Emma Goldman - political activist, anarchist: biography, books, propaganda of anarchism and feminism

Emma Goldam was recognized as the FBI head of state Edgard Hoover "the most dangerous woman in America." Who is she? Why was she given the nickname Red Emma? And how did it affect the murder of the American president? All this in more detail in the article.

Birth

Emma Goldman was from Russia, more precisely from the Russian Empire. She was born in Lithuania, in the city of Kovno, June 27, 1869. Today this city is called Kaunas. Her parents were considered petty-bourgeois Jews, they contained a small mill, which served as a source of their existence. When Emma turned 13 years old, the family moved to St. Petersburg.

In the capital at that time the revolutionary life was boiling: Emperor Alexander II died at the hands of two terrorists-bombers. Passion for revolutionary ideas was then considered a fashionable activity for young people. It was in these years that Emma "got infected" with similar ideas.

First emigration to the USA

At 17, Emma emigrated to the United States. In Rochester (New York) she began working at a textile factory. In 1887, she married a worker and obtained citizenship. However, the rebellious spirit made itself felt: the girl learned about the four hanged anarchists participating in the riot in Chicago, and immediately decided to join the anarchist movement.

Political Views

Until now, many are interested in one question: what exactly did Emma Goldman preach: anarchism, anarcho-communism, anarcho-individualism, anarcho-feminism? There is no answer to it. Emma was one of those who sincerely believed in the bright ideals of democracy and democracy. It is in anarchism, in her opinion, freedom of thought, conscience, and speech is manifested. It was oppressed by the rigid framework of a centralized state, which is designed only to enslave, oppress one class to please others. But the distinctive feature of the "Red Emma" was that she never urged to die for the sake of "bright ideas of the future". On the contrary, she loved life, she loved faith in future changes. Her enemies were those for whom life was not the main value.

Was Emma a revolutionary?

So far, some publicists and journalists are asking the question: was Emma a revolutionary at all? Is it fair that she was expelled in 1917 to Russia on an old dirty steamer? If you carefully analyze its political views, then in these matters there is nothing surprising. Political activist Emma goes beyond the usual image of a revolutionary. The main thing in it is to completely immerse yourself in the ideas of a bright future, in the ideas of the revolution. He should not have either his own interests, feelings, deeds, or attachments. Even dreams of a revolutionary should only be about the embodiment of the intended goals. Naturally, he must not for a moment doubt whether it is worth giving his life for the bright ideals of the future.

Emma was of a completely different opinion. She respected and idolized the theoreticians of the Russian revolution: Mikhail Bakunin, Sergei Nechaev, Nikolai Ogaryov. However, Emma did not agree with them in the thought of total absorption of the revolutionary idea. Believed that such thoughts are no different from the thinking of the big Wall Street bankers, who are also completely immersed in their business of extracting profits. Why deprive yourself of sex, creativity, joy of life for the sake of revolution? Is it not in building a bright future? Then why sacrifice them now?

Emma believed that without joy, a person becomes a biorobot, a thoughtless animal that leads to slaughter for incomprehensible future purposes. Her friends were those who, like her, refused to sacrifice herself for the sake of the bright life of future generations. All this pushes one logical question: was Emma really revolutionary? Or was she just the representative of the group of people who in the future will be called "civil society"?

Fight Emma

Emma Goldman did not fight for the abstract ideas of "building a brighter future," but for quite understandable and ordinary things that were considered insignificant in the circles of American anarchist revolutionaries, trivial: for sexual freedom, the reform of the institution of marriage, the refusal to conscript into the army,

The American authorities did not consider the propaganda of the refusal to conscript into the army "trifling": in 1917 the First World War was going on. The US helped the Allies not only with material and technical support, but also sent their soldiers to the front. Ordinary Americans did not want to go to war, the ideas of desertion and sabotage of the appeal found practical application. Therefore, Emma's activities during this period of time were considered dangerous. In 1917, she and many other anarchists were sent to Russia, where the Great October Revolution had already taken place.

Departing from the US on a steamboat and looking from afar to the Statue of Liberty, Emma will say: "And this country is proud of freedom of speech, independence of views, and I am deported just for this."

