it’s tough. My boss personally went and thanked me for putting in that effort since I’ve been hired and helping the company out, and initially, it felt really good. I’m someone who’s got a lot of insecurities over not being valued, both in and outside the workplace, so that kind of positive feedback really hits me. But, well, I know that appreciation isn’t going to lead to any kind of substantial raises or anything for me. In fact, it’s the exact opposite, the only thing I’m really accomplishing is raising the standards for everyone else to an unfair and explorative level (as evidenced by my boss almost immediately following up his comment with “we need more of your attitude here”). The whole thing is fucked. I really do believe with all my hear that we nearly all work way too hard for not enough pay or respect, especially in blue collar work. But at the same time, the poverty I deal with often has me feeling like I don’t have the freedom to really demonstrate that, that I’m too desperate to stick to my values.

[@warandpoetry9542]

My father was a bricklayer, and I saw him as akin to John Henry as a kid. He worked until his body was broken, all so his children wouldn’t have to work like he did, like countless of his ancestors did, killing themselves for a small cut of someone else’s profits. I saw John Henry as a kid, and I saw him as noble, a working class hero. Now I see that, like my dad, he was just another victim who deserved better, not a model to emulate. Thanks for opening my eyes to this.

[@draco_1876]

Men are supposed to work

[@TheWonkster]

​@draco_1876 everyone is supposed to contribute to the society which they benefit from. That isn't supposed to mean annihilating your body to still struggle.

[@ethangara-5284]

@@draco_1876if ur relying on gender norms, then men are supposed to provide. Providing is different from just working, and if you watched the video I hope you can figure out the difference

[@skeletonsquid]

The Whole "I Dont Dream of Labor" mindset is in tandem with not having to work to simply survive. You shouldnt have to sacrifice your body mind and soul just to feed your kids, and give them access to some form of 'Normality'. You shouldnt have to work for a living only to have NO LIFE TO LIVE, and that extends to those 'Essential Workers' who deserve 'Danger Bonus' and dont even get that.

[@sg-cg6lr]

That's what it might have been about when it started. Some co ops later it's now anti capitalist.

[@Alex_Barbosa]

@@sg-cg6lr Good

[@pinkocommiee1]

Why should a first responder get paid a bonus for doing his/her job? It's outlined in the job description "dangerous/hazardous to your health " but I will agree It's wrong for a person with a 8th grade reading level to land a job making $45-$60k and there job/position is no where near as important or dangerous, not to forget the higher education requirements to even get the entry level position so first responders paycheck should reflect how important they are off top!

[@undeadblizzard]

@pinkocommiee1 That is not really the point you shouldn't have to earn the right to live. When we have to the technology and science to make people comfortable for over three hundred years, you can not measure labor. Not all jobs that are valuable are paid what they are worth. Childcare Workers Teachers provide society great value but paid minimum wage. Yet, stock brokers are basically professional gamblers get paid hundreds of thousands.

[@pinkocommiee1]

@@undeadblizzard major problem with what you're saying is, poor people don't pool their resources to make this utopia work that you and many other socialism/communism loving folks babble about. A group of people (citizens) can pool as much money they can muster together and use it to create the same wealth that stock brokers do, then fairly and evenly distribute the gains amongst those who participate but ya won't, cause just like them evil capitalistic stock brokers there's greed in your heart just like them! Hell the same idea can be applied to health care, reduce the unnecessary visits to the emergency room by going back to the days of old when doctors made house calls, one of the supposed reasons for the U.S. debt being so high is these unpaid Hospital emergency room visits for minor shit like, bumps, bruises, scraps, headaches, common cold & flu symptoms, infants who develop gas better known as colic, minor springs, etc. Let's not forget drug & alcohol abuse related bullshit that contributes to this medical debt. You liberals/progressives believe in doctors without borders but won't practice the same shit right here in the United States why is that 🤔 There's a bunch of private medical facilities why isn't there one called "We The People Hospital " funded by y'all the people? 🤔 Three hundred years of technology that has made it possible for all humans to live comfortably exist where? The Chinese been around for over four thousand years with a so called advanced society, yet the Chinese government is dependent on slave labor right now today in order to sustain itself, many none white African nations also still enslave folks to this day, so what global technology you talking about exist that's capable of making life so easy for human beings? What's funny is states like California and New York which are controlled by radical leftists/progressives/liberals have the money and infrastructure to help make some of your beliefs reality but won't, so tell me who's truly are the evil bad guy's 🤨🤷🏾‍♂️

[@meechelin5498]

When I say "I don't dream of labor" its always "I don't want to waste my life away at a job that exploits my time and doesn't pay me enough to survive, acknowledge that I'm a human, give me what I need to thrive not just survive, etc." I love working in the beer industry. I'm kinda spread all across my company right now but am in the process of trying to find someone to take over one of my positions so I can go full time in the one I actually enjoy. I literally have no complaints about scrubbing moldy kegs (other than the disrespect of the businesses that literally let our kegs get that way and send it back like there hasn't been a mushroom/shrimp tails/etc decaying on top of it for the past 5 months while a whole flock of birds use it as a bathroom), dragging thousands of pounds of product with a pallette jack as a 5'2 woman, and spending hours handling corrosive chemicals cleaning tanks, but I want to be fairly compensated for that labor. I don't want to work to live. I want work to just be a part of my life that helps me do what I actually want. No one should be juggling multiple jobs or even working full time at one job and just barely scraping by. This is why I'm a socialist. Socialism isn't about no one working. Its about workers owning the means of production and not deciding people's value based on how much money they can make some fat cat at the top.

[@Nosliw837]

I also did beer industry work for about five years and it was getting rough. 17-20k a year for 50+ hours of manual labour while the company I was working for somehow managed to keep growing and selling more, while wages were stagnate. Anyway, you're a legend.

[@morighani]

period. everyone would be a lot more willing to work for any job as long as they’re fairly compensated and don’t have to struggle just to pay rent and buy food. a lot of the necessary jobs that are overlooked because of lack of profit would also be filled. i don’t see why anyone has a problem with that

[@lefteyereport6354]

The way I heard the John Henry story growing up, I never thought it could be read aspirationally. I never saw the Disney cartoon, so I never saw his duel against the machine as directly being anti organized labor. Instead I just remember the story as this bizarre, horrifying little nihilistic story of man fighting automation to the death, a meaningless victory that leads to nothing.

[@thisgoddamusernamestoodamnlong]

same, was it supposed to be not sad? it's like, objectively a tragedy, a poor man with no options finds the only job he can, and fight to his death to protect his livelihood and his co-worker's livelihoods, only to buy them at most 5 years of time.

[@hyperion3145]

​@@thisgoddamusernamestoodamnlong I remember hearing it in elementary school and thought "how is this a happy story?". Like, yeah, the dude won the contest but he's also dead and it didn't stop the machines from taking the jobs he would've worked. It just shows that the machine was the real winner, it can be repaired.

[@autobotstarscream765]

​@@hyperion3145 The machine, sitting in smoldering pieces as it waits to be repaired, to the humans: "Wait, the employer doesn't pay for every form of healthcare _you_ need out of his pocket and accept it as part of the cost of doing business?"

[@RavenCloak13]

​@@hyperion3145 The real problem is that it doesn't make sense cause they still needed people to work when that machine breaks down because it gets broken and was new. It takes a lot of time to fix. It's basically you don't need to destroy the machine, you can work with it. You need to work with it because it keeps people from dying in mass and thrown away. This was also back in a time where people's lives were worth nothing.

[@HeronHero]

This is interesting. The only time I've ever heard "I don't dream of labor" has always been essentially anti-capitalist. As in, "I dream of doing what I want to do *for me*, and not for bosses or a profit." I didn't know there was this other pro-capitalist, hustler side to it. It was great how nuanced your critique was. Can't wait for the next one.

[@kloggmonkey]

yeah i've only heard it as a response to what's your dream job.

