INTERNATIONAL DAY
OF WORKING WOMEN’S
DAY
El poema Bread and Roses del escritor
norteamericano James Oppenheim, escrito a principios del siglo XX, es un
homenaje a las mujeres trabajadoras que protagonizaron el movimiento
huelguístico (ocurrido en Lawrence, Massachusetts, USA, entre enero y marzo de
1912) conocido con el nombre de PAN Y ROSAS (Bread and Roses). Según la
tradición oral, durante una manifestación de más de 15.000 obreras textiles
celebrada en Nueva York en marzo de 1908, un grupo de mujeres jóvenes portaban
una bandera con la inscripción: "Queremos pan y también queremos
rosas", frase que inspiró este poema , que luego se ha convertido en una
canción popular de la clase obrera norteamericana.
En la historia del movimiento
obrero de los EEUU, el movimiento huelguístico de PAN Y ROSAS, se
considera una de las primeras manifestaciones organizadas de mujeres obreras
que reclamaban aumento de salarios y mejores condiciones de trabajo y de vida. En
el movimiento feminista, posteriormente, la expresión PAN Y ROSAS se
utilizó, metafóricamente, para sintetizar la unidad de las demandas de género y
de clase.
Bread and Roses
As we come marching, marching in the beauty of
the day,
A million darkened kitchens, a thousand mill lofts gray,
Are touched with all the radiance that a sudden sun discloses,
For the people hear us singing: “Bread and roses! Bread and roses!”
A million darkened kitchens, a thousand mill lofts gray,
Are touched with all the radiance that a sudden sun discