The negro workers : address delivered Tuesday, October 30, 1923, at Commonwealth Casino, 135th Street and Madison Avenue, N.Y.C.

Delivered at the Commonwealth Casino in Harlem on October 30, 1923, this address captures a pivotal moment when the labor movement reached out to African‑American workers. Eugene V. Debs, the veteran socialist leader, speaks directly to a segregated audience, acknowledging both their struggles and their indispensable role in the fight for economic justice. The speech blends heartfelt gratitude, historical reflection, and a call for solidarity across racial lines.

Debs draws on the legacy of abolitionists and early labor activists, reminding listeners that true recognition often arrives only after a life of sacrifice. He urges the crowd to view their labor as a collective weapon against capitalist oppression, while emphasizing that the struggle for workers' rights and racial equality are inseparable. The address reverberates with the rhythm of early twentieth‑century activism, offering both a stirring moral appeal and a concrete vision of what united action might achieve.