[@fernandocoronado9265]

I thougth It was a critique about that anti capitalist side, now that i know this im gonna watch It

[@DavidJamesHenry]

I never saw the Disney version of the John Henry story, but jfc how did they take a working class folk hero and turn him into an obedient servant of the bourgeoisie? The version of the story I've always been told is that, first of all, he's not married, he's just a legendary, solitary big man working on the railroad, and that he stands up for his fellow workers to prove that human labor is worthwhile. His race against the drill is a competition, and he's trying to prove that workers are necessary and he even though he dies, he saves the jobs and livelihoods of his co-workers.

[@issakelly8071]

Anyone or Anything can be twisted to be used as a cudgel for the ruling class. They use MLK to silence the voices of black people trying to protest. The elite know how to weaponize a hero or folkhero against the people they would champion.

[@DavidJamesHenry]

@@issakelly8071 Clearly. Even with the short clip Fiq featured, it's so seamlessly made. Kids who see this will think being a good worker means being your boss's lapdog.

[@katherinemorelle7115]

It’s Disney. The largest media corporation in the world. Of course they’re going to push some capitalist BS. They don’t want people joining unions or striking!

[@krsouff]

You are correct. That is the story I learned as well growing up.

[@gabrielmarquez4029]

I learned that growing up too, he was a hero of the people

[@duvalovertonii6601]

I clicked this because I anticipated seeing someone talk about something messed up in Disney and then this black dreaded man pops up correctly using terminology that ppl will twist intentionally to promote a narrative and at 0:47 I’m immediately hooked and subscribing…I wish I could express myself verbally in this manner

[@Andrewism]

Thanks for the shout! A lot of food for thought in this one. John Henry is def gonna be on my mind as I start my new job lol, cuz I have an unfortunate habit of grinding myself to dust. Keep up the great work!

[@JordanSullivanadventures]

I agree, the premise of "I don't dream of labor" is a fine starting point, i.e. changing your attitude to divest yourself emotionally from the Sisyphean ideal of work as salvation. It was a revelatory and tragic point you made that Black people in America came to this conclusion centuries ago, given the many instances of Black economic prosperity being met with brutal suppression and terrorism by the State and civilians. I learned about Tulsa and Rosewood for the first time from Watchmen and Lovecraft Country, and it's still so sickeningly the inverse of what I was taught for my entire life about why Black communities are impoverished and have high "crime rates." Letting go of the classic American conversation stopper that is "personal responsibility" has been the most freeing thing for my mind. I think the "I don't dream of labor" trend seems to fall prey to the trap of individualism as the solution. The win state of this movement is working so hard (in addition to whatever job you do to survive) and getting lucky enough that you can eventually exploit other people to support a life of relative ease. I want to establish a culture of channeling that hustle energy into organizing: strikes, mutual aid, establishing parallel power structures.

[@griffinc466]

Absolutely insane that Disney just said "Yeah, John Henry was a hero because he protected capital" and didn't even try to conceal that message. And it always bugged me as a kid when I saw heroes react to a villain cheating or fighting dirty by continuing to play fair and working even harder -- like when your opponent breaks the rules, at least try to change the game or call them on it. You don't have to just accept it. Looking at it now, it seems like that messaging would be useful in training people to respond to exploitation and oppression in weak and ineffective ways.

[@MrAbawmidabull]

Yeah thats the purpose it serves.

[@lizzie7138]

Damn great comment!

[@DR-nh6oo]

disney is insane

[@crabinijig8403]

it makes a mockery of stoicism

[@cynthmcgpoet]

I'm guessing that the creative team behind that short is mostly white. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

[@mrw3951]

Thank you for shouting out the "essential workers" that got brushed aside once it got convenient to forget the workforce that were basically chosen as the sacrifice to keep this ountry running in the most uncertain part of the Panda Express.

[@iamsocoolz]

I remember the first time I heard the John Henry story. It was taught to me in an elementary classroom in a way that presented it like he was some kind of hero for proving a man can do better than a machine. I was sad because he died to prove something that didn't even need to be proven so he could avoid losing a job he loved (that was the way his story was told to me though, I realize now someone like John Henry probably never got to choose his job the way I didn't get to choose mine; just there out of necessity to survive and nothing more. I realize as an adult that his story wasn't about a man fighting to prove he was better. It was a man trying to keep his job so he wouldn't starve.)

[@autobotstarscream765]

John Henry was a wage slave bred by actual slavery to be strong but obedient like livestock, and the machine died a martyr trying to free the workers by "stealing" a literally inhumane job from the humans.

[@roselynholloway7863]

What job do you do

[@CosplayWorkouts]

"Always hydrate after doing a capitalism" 😭 I love how your criticism comes with respect and compassion. Thank you for sharing your resources and perspectives!

[@CiscoPanch]

As a Hispanic kid where, most of my family members were handymen, plumbers, construction workers, gardners, and maintenance, the John Henry story always inspired me to follow my family and work my life in a more backbreaking career. I'm not sure why exactly, maybe my respect for my great-grandfather, grandpa, and dad who all worked in tough jobs their whole life and were permanently injured from it.

[@peacexlove]

Same here. I have one Uncle that can barely walk and still works and another Uncle that has serious nerve damage and has become so frail. I always saw him as a big fit, muscled up workaholic and now he’s literally working himself to death…

[@tempbauer2131]

I love that you clarified it’s not just hard work and persistence but also some luck plays into it. I hate when successful people only claim hard work but they don’t mention the luck that came about bc it creates a false narrative. It creates those people that work themselves to death bc they think it’s the only way

[@mediabiassucks1803]

That's why you grow a brain and PREPARE for the bad times with an emergency fund and a stocked pantry! Race hustlers like this guy will do nothing for you in the bad times. Those donations get laundered and stashed somewhere, not invested in the community! Just look at BLM.

[@flowerbloom5782]

Yeah and I hate that most people who "failed" are often dismissed as people who didn't work hard enough. Alot of success stories claim they work the hardest and thats why they succeed. It's just winner's bias. Personally I learned that working hard is not enough or being the smartest. You need more than just that. Also Just cause you work hard that doesn't mean the world owes you. Which is something that we are fed alot as kids, "work hard and you will achieve great things."

[@supppsyl]

I've said it once and I'll say it again- the level of nuanced critical thinking you bring to your videos, is so so so refreshing and needed. Keep doing the work, fam!

[@MercuryChaos]

Now that I've finished the entire video: I must not be hanging out on the parts of the internet that you're talking about, because my understanding of the phrase "I don't dream of labor" is that it's a retort to the question "What's your dream job?", and an objection to the whole idea that our lives and identity should revolve around work. I (an upper-middle class white millennial) feel like a lot of people my age were sold this idea of a "dream job" as kids and have figured out as adults that it's not a realistic goal for most people - and worse, that even if you do get a job by "following you passion", that passion is more likely to be exploited than rewarded (like how people get mad when teachers and caregivers ask for higher pay because they're not supposed to be "in it for the money".) That being said, I'm not surprised that people have taken this phrase to mean "quit your job and live on side hustles!" because we live in a capitalist hellscape. -_-

[@chrishale5213]

Black millenial here, And I can understand your perspective of being sold the idea of the "dream job". What Fiq is trying to draw out is that this phenomenon has been a long running issue in the black community. We've never quite bought into the american dream because of the hatred we've dealt with in the job market. I believe the call to action he's trying to level for the "I don't dream of Labor" idea is that to be more attractive to outside demographics something more tangible as an alternative has to be discussed. Because for many men, the dream wasn't work but providing for their family and ending the proximity to poverty. And if there is to be a move leftward, it has to come with a recognizable alternative. The hustle culture is yet another dead end like the "dream job". But its a bit of an easier sale to black males because it "appears" possible. Ultimately, he's trying to say, to get more black men leftward, there has to be a real option presented that will help their family. Otherwise, that sort of movement will ring hollow to alot of men. I'm far more left than Fiq seems to be but I understand that perspective.

[@BookwormSkates]

Yeah this is my perspective too. When I'm listening to this video the author is making good points, but it feels like the author is responding to a version of "I don't dream of labor" that I don't see or subscribe to. "I don't dream of labor" means (to me) "I don't want to work forever, I don't want to capitalize on my dreams, I think that everyone deserves a dignified life without earning a wage."

