Red Diapers: Growing Up In The Communist Left

by Judy Kaplan (Editor), Linn Shapiro (Editor)

 
      Red Diapers is the
        first anthology of autobiographical writings by the children of American
        communists. These memoirs, short stories, and poems reflect the joys and
        perils of growing up in a subculture defined by its opposition to some
        of society's most deeply held values. How red diaper babies have come
        to terms with their political inheritance is the theme of this compelling
        anthology.
      Some contributors have fond
        memories of family activism; others recall the past with ambivalence or
        even pain. The authors range in age from their twenties to their eighties.
        Some, such as Watergate reporter Carl Bernstein and sixties activist Bettina
        Aptheker, are widely known themselves; some are the children of well-known
        American leftists, including Jeff Lawson, son of blacklisted screenwriter
        John Howard Lawson, and Robert Meeropol, son of Ethel and Julius Rosenberg.
        In disparate voices, the contributors elaborate on how their parents attempted
        to pass on to them the torch of radical politics.
 

Genres: History, Politics, Nonfiction, American History

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[M.L. Rio · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating (if somewhat repetitive) collection of narratives, with a refreshing emphasis on female perspectives.

[Dan Sharber · Rating 4 out of 5]

i enjoyed reading this book. it was very light reading without any real politic arguments etc to make. it was simply accounts from those who grew up in the communist milieu. and while the people who contributed to this would be those most willing (proud?) to speak about their own political upbringing, i was still really impressed by how many red diapers babies went on to be active in leftist politics - even if in some cases just casually. this collection also drove home how devastating mcarthyism was for the the organized left and their children. the fact that almost everyone of these stories referred to the rosenberg execution illustrates what a watershed that was. the chilling effect those murders had on the left is palpable. i have a daughter who is 14 and i often wonder what she will become politially speaking. i take some heart from many of these stories that she will grow into a caring radical woman who not only believes in equality and solidarity but fights for it. i desperately want her to know that though often we don't win, the fight for a better world free of racism, sexism and exploitation is a worthy fight and personally enriching.

[Kati · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review here:

http://landismom.wordpress.com/2006/0...

[Joanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

What can I say...one of the stories is about my grandmother. The 50's were painful for us kids, our families were vilified. I needed to read the book, but it hurt.