Here we have a rare 1980s protest shirt that puts the “S” in solidarity. This yellow beauty originates from St. Louis and explodes in reach, even to Nelson Mandela, who was in prison when this shirt was produced. And on the reverse you have a fist coming right at you. Let’s cut right into it.
1. **Nelson Mandela:** The shirt explicitly names Nelson Mandela, who was a central figure in the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa. The mention of his name places the shirt's origin in a time when he was imprisoned and his cause was gaining international attention. He was imprisoned from 1964 to 1990.
2. **"IF BLOOD BE THE PRICE OF YOUR CURSED WEALTH THEN GOOD GOD! WE HAVE PAID IN FULL!!"**: This powerful quote is a central theme of the shirt. It directly addresses the economic exploitation and human cost associated with the "cursed wealth," likely referring to the profits derived from a system of oppression, such as apartheid. This quote, or variations of it, was used in various labor and social justice movements to highlight the sacrifices made by workers and marginalized communities.
3. **Union Affiliations:** The shirt lists several labor unions and organizations, which is a strong indicator of its roots in a labor-centric protest movement. These include:
* **IFFA (International Federation of Flight Attendants)**
* **CWA (Communications Workers of America)**
* **Teachers**
* **UAW (United Auto Workers)**
* **Coal Miners**
* **Asbestos Workers**
* **Farmers**
* **UAW Local 25, St. Louis, Missouri:** This specific local chapter further narrows down the origin of the shirt, likely indicating that it was produced or distributed by this specific union local in the St. Louis area.
4. **The "Greed" Monster:** The shirt depicts a monstrous, snake-like figure with money symbols on its body, representing "Greed." The figure is shown being confronted by protesters, symbolizing the struggle against corporate and economic forces seen as exploiting people for profit. The protesters are shown holding signs that say "P-9," "U.I.C.," and "Great American."
5. **P-9:** The "P-9" reference is a significant clue. P-9 refers to **Local P-9 of the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) union**, which was involved in a major and highly publicized strike against the Hormel Foods plant in Austin, Minnesota, from 1985 to 1986. This strike was a pivotal event in American labor history, symbolizing the struggle between a union and a large corporation during a period of economic change and anti-union sentiment. The strike gained national attention and support from other unions and activists.
This protest shirt is a historical artifact from the mid-1980s, specifically created by or for the **UAW Local 25 in St. Louis, Missouri**, to show solidarity with other labor and social justice causes. The design ties together several prominent struggles of the era:
* **The Anti-Apartheid Movement:** The inclusion of Nelson Mandela and the quote about blood and wealth directly links the shirt to the international fight against apartheid in South Africa.
* **The Hormel P-9 Strike:** The "P-9" reference places the shirt squarely in the context of the 1985-1986 Hormel strike, a major American labor conflict.
* **Broader Labor Solidarity:** The shirt's list of various unions (Teachers, CWA, Miners, etc.) demonstrates a powerful message of inter-union solidarity against what they perceived as corporate greed and exploitation.
The shirt is not just about one issue but is a powerful statement of solidarity, connecting the local struggles of American workers with the international struggle against apartheid, all under the banner of fighting "Greed" and demanding justice. It represents a specific moment in time when American labor unions were actively engaged in both domestic and international social justice movements.
Here are the exact measurements of the rare shirt:
- Collar to bottom hem - 26 1/2"
- Pit to pit - 16"
- Sleeves 7”
The shirt is super soft. There is slight wear throughout. Please see all pics as they are part of the description.
I ship FedEx to street addresses in the continental USA only (no PO boxes). Free shipping on the rare 80s shirt.
If this beauty fit me, you would only be seeing it on me. An unreal and rare historical artifact.