[@BookwormSkates]

@@chrishale5213 OK but the concept that "a man needs to provide for the family" is just patriarchy and toxic masculinity. I guess if someone hasn't unpacked that then they would struggle to grasp the idea that you are entitled to a dignified life without any job or side hustle. "I don't dream of labor" is an argument to abolish wage labor and is incompatible with the idea of "providing for your family."

[@nasundo6046]

​@@BookwormSkatesI think this is exactly what the video is referring to though. We can conceptualize ideal labor ethics all we want, but that fact of the matter is, that doesn't exist right now. It seems like Fiq is operating on the presumption that one, we still live and operate in a capitalist society, and two, a lot of people (black men specifically) form their identity around wage-based labor/capitalism.

[@kaylastarr7863]

@BookwormSkates your first paragraph seems very small minded, and he directly addresses that idea in the video. You can't just hand wave "patriarchy and toxic masculinity" and expect real people who are really trying to /feed their children/ to change their behavior in a system that does not allow them too. In fact, it's not even their behavior that is the problem. The fact they are more or less forced to destroy themselves in order to survive, not even thrive, is the problem. This isn't "male ego is so fragile they need to grow up." That's a white male problem. This is "black men are expected to be disposable and used for others gain, and if they don't, their family will suffer."

[@michael.471]

I find it amazing how people are so afraid of CRT when it’s literally just an analysis of how race effects a thing

[@mammajamma4397]

That's why white people are scared. If they acknowledge the truth, they'll be forced to change it.

[@haitiankid9456]

The truth can be too heavy sometimes

[@MechAdv]

People don’t want CRT taught to kids because it is sufficient to teach the children history, and demonstrate how racism is evil. There’s no need to explain to a child systems of hierarchy and implicit privilege based on the color of their skin. It is wholly sufficient for them to know that racism in the past and present results in heinous acts of violence and exclusion and unfairness. Children should be taught tolerance first, as that is the basis of right and wrong when it comes to “race” relations. Then you can teach them conflict theories such as CRT and intersectionalism when they are adults with adult brains.

[@michael.471]

@@MechAdv How history is taught, especially in America, is aggressively whitewashed. Like how we don’t explain how Columbus was an actively genocidal monster who did war crimes for all intents and purposes. Or how basically all of the founding fathers supported slavery or owned indentured servants (Washington’s teeth were composed of teeth stolen from his slaves). Being honest with students about history is important. Over here in Ireland we learn about the horrors of the famine from an incredibly young age.

[@MechAdv]

@@michael.471 I don’t think you’re very well educated in history my friend if those are your examples. For one, Columbus was highly obsessed with converting the “new world” and its inhabitants to Christianity. How ever you feel about that it’s a far cry from genocide. There is no historical account of him ordering his men to perform genocidal acts intentionally, and he wrote multiple times of needing to discipline men who abused natives. The often taken out of context journal entry where Columbus supposedly wanted to turn all the “Indians” into slaves was actually mistranslated and he was referring to them being “good servants(of God)”. So go look into it. There’s a great video somewhere on KZbin of contextualizing Columbus, and it’s exactly what I was taught in high school. As far as slave ownership among the founding fathers? Absolutely and repeatedly taught in school here. They definitely try to downplay it by pointing out all the ones who freed their slaves, or “made families” that they raised as their own or whatever, but we were definitely informed that Washington, Jefferson and all those cats were fucked up in their own special ways, and were products of their time.

[@beespangler7211]

"CRT is basically just history" is a super effective one liner that sums up all the shit I ever try to argue with coworkers

[@Acidfunkish]

1) parents should have literally 0 control over public school curriculums, and 2) if we're going to teach history, it should be done as accurately as possible

[@Gaff.]

What are the arguments like? Are they able to define CRT?

[@wildfire9280]

@@Acidfunkish As well as including *all* vital information to the current state of our world and not just refusing to address anything that makes us look bad. You can be 100% accurate while still picking and choosing what to include or exclude.

[@goncalodias6402]

CRT is an interpretation of history based on american events during segregation an that shaped the whole view of the world for those who made that theory.

[@kaylastarr7863]

@@Gaff. there's no way they can, i have people in my life who bitch about CRT too. As if they know a single thing about it, *like the fact it's a specific legal theory and has nothing to do with history classes at the K-12 level.* At this point i do not believe that they genuinely care what the term literally talks about - it's just a term they can dogwhistle now. Everyone knows they're being racist but it's coded enough to be able to say in "polite" society, like work.

[@justclassicglam]

They played John Henry in class during Black History Month at my Christian school when I was in like 3rd Grade, and I always felt like there was something wrong with the story in that it conflicted with what our history lessons taught us about racism. This video definitely opened up memories I had about John Henry and was very informative. 👍

[@FoxyPercival714]

Yeah, I saw this movie because of history class. Weird.

[@freeloading_toad]

They did at my Christian school too. They also showed us Johnny Appleseed, and we made apple pancakes and talked about saving the forest. They did not, however, teach us anything about racism when they showed us John Henry

[@southofsublime8926]

Literally fired my therapist partially because he asked me if I'd considered starting a yt channel or etsy store when I complained about work being difficult and unstable bc of poverty and disabilities. Embarrassing af. Thanks so much for this!! Really feel like a perspective that's considerate of folks with kids/families is DESPERATELY needed on the left as well as more POC's voices ofc.

[@johnnykuprionis7385]

"Unlike the left's nebulous, never-ending, 'one day we will seize the means of production' -- (hustle culture / Black capitalism) directly engages with the reality of what oppressed people are going through." This was a great insight at the end. There's obviously a lot to process here (as always), but I think my main takeaway is how many people are already working so hard and just want to get by.

[@sawssman965]

@@EggEnjoyer 💯

[@Robstafarian]

As the effects of capitalism and exploitative labor (yes, that is redundant) have become worse, mutual aid has become damn near impossible for most people. This is why leftist ideals feel nebulous instead of feeling like a familiar group of anarchocommunists who directly support a community.

[@krel7160]

@@Robstafarian I feel the biggest failure capitalism has had in modern times is that, across the board, politicians, corporations, and really anyone with a hint of money, have sold their souls to the stock market and the public investor. Nasty bill going to ruin your profits? Pay off the congressman, bribe a few statesmen, and suddenly that bill exempts *specifically* your line of products through loophole. Workers doing their best and standard cost of living + inflation causing their wage to no longer be livable? Don't give them a raise, they're replaceable cogs in our infinite machine, ANYONE can do it! They care too much about the people up top lining their pockets with money, and too little about valuing their employees and direct supporters. I'm not out here as one to chant "seize the means of production", but even as someone on the right wing.. we need to reel things back in. Serve the people, not the system. Help each other, not the man who can retire two hundred times over and still have money to buy ten yachts. Especially when those very men choose, very deliberately to circumvent the taxes of the nation or nations they work in, outsource their labor for pennies on the dollar, and then reap the BENEFITS of the taxes they DID NOT PAY. That is corruption at it's finest.

[@Robstafarian]

@@krel7160 The war on labor prevents us from helping one another because we cannot spare money, time, or energy. Hence, no one can reduce their dependence on the corporatist oligarchy which borders on feudalism thanks to corporate personhood.

[@astrozombieandfitch5020]

I was wondering when America would have our own equivalent word for 'Karoshi' (working yourself literally to death in Japan) because I had never heard of John Henry before.

[@abandonablesnowman]

Love this channel, but I will say sometimes leftists are talked about like we’re all in the ivory tower. Working class leftists with kids definitely exist and we can hate our stupid jobs while imagining a better world via socialism

[@mastermarkus5307]

@@northcountrywoodcraftny5953 The US isn't a socialist country (the means of production aren't owned by the workers, for instance), and left vs right _does_ matter because they're representing distinctly different ideologies. While I agree that there's a lot of money corrupting politics, especially in the U.S., you're not really... critiquing it accurately.

[@error-try-again-later]

Literally watching this from a deprived area rn lol.