Arrival in Russia

The road to our country was inspired by Emma. She considered Soviet Russia to be an advanced country that should show the world an example. Of course, if such a powerful Russian empire collapsed under the blows of the revolutionary forces, then the rest of the country will certainly not survive. Did Emma know the true state of affairs in Soviet Russia while sailing on the steamer? Unknown. By this time, Lenin and the Bolsheviks had long since separated from all the revolutionary forces, seized power, sent many anarchists and social revolutionaries to prison. The "hunt" for party supporters from the Menshevik wing has already begun.

Meeting with Lenin

Emma Goldman met with many revolutionaries in our country. I visited even the anarchist Nestor Makhno, but she especially remembered meeting with Lenin. She completely changed the attitude of Red Emma to the Russian revolution. Emma and Vladimir Ilyich did not like each other. The leader of the Russian revolution did not even mention it at all, and the "most dangerous woman of America" remembered her seldom, but with a negative connotation. Emma believed that the revolution gave the world an example of democracy, freedom of speech, religion, etc. However, Lenin's words completely changed this idea: Vladimir Ilyich at a meeting declared that all this was just bourgeois prejudice.

In fact, the leader of the Bolsheviks directly stated that the bloody events in our country not only did not improve the situation of all workers, but, on the contrary, only worsened. Fear and terror are the main ideals of a new life. Naturally, Emma could not support this. Later, she wrote about Lenin, that "he knows how to play flattery, awards, medals on the weak sides of people. I remained convinced that after achieving my plans, he could get rid of them. " She was frankly disappointed in Lenin and in the ideals of the Russian revolution.

Deportation back

In 1921 a paradoxical thing happened: Emma was sent by ship to the place from where she was previously deported to the United States of America. The reason is still the same: she refused to be silent.

In 1924 her book "My disappointment in Russia" was published. She proves how much this woman was sincere, that she spoke only the truth, was not politically engaged. No one could reproach her for corruption, for protecting someone's interests. Indeed, first in the US was the propaganda of anarchism. After deportation to Russia, she did not fight the "decadent West." On the contrary, seeing the worst situation of people in Russia after the revolution, she began to uphold the democratic principles of the West, for which she was sent back.

The appearance of the book "My disappointment in Russia" alienated many of her friends from the left. Emma did not care. The main thing, she thought, was to tell people the truth, what they really believe. It was not her style to deceive herself and others for the sake of momentary preferences.

The assassination of McKinley

Contemporaries of Emma considered her indirectly implicated in the murder of the American president. However, there are many inconsistencies in this story.

25th US President William McKinley died on September 14, 1901. The official version is as follows: the first person of the state could not cope with the consequences of the attempt. September 5, 1901, "having heard the fiery speeches of Emma Goldman," the zealous anarchist Leon Frank Cholgosh fired two times at the president at the Pan-American exhibition in Buffalo.

A strange combination of circumstances

In the murder of the American president in 1901, not everything is so unambiguous.

First, the activity of the guard is perplexing. At first, employees stated that they did not notice any suspicious people. Then the testimony changed: behind Cholgosh there was a huge growth of a black waiter, who seemed dangerous to them. Then why did not they notice the gun in the hands of an anarchist next to him? By the way, it was this waiter who neutralized Cholgosha with a blow on the head with his fist after the second shot.

Secondly, further events are puzzling. The president did not die at once. In addition, friends and relatives claimed that he will live, goes on the mend. On September 13, 1901, the press loudly trumpeted that McKinley had begun to eat solid food, he would soon recover, and on September 14, the president unexpectedly died.

After his death, Acting President became Theodore Roosevelt, who did not step away from the sick president. A little later, he himself will become the first person of the state.

The last political activity of Emma

So who is Emma Goldman? The biography of this woman gives the descendants to understand that she is a living example of the unshakable views, judgments. All people over the years change their attitude to some things, statements, considering it a momentary weakness, youthful maximalism, etc. Emma did not cease to believe her ideals even for a moment, even when she was disappointed in the Russian revolution. Last years she also devoted herself to political struggle: in 1936 she went to Spain to support the Spanish anarchists in the Civil War on the side of the republican government.

More alive she will not return to her second home. May 14, 1940 Emma will die from a hemorrhage to the brain. She will be allowed to be buried next to the anarchists shot in Chicago, because of which her struggle for an ideal society began.