[@chesspiece4257]

@@northcountrywoodcraftny5953that’s a result of capitalism *without* regulation. perhaps they had the best product at first, and now they have the money to ensure that they have the best product by making all of the other ones worst. capitalism at its purest form doesn’t have rules over *how* you make your product the best. you can’t have a fair game without rules. and the difference between the left and right *does* matter if you’re not a straight white cisgender middle-class man. only one side is okay with me existing.

[@dedstar2132]

@@northcountrywoodcraftny5953capitalism is a race to the top, not “best product wins”. If you were a large business owner, you’d do the same to beat out competition. That’s tht capitalism always has been.

[@scottbuck1572]

Thinking that ANY government or political structure created my white over 100 years ago should not be implemented into modern society without completely redefining and restructuring it

[@aaronchin2199]

I get why this statement gets a lot of hate but I always took it more to mean "none of the things that give my life meaning are tied to work" as opposed to "I don't want to work". Maybe it's a meaningless distinction. Like I don't draw my identity or goals form labor but acknowledge it's inherit to life.

[@anewplasticidea]

it isnt meaningless, it's that. the example of the brand deals is perfect. a way to make money and put it back into your life and your content while not shilling out garbage. it doesn't get hate because it is misunderstood. i don't dream of labor means literally just that. it is not a dream and the dream usually means millions or billions. you will not get there. in the meantime we need unions for people to have simple rights (like SEX WORKERS) while they work and on our way to abolition. that is what it is. if you have healthcare, an advocate, days off, fair pay, someone to fight for you, etc that is what it is for to help us on our way to freedom. simply. there is no winning in capitalism and it is sucking us dry and the empire continues to fall. who does that affect the most? black people, black trans women esp, and there is a work to prison pipeline essentially which is why we support abolition (i am talking we as in the belief) in all senses they cannot exist with each other. we are people we are not the things in which we buy (fredy perlman, reproduction of daily life is just an amazing way to start thisto unravel the indebtment to work. labor is not natural, capitalism is not natural. starting a business is not what i dont dream of labor means. taht's still trying to obtain and obsess over capital and output instead of fulfillment and peace that with more rights we can give back to our communities who need it if we are able to expand on our own. businesses as we know it do not care about that though, yes, they must be run. anyways lol

[@k.d3983]

I agree. I think that people forget that the phrase has a bunch of sides to it. People who criticize it should at least be behind (like the commentor) above me of labor being at least decent (as in we don’t get overworked with very little pay and no benefits).

[@stepahead5944]

It's not that phrase that people are reacting to but the actual content of the videos which moves beyond what you stated and into the issues that were summarized towards the start of this video.

[@saggguy7]

i think that’s *exactly* it. It’s about a work-to-live rather than a live-to-work mentality. That said, it’s a privileged approach to take for sure. So many people do not have the option *not* to work for the majority of their waking lives. It’s hard to start a passive side hustle if you’re too poor not to work all the fucking time. So regardless of what people mean by the statement, I can understand why people get irked when they see young white people complaining about their high-paying careers. A lot of people can only dream of living the life that those people’s careers allow them. That doesn’t mean that young white people aren’t allowed to have problems with their jobs, or that they weren’t truly overworked or exploited at their jobs. I just mean that I can understand why people would find it tone deaf.

[@anewplasticidea]

@@saggguy7 but the majority of people making these true statements (if they are being honest) are not that. it isnt aout opting out, it's about education and realizing what true dignity is and how much fo a failure this system is. we should find it myopic from people who simply do not have the "right" idea (understanding) or twist it for their feelings. but this counts for all-not falling into the bourgeoisie trap but finding meaning in your existence WITHOUT work. i'm more privileged than poor white people in the regard of class and that matters for me and for them. advancement for me and my people (who are at the same calss disadvantage and its compounded by blackness and other identities) includes them. additionally please this is /not/ a white take just bc this may be the most prominent in the space does not mean that is close to true.

[@twistysunshine]

I will say that "I don't dream of labour" has been helpful to me as a disabled person- everybody wants me to "get better", be "cured" try out all their little "magic fixes" (how many times have I been told "if you just try jogging, or maybe get off that birth control" I s2g) so that way I can get a job, be "a productive member of society" all that shit. Feeling like I'm worthless bc if I am not getting better, and i won't. If I get any better, it will likely be in a way that still doesn't give me a career, as opposed to like. $3.60 at goodwill (did you know they legally are allowed to pay disabled people below minimum wage in many states?). Just seeing a movement where the point is "your goal does not have to be a job. Life is meaningful without work." Has been really comforting to me, bc many of the people within it aren't even disabled. So it's not a "wrong" or "selfish" or disabled thing to wish for things in life that don't have to do with a job or career or money. Not to say the movement is without ableism, but yeah. I think its interesting how the usefulness of like the discussions in some movements really does depend on what society has grouped us into

[@Acidfunkish]

Goodwill is forking evil.

[@giovannime3192]

Great vid! I watched my stepfather and godfather work themselves to exhaustion in the steel mills near Chicago. Both, looking forward to returning home every evening to homecooked meals in pristine homes. To self medicate from the injustice, they both drank heavily Fridays and Saturdays. It was my godfather whom sat with me and explained all the horror stories of his daily life. Begging me to complete my education and be supportive of our community. My stepfather never wanted me to see him as anything less than a hardworking, tough, and great provider.

[@pedro1234567ify]

Growing up as a Mexican American in an immigrant community surrounded by a mostly white environment, black content and experiences are the closest thing I ever had as representation, especially in media. This whole work yourself to death of John Henry is the same as "I'll rest when I'm dead" thing I heard growing up. Thank you for providing some fantastic content as always 🇲🇽

[@bagelxxbutter592]

Felt that.

[@davestrider2045]

It hit me right around the 43 minute mark that the message of this video, that the goal of black men is to provide for their family... is exactly what a lot of rural conservatives men feel. Hard work to the point of killing yourself all for family and the ideas of patriarchy. I don’t really have anything profound to follow that up with... just a thought.

[@autobotstarscream765]

Perhaps that _is_ the profound part. 🤔

[@TheDeceptionWithin]

I'm honest to God shocked people did not view the John Henry folktale as a tragedy of American capitalism 😟 I watched it as a kid and it's burned in my brain cause I was like "bruh that's helluh fucked up he didn't have to die". Speaking of which the song "Polly Ann's Hammer" by Our Native Daughters is really great. (The whole album is fire if anyone looking for Black folk music.)

[@princesssookeh]

Didn't expect to see an OND shoutout in the wild. I love that group.

[@Grannit666]

"Carl doesn't work as hard as John Henry... but he does difficult work that hurts him to do." That shit hit me hard

[@cannadesmond]

Please make the magical negro video. I feel like it's such a tired trope and they won't put it to rest. Again an excellent video.

[@tacrewgirl]

Agree

[@zinjanthropus322]

I think that was something born out of the minds of upper class white kids raised by black nannies, chauffeurs and other servants.

[@Beedler]

I would actually be really interested in this video, too, as I will admit to always liking those characters before I knew there was a term for the trope. (obviously, this says more about me being ignorant than about the characters, but I'm enough of a nerd to want to learn)

[@accordingtosophia]

In the meantime, the channel The Take did a similar video on the "magical minority" trope, which looks at the way variants of this trope stereotype different races of people.

[@Christian-eq6pq]

It’s crazy how fast this channel is growing. I remember coming across a video last month and then just binging the channel. I never thought the Bo Burnham video was going to do what it did but the fact it did, not only shed light on your channel, but multitude of well done video essays on the channel. Love the videos

[@beyankasimmons1336]

I’m dead! You really inserted an image of the devil as Ronald Reagan 😂😂😂 I cannot stop binging your videos Sig. Love your content.

[@Jekyllstein_Gray]

That was really funny.

[@StealthMarmot_]

I wasn't a fan of that. Its not really fair to associate a cartoonishly evil source of lies and suffering to the Devil like that. It's a disservice to the Devil.

[@pennyforyourthots]

​@@StealthMarmot_ they had us in the first half ngl

[@firepuppies4086]

I don't like it... Dave Grohl played the character funnily but he wasn't THAT evil.

[@breadpilled2587]

(Edit: I don't care about your opinion about the term "latinx/latine". That's not the point of this comment and everything that needs to be said has been said.) I think mexican (probably latinx culture in general, but I'm only speaking for what I know here culture has a similar but very different reaction to "I dont dream of labor". I remember my grandfather working himself to death, turning to alcohol to survive under capitalism to raise five kids. Even farther back, my great grandfather had a barber shop out the back of his house and provided for 12 kids, my great grandmother having to stay home with them. He also turned to drink. My father was lucky/unlucky to die young suddenly, but even he worked up until his death to provide for two young kids. The cycle of generational trauma resulting from capitalism and patriarchy is staggering. My family is still reeling from the effects of alcoholism and absent working fathers. In Mexican culture, if you dont work yourself to death providing for your family, you're a weak excuse for a man. I mourn for the lives of the men of my family lost to capitalism.

[@TheSynergy40]

I agree with your comment, but latinx just comes off as white liberal vocabulary to make themselves feel better. I myself am a 1st gen hispanic in america and am latino, and I've never, ever heard a hispanic describe himself as latinx to his white friends. I've only ever heard white people, and non spanish speaking, heavily whitewashed Hispanics use it. sorry just a nitpick, your point is not diluded from the usage of latinx, but i just dont get it personally. I stand as a latino. I'll call trans Latin women, latina. vice versa. Just seems like online western "woke" culture, white savior type, that doesnt fully understand gendered language. Sorry I'll Fook off now

[@victoriap1649]

@@TheSynergy40 from my understanding as my non-binary Peruvian friend explained to me (they were raised in Peru and moved here in high school), latinx is a helpful term for those that do not subscribe to any gender. Not arguing what you’re saying at all, just offering a different perspective as not all people identify as either man or woman and therefore the gendered nature of the language can feel alienating for some people.

[@TheBebeeeJ]

That’s not really true… maybe in your bubble that’s the case, but in my bubble I see it being used even in Latin American countries (esp. in the queer community). Also let me add: “The term Latinx emerged from the Spanish-speaking queer community to challenge the gender binary, explains Aja and Scharrón-del Río. While the exact origin of the term is unclear, its use can be traced back to online queer community forums. Some researchers have found early uses of the “x” in place of the gendered “o” and “a” dating back to the late '90s. The term became recently popularized, however, after the devastating Pulse Massacre in 2016, the mass shooting that occurred at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida.” As Spanish is a very gendered language ppl use “latinx” to include non-binary and gender-non-conforming ppl. Obviously you stand as a latino and you call trans women latinas… but people use it more when they want to address or speak about the whole group, so they include all people and not just people who identify as men and women.

[@TheSynergy40]

@@victoriap1649 it's a helpful term but it's sure designed poorly, on its own. Latine sounds and flows better, fits in more i feel. And i think more wouldn't have been so critical of it, but emphasize think, I dont know really. And latinx just looks like an English attempt to change verbiage. It's hard to pronounce and it feels like american liberals, latins included, imposing their culture on the people they've oppressed and essentially made slaves of. I'm sorry but to argue against this further isn't showing trans pride, it's showing American ignorance and arrogance. we don't posses jurisdiction on social/cultural issues everywhere. especially when those cultures have been extremely slow going on accepting the term. I may be a latino, but to them I will always be an American. Trans, non binary or cis, doesn't fucking matter.

[@TheSynergy40]

@@TheBebeeeJ I'm sorry but the point is mass adoption. through a pew research study I was able to find out that it's still largely not being used in Latin countries, or even young latins. also equis can literally mean nothing, or bland, so i just dont see every single DIFFERENT Spanish speaking culture to change their identities for an English modification of a Spanish term. It's well intended progressives from America that are trying to be too politically correct. latinx is jarring to most, not because of the gender implications, but because it's a foreign word and it's hard to pronounce. Most people and most latinos haven't accepted it, and even still in america you have latin people who primarily identify by country rather than any term we have. you can't just keep on putting a cube into a round hole and just because you managed to get it kind of stuck in there, that it fits. If you wanted a word that ACTUALLY sounds like a native Spanish speaker made it up, and can say it, latiné is good. Latinx just sounds dumb.

[@lulairenoroub3869]

This is it, man. I know I'm with the rest of the late comers, but I've done most of your back catalogue, and hit up some of your recommended other channels I know you'll be bringing some awesome creators along with you. This is your job now. Enjoy it :)

[@JulianSteve]

YESSSSSSS 🙌🏾‼️

[@emuhu001]

Yaaass

[@toludono6022]

What were some of his other recommended channels?

[@mynameisuju]

@@toludono6022 Khadija Mbowe is one. She's how I found him.

[@diaarden]

I was always horrified at the ballad of John Henry. When they taught it to us in elementary school, they taught us that his wife, knowing that John couldn’t possibly go on, lifted his arms up and struck the last blow with him. That made me incredibly angry as a fifth grader.

[@autobotstarscream765]

John Henry died a martyr, the machine died a martyr trying to "steal" inhumane jobs from the humans, and the fat cats claimed insurance on both of their pieces of property that they broke rather than let the workers have them, Ayn Rand style.

[@slipperyslopedownward9041]

The part where he says hustlers actually work very hard is pretty important for me personally. I grew up in poverty and was raised around a lot of people who would be considered hustlers, especially my parents at the time. I can confirm that it is not easy, so many people have to work so hard just to survive and unfortunately it is very often overlooked

[@jackawatkins87]

I always thought of I don't dream of Labor as a response to people literally asking people about their dream jobs. I looked at as an extension of when James Baldwin said "it is our duty to achieve the impossible"(paraphrasing). Like we have to reimagine what is possible and within that the largely unfulfilling labor that we take on within a capitalist system is what we dream of eradicating. It's a snappy comeback, at least it started that way. Amazing video as always fam!

[@chickenpermission1861]

I’m a white guy and remember watching and enjoying this short as a younger kid, the animation and music primarily, but being older and looking at things more critically, I agree with all the points of the video that I understand. My stepdad, also white, was a construction worker his whole life and served in Afghanistan. Basically his whole life was abusing his strength and body to earn his living. Recently, he’s decided that he’s had enough and found a stable career as an airport employee, but I’ve seen first hand how people will work themselves to death, especially with labor heavy jobs. It just sucks that the work of the artists behind the short is kind of lost to the flawed message. It’s a good fairytale, dramatic and well suited to being a short, but there’s real life history and stereotypes behind the story that have real consequences.

[@Discrete1998]

You put into words so well why I couldn’t stand the John Henry short when we would watch it in class! I cried every time. It just seemed like senseless loss and hardship glorified, but it was 6th grade and I couldn’t understand why I hated it.

[@noname-hz1sf]

I just watched your channel go from 109 to 110k in the time it took to finish your Inside video. Your education experience really shows, I think. These essays are so approachable, engaging, insightful and entertaining. I think your writing is really economical as well - you do a TON with your runtime, without rushing. Can't wait to see where your channel goes.

[@angelad230]

John Henry and Boxer from Animal Farm are kind of the same character portrayed from two different angles, one seeing such hard work without reward as romantic and the other seeing it as depressing. Both solve their problems by working harder, trusting that things will turn out right if they put in the honest work, and both die because of it. John Henry literally works himself to death trying to prove himself to a system that disregards him for the shiny new thing. Boxer doesn't exactly work himself to death, but he basically does. But their respective stories treat them completely differently.

[@SpottedGhost775]

One comment on the interpretation of "I don't dream of labor" that I've held to in a socialist context is that the saying doesn't necessarily mean "I don't want to work." I believe it's a misconception that many people have about socialists and socialism, that socialists don't want to work. In my experience, socialists do want to work, they just want that work to be meaningful (defined as: useful to regular people in amd around their communities) and not exploitative. There is work which needs to be done which is being left undone because, under capitalism, it's not possible to have work done on a massive scale if it does not generate profit. We don't (all) want total freedom from labor, work, and effort, we want freedom from profit and exploitation. If people could sustain their lives, support their families, and feel satisfied in their labor while doing something actually useful (like picking up trash, planting trees, cleaning waterways, or working for social justice) many of us actually would. However, under a capitalist system that work is (intentionally or unintentionally) left unprofitable, and the very people who need that work done, and who would benefit most from it, are instead required to sell their labor in order to sustain their lives and the lives of their families.

[@cestmon8475]

Had to pause the video real quick to say, that juxtaposition of the devil and Reagan was brillant, fantastic editing on top of the deep dive discussions you bring to the table!!!

[@TwinSteel]

I’d love to hear about your feelings on how the folktale of John Henry changed as it moved from a black folktale to a folktale integrated into the predominantly white “American” folklore

[@TwinSteel]

Also, how do you feel the term “entrepreneur “ applies to “hustle” - is it one to one with a coating of racial prejudice, or is there a meaningful distinction that can be understood alongside or potentially even outside the context of race?

[@HoneyD109]

i was watching another video that referred to 2020 as ‘The Great Resignation’. this was in reference to art and fashion but of course those are bound to reflect the feeling of an era. i think the pan d was really just a catalyst. another great video, congrats on the 100k milestone, i’m so looking forward to more!!

[@TheInfernion]

I have no idea if I'm the target audience for your content but I absolutely love it. I'm an early 20s white guy and your content has really helped me understand myself and my political position on the left. Watching your videos has been incredibly insightful and eye opening in ways I can't really put into words, but it's fundamentally altered the way I think and I'm so glad KZbin threw a video of yours into my feed, I only hope others like myself will have similar epiphany like experiences while watching your content.

[@heinuchung8680]

Marry me I am a Black woman we can make an IR channel have mixed kids.

[@kittycoutourxxx2706]

@@heinuchung8680 HUHHHHH

[@kittycoutourxxx2706]

Don’t listen to her. She’s a paid actor

[@moneybxndz161]

@@heinuchung8680 you are the weakest link

[@satqur]

@@heinuchung8680 Divesters be like

[@ralphjackson8295]

My great grandmother was a survivor of the East St. Louis massacre. I heard many stories about those three days of hell. Black folk being dragged off the street cars and beaten and burned to death. Some of them so badly beaten if it wasnt for the clothes they were wearing you wouldn't have known if it was a man, woman or child. Folks running to cross the bridge over to St. Louis only to run into a mob of white men with guns hiding and waiting for them to step a foot onto the bridge so they can shot them down. The stories of how weeks later bodies would wash up onto the banks of the Mississippi river. Bloatted and unrecognizable. 😔 My granny lost two brothers and one sister during those days. They had to flee their home because white men set it on fire and while they tried to flee it,the white men shot at them. They had to hide in the tall grass of the field behind the house to avoid the bullets.

[@racewiththefalcons1]

"I don't dream of labor" means "I don't dream of doing work I have no share in, no say in, and do not inherently benefit from". We all dream of doing things, like writing a book or building a table or scaping a fishtank or training in a sport, or whatever else brings us personal fulfillment and satisfaction. The issue with today's society is that we are seldom, if ever, permitted to do that thing, that artistic and creative endeavor, without having to exchange our labor for money, which often takes the enjoyment out of doing that thing. In short, the concept of "I don't dream of labor" is a promotion of the idea of everyone having their basic needs met so no one _needs_ to exchange labor for money, and we can pursue our artistic and creative endeavors while still being allowed to have everything required to live. It is a condemnation of capitalism, because we can cover everyone's basic needs but are not allowed to because a handful of sociopaths won't let us.

[@Beemmeupz]

I feel like some of you just come onto videos to comment and leave. Like none of what you said had nothing to do with the video

[@racewiththefalcons1]

@@Beemmeupz, then the title of the video has nothing to do with the video.

[@Beemmeupz]

@@racewiththefalcons1 So you are admitting to not watching the video, k.

[@a-s-greig]

​@@racewiththefalcons1The title of the video is the title of the short that's being discussed.

[@cpte3729]

​@@racewiththefalcons1 you didnt even consider the thoughts of others is what theyre saying though. You just saw the title

[@islandofideals6571]

I've mostly experienced the John Henry story as a cautionary tale (with the exception of an episode of the Grimm Adventures of Billy and Mandy.) I've heard his story sung as a work song with a slow tempo. People would use it to set the work speed so they wouldn't end up dead like Henry.

[@ayajade6683]

Also was to not hit another person in the dark by keeping a rhythm going shanties had similar purposes

[@commiewhacker4033]

The story of John Henry I feel ks different then the I Don't Dream of Labor animation.

[@sasentaiko]

That’s deep

[@1st1anarkissed]

as a white person raised by racists, hearing you talk about your goal to feed your children and give them a future, actually helps humanize you and black men in my subconscious. I do not get exposure to black culture at all outside of what I seek out online. My environment has been engineered to keep me from witnessing real black people. Of late, there are a lot more around my city coming from far away and it's changing the feel and the tone of the whole city (for the better) and giving me a whole slew of opportunities to see black people and see them as fellow citizens, not this mythical class of underdogs somewhere out there. Where do I live? Saskatchewan. It's damn cold here. Our racism is traditionally aimed at the first nations people, so blacks might get less flack than they might in other places. But anyway, keep talking, keep being out there, being natural humans, we are out here trying hard to fix the damage in our brains done by racist parents.

[@blackbeast9268]

​@@user-tn4fk2nq5g😐

[@MyChannel773]

that’s great! keep seeking out videos from people and perspectives you’re not familiar with, it can really expand your perspective (eventually you start wondering how people go their whole lives without even being curious how other people think!)

[@tesmith47]

Congratulations, you have a very difficult path but you are part of the progressi g e future

[@SuperOnigiripanda]

I’m from StL, and East St.Louis still hasn’t recovered from those events over 100 years ago. Like most riots, it’s something you have to find out yourself, and our local history museum has one plaque dedicated to it.

[@EayuProuxm]

Seeing Eddie Murphy get the respect he deserves on this channel gives me life.

[@willgeorgiadis2025]

"Critical race theroy, its basically just history." Too true, too true.

[@kicksanddude]

A messy part that makes America look bad. Unfortunately, America is obsessed with looking good to the point of trying to 'clean' history.

[@TheDevilsbard]

I’d never thought about the Anansi/80’s Eddie Murphy parallels before. But I really like that.

[@knate44]

The Disney John Henry animation is a tragedy dressed up as a heroic folk tale.

[@marbletoffee]

Thanks!

[@SuperPal-tr3go]

There's a heck of a lot of survivor bias from people saying "just become a KZbinr."

[@RossOzarka]

"just win lotto"

[@rosseryankeegirl]

...but what scares me even more than that...is when I ask my 16 yr old what's he gonna do in life and he's says "oh, I'm gonna become a KZbin gamer" it sends me into a mental frenzy. and after all of the reasons I give him on why this is not the best plan of action...he sees me as just this old woman (Im 44 btw) who doesn't know anything about anything. sigh.

[@thisisside01]

@Tross Daboss that is scary and I don’t know how we get around it. My little brother is the same way. When I was little, I dreamed of being a pop star or an actress, and that was never realistic but I could plausibly work on those skills and dream, and people could easily support me with a kind word without having to be brutally honest about the realities of child stardom. Now, when a kid says they want to be a KZbinr, there are immediate tangible steps they can take to achieve that, and the price is their privacy and security. How do you balance supporting their dreams with breaking the ugly truth to them?

[@randomstranger623]

@@thisisside01 You can't. Telling them that you can't make money off of KZbin unless you're lucky doesn't go well with them. :/

[@haileybalmer9722]

I think this ties into my own kneejerk reaction to this movement, namely, "okay, but even if we live in a communist utopia, labor will not disappear." It would be more accurate for me to say that I dream that my labor will be fulfilling. I dream that the product of my labor will meet my needs. I dream that it will serve my community. Most of all, I dream that my labor will not be exploited.

[@Nicole-id5ey]

Yes! I want a labor that: 1. Gives me Healthcare without making each health concern a choice between investigating it or making rent 2. The ability to have a home that isn't constantly under threat of being taken away if a month of paychecks are missed due to illness or family crisis. 3. Creativity and respect in the workplace. 4. Wages that take care of all bills and allow for saving for travel, hobbies, emergencies, and long term investments. That's my utopia and it is a goddamn far cry from my reality. I'm a very physical person, I don't mind rolling my sleeves up and doing things that are hard but I would be a much more enlightened and happy human being if I wasn't feeling like I'm working at gunpoint.

[@molotovmafia2406]

also, if we cut off all the unnecessary production we make for capitalist economic growth that we don´t need and all the bullshit jobs like marketing or other white collar office jobs, we will work WAY less. like 3-4 hours a day.

[@99sins]

In short: I wanna work but I wanna work because I wanna support my neighbors, not so I can just feed myself.

[@im1085]

@@Nicole-id5ey The cool thing about communism is that you will literally work at gunpoint instead of just feeling like you are

[@heroicskeleton1566]

@@im1085 source? 🤔

[@dingdongism]

I recognize that this video in particular and this channel in general is labor that you do, and that I benefit from. I have yet to give you money for this labor (which I hope to change in the near future) but I want to thank you for your thoughtful labor here in the comments.

[@sauli.derrity3184]

Oh Disney…don’t even get me started on The Princess and the Frog. Tiana is basically the female John Henry. If only folks just knew how to work hard, then their dreams would come true. Sure Tiana, that was the problem for black folks in New Orleans in the 20’s…😐

[@yiklongtay6029]

I didn't interpret that as the message in the film. From what I understand, Tiana still got screwed over despite her hard work. Instead, it was the combination of her moral integrity (didn't accept the villain's offer) and her establishment of connection with others (Naveen and the gator strong armed the owners) that gave her the tools to succeed. I think they made an effort to show that Tiana had a hard work-will-solve-everything attitude and somewhat shattered it. I think your take is wrong.

[@deesenuts8730]

@@yiklongtay6029 Yeah I think your take is wrong because the film seemingly acknowledges that the restauranteur industry is a male* dominated industry but didn't touch on how the color of her skin may be the heaviest if not the most glaring contributing factor. Y'all still got y'all ears plugged when ppl speak experiences and repeat the boot strap/hard work/colorblind bullshit that ignores real issues.

[@mf_shune1948]

@@deesenuts8730 Yeah the closest thing we get is when the owners of the building that is to be Tiana's restaurant mention her "background" but that was hardly any very specific racial analyses and the whole thing was left very vague and made to seem more like a class thing, which was unfortunate. I completely agree.

[@yiklongtay6029]

@@deesenuts8730 I actually couldn't follow your argument sorry. Honestly not diminishing your point. I just dont get how that challenges my point. Just in case you didn't get what I was saying was that the film didn't attribute Tiana's success to her hard-working nature. It was made clear that racism of people in power trumps the effects of heard work. Tiana's success can be instead attributed to the friends and sense of community she formed. Shown by how Naveen and the croc help her secure the building. So at least in the argument that this film perpetuates the shut-up-and-work-hard message, I generally don't agree. But if you did get what I said and disagree, please help me understand your point

[@jama3997]

That wasn't what happened though. The guys screwed her over anyways. It showed that realistically black people back then usually didn't get the happy ending they were AIMING for. But since it's fantasy based, they found a way to give her what she wanted, and MORE

[@imky]

Here is the "There's even more to learn from I Don't Dream of Labor than you thought" video that I've been waiting for.

[@alexandriatempest]

So, almost 20yrs ago my Dad was diagnosed with cancer. He went through surgery and chemo and eventually surgery and chemo again when they found it had become Stage 4 Liver Cancer. After surgery, when he could drive again and be on his feet, and his insurance was only paying him about 65% of his wage, he went back to work. He was Union and had to have management, his Union Rep and HR all sit down when he decided to go back to work to make sure that everyone knew that this was not a policy that was going to be used elsewhere. He was still on chemo and we didn't know if it would come back. He said "I can't do this, we need to get some money coming in here." We're all white, Southern, and not poor, but not rich either. He lived, thankfully he was here to break my heart when I came out, but when he potentially had months to live. When we didn't know if his remission would take, he still spent that time working. I want to talk about class and race, but I don't currently have the proper framing to do a nuanced thing on it. I think I'll stop now I have something in my eye.

[@BreezusSneezus]

This is incredibly powerful and moving information for me. My dad was a poor mostly white/partially native man who joined the Army at the age of 17 and served for over 30 years before killing himself not even a year into retirement. There are a lot of factors that went into his death but now I have a name for that propensity he had to work himself to complete exhaustion. Thank you for helping me process his experience.

[@yunglynda1326]

🫂

[@Silliestgoose418]

As a white straight American male, this channel is a necessity. It’s impacted my perception over and over. Thanks so much!

[@MissSaiko]

I'm an Eastern European white woman living in France so i have no theoretical way of relating to black male labour.... But i find your video(s)- quickly went through others diagonally as well - fascinating! Thank you!!!

[@UncleKeith567]

I'm a black gay man in my 50's, and I am all about the 'I don't dream of labor' train. All of this 40 hours a week, or more is BS aka BS jobs. I might be heading towards homelessness really soon, but I can't do this anymore. I don't have any children, but I've got plenty to nieces and nephews so I am very concerned about the climate emergency, and I can't see the point in all of this hustle without thinking about how this will impact future generations. I really like your deductive reasoning, but I think this conversation is pointed in the wrong direction. I wish you & your children well.

[@randomstranger623]

Mood, fam. As a 23 year old Filipino living near devastating storm after devastating storm (which screws over the economy even more) (yes, living in Philippines is expensive for its people. Plus, rampant corruption from politicians and general people makes it so hard to find a way to get out there and rise from poverty) I really don't feel like I wanna try and do it, you know? I know I'm young and I still can do more to this world, but the thing that I want to change (the system in which we make rules for this nation, among other things) is impossible as of yet (though yes, I will run with 0 experience. Trump did it, I hope to be one of the next people to get there). Plus, our place is too small to get them trees rising to at least not get those catastrophe happening. But yeah, hope we can find some solutions soon. So that our fish biodiversity is not gonna get screwed over, or that you know, we don't get so much intense storms hitting us all the time. We never needed a Signal Number 4 before 2010. Though yeah, money go brrrr for these rich white crooks, so I don't think we're ever gonna get to fix our mistakes.

[@UncleKeith567]

@@randomstranger623 Keep talking, keep trying. I'm loving this Great Resignation, and all of the strike actions that are succeeding. Doom is here, but maybe not total doom. Stay safe!

[@randomstranger623]

@@UncleKeith567 I do still live in the Philippines. xD But yeah, best wishes to you too, fam. Because you know, we are family. And I hope, in a really big stroke of luck, if I can get me voice loud enough to get myself the chance to win the US election (turns out you have to be born in the US to run, even though, man, a lot of people there are descendants of immigrants and immorally traded slaves, why can't they change that stipulation to just someone who lived there for 5 years), I hope to get everyone a taste of socialism, that Universal Basic Income thing, and an even laxxer work week, 40 hours slaving away is no bueno, gonna halve it to 30 or 20. Might be quite awesomesauce, you know?

[@jazwhoaskedforthis]

I'm very worried about the climate emergency too, and the way the working class is being put into multiple chokeholds around the world. Something has got to break and idk if it'll be us or the climate or the system first.

[@UncleKeith567]

@@jazwhoaskedforthis I fear it will be the climate first, and us second. Corps don't seem to have any long range vision or care.

[@jamiel6005]

Your content is a really vital part of the leftist theory I am learning. I feel like a lot of leftists online are white, or at least not Black, so while many do mention race and CRT, they don’t have the personal experience and deep understanding - I’m learning so much about race and class and the intersections thereof. While I’m not American, most of your work is very useful to an international audience. Thanks, you do important work.

[@iliakatster]

Thanks for mentioning Anansi, the images from the book have been stuck in my head from when i was little but I had no clue what it was from, it really means a lot to me to learn it now.

[@danielbalsam7562]

after recently discovering your work, I just want to say that I think you're making some of the highest quality, nuanced, and thoughtful video essays on KZbin right now. i've learned so much from your videos, and really appreciate what you're doing.

[@jetjet6560]

I really like your approach in these videos, where you take us through the historical context and how that is reflected in societal values we have today. I may not always agree with your conclussions as to how we remedy certain problems, but I find it very enthralling to learn new things!

[@johnnycrenshaw9438]

I'm so glad someone finally pointed out the john henry thing. I saw this when I was a kid & idealized it, but now I'm 25 & have worked in high demand fields. Now I'm working part time & doing gig work because I consistently burned myself out. I'm currently trying my best to find a work life balance.

[@doctorindigeaux318]

John Henry's legend is my favorite Black American folktale. The problematic nature of working oneself to death though, stays in my mind as a reminder to take care of myself first and foremost in these spaces that benefit from my labor.

[@rovena996]

I'm young, 25, and have only been in the workforce for 5ish years. I think a lot of the people in this "new" labor movement are just learning about all of this, like I am, and don't know the history especially black history of labor. I learn new things everyday and I'm constantly changing. Thankful for channel's like yours.

[@caspar7]

I love this video and come back to it all the time. At the last part, I always have to sit and think about how the capacity to work defines identity intersects with disability that impacts the capacity to work. How does a lifelong disability change the way identity forms? How does a sudden disability change someone who, until being disabled, was able to work? Also I always seem to forget the "east stl is about an hour drive from Chicago" line 😭 makes my illinoisan heart sink a bit each time

[@zkkitty2436]

I’ve been struggling with this personally for the last year. As someone who was always extremely capable and had so much energy, becoming disabled was devastating. I have no idea what my future will look like, if I’ll be able to work a job that won’t work me to death but will also let me make enough to live comfortably. If I’ll ever be able to work at all. I’ve had to completely re evaluate everything, like who am I, beyond what I can do for other people and the ways I have to scrape and scrabble to survive? Who would I be if my safety and survival were guaranteed and protected? And do I even have the capacity to think about that at all, when my circumstances could change at any point?

[@caspar7]

@@zkkitty2436 I'm wishing nothing but positive energy towards you, and hoping you grant yourself the peace and grace to forgive yourself when things get difficult. Being disabled isn't easy, obviously, you don't need me to tell you that. But we're here for each other. I may not know you, but we're here for each other. There's something worth fighting on for, even if that thing is yourself. And sometimes "fighting" just means allowing yourself to rest. Allowing yourself to breathe. I'd say to take it easy, but nothing is ever really easy. So instead I'm just going to say to take it as it is. Life finds a way around things, it's a fact of the universe. We just have to be kinder to ourselves and each other while we figure it out. Have a good day :)

[@saulitix]

I didn't know the term "Jhon Henryism" but I definitely suffered in my last job; my superiors were more and more demanding everyday, the job was gettint harder and more stressful and there was nothing we (the employees) could do to avoid this situation, no matter how hard we worked or how we improved our productivity because there was always A LOT of work left to do. I couldn't sleep more than 2 hours in a row because I was waking up with backpain, anxiety attacks and I had a constant headache. Instead of quitting I thought I just had to go through this and it will be over... after I got fired and man, thank GOD I got fired: within a week my backpain and headache went away, I could finally sleep and I was able to eat dinner without feeling terrible after it. I know I am talking from a place of privilege because I have people to help me out and some savings, but if you are suffering right now because of your job and you can afford to quit, DO IT. It's not worth it.

[@saulitix]

@@nevramind I can't even imagine how shitty it must be to not only deal with a stressful job but also suffering harassment in that job. Never feel guilty for that, feel glad that at least you don't have to endure that anymore.

[@tobekai]

I love how our historic culture of trickster figures can be seen in our current culture

[@MasoTrumoi]

As usual, you continue to really show an important perspective on things (along with Storyteller and StAndrew, love them). I think for me on this whole movement is that I have a different concept of what labour is than the "I don't dream of labour" movement. Probably because I'm a creative and if my needs were met I wouldn't stop writing. I'd write more, for free, for fun, I'd write whatever the hell I felt like instead of just trying to convince producers and execs that my idea is marketable. And it's not because I fetishize labour, it's because I enjoy doing it. When it comes to day to day, though, I would still want to work on things to help me figure things out. I like building things, I like to cook, I like to teach and practice martial arts. Any of these would be fulfilling to me as long as my needs were met, but if they were met, I could do all of them as I wanted to. THAT is what it is for me. If you'd want to veg out all day, I personally don't think you're wrong. But I've done that before, I've been living at home as a young adult with no goals or job and I hated it. Not because I fetishize jobs, I fucking hate jobs, but the part I hate the least is the tasks I work on. I hate the hierarchy, I hate the expectations, I hate the mandates and corporate brainwashing videos. If I express antiwork, it's not because I want to remove myself from the reality of having to work jobs. I'm a fucking custodian when I'm not writing. It's that I hate the way that work is controlled, I'm anti-that. If things were voluntary, I'd work in more things, learn more skills, do more with my time, and feel less exhausted. I'm a custodian now because it doesn't burn me out and stop me from writing. And I don't write to make money, I write because I love to write, I just hope I can make a living off that too. Maybe all of this is irrelevant nonsense. I just wanted to get my thoughts down. I'm a Criollo (White-Latino), just to be clear on where I'm coming from.

[@c-roy.7825]

I’ve always wanted to find a grown black man leftist to listen to and you’re literally the perfect match.

[@konichiwah6199]

Check out Benjamin Dixon for the deep political deep dives

[@thenachoandthecheeze]

T1J pretty good too!

[@melvinklark4088]

@burning hammer kai yea I think it would be kinda obvious from this video

[@Omniseed]

@@melvinklark4088 pretty sure he was talking about Benjamin Dixon, who is an explicitly anti-left liberal. F.D. seems fairly nonsectarian but gives many indications of having a more left than retail brand liberal worldview.

[@tacrewgirl]

Same

[@victoriajankowski1197]

I don't dream of labor, I dream of stability....Coming from a very different place "I don't dream of labor' sparked conversation around people who are disabled or otherwise excluded from the ability to 9 to 5 for 40 hours plus a week releasing to 'dream' that really never worked for them and seeking other ways to contribute and feel like that is enough. As always than you for another thoughtful video!

[@Monsterdrool]

Another factor you aren't considering is parents. My black lesbian friend said there were times her parents said. "You CANT make it youre black" there's definitely a lot of racism and prejudice but imagine your own parents being against you...There's also generational trauma in the community that needs to be addressed.

[@coreblaster6809]

oof

[@malakai_adam]

While not directly stated he clearly does consider this angle, and from what was provided it's presumptuous to assume they were not trying to help in their own way.

[@coreblaster6809]

@@malakai_adam It is also presumptuous to think that just because they were trying, and thought they were being helpful, that meant they were *actually* being helpful

[@Darksomnium]

Just found your videos, they are really well done! Looking forward to more!

[@sunnybugaboo9478]

Oh my gosh, I love you videos! So glad you watch creators like these🥰

[@haileygiabiconi8830]

I love your stories 😍😍

[@mandarightnow]

Can't wait to watch this after work!! Thanks for making the content you do, great stuff!

[@msadventurecomedy]

Always such incredibly well crafted videos! Informative and entertaining!

[@WorkYourWisdom]

Man, I have so many feelings about this… Forgive me if I missed this point, but what I also took away from this whole thing is how Masculinity is also tied to labor! Watching John Henry’s face in that Disney clip after seeing his wife plead to him, just seeing that ferocity in his eyes - it was frightening. He basically said “FU, proving my strength and manhood means more to me than being here for you and our child” and it broke my heart. I don’t think we should throw away stories like these because I think we need to keep all of our stories/myths/folklore, but I do understand now how damaging John Henry’s mythology is. Masculinity is also deeply tied to labor, especially in the black community because how many times have we laughed at Tommy on the show “Martin” for not having a job?! We make fun of black men for not working and even attempt (or succeed) at emasculating them when they don’t have a job, aren’t the breadwinner or dream/desire to work something that isn’t stereotypically a “hard working position”. Anyway, so much to think about and Im so glad that this is the first video I watched on this topic. You knocked it out of the park! 🙌🏽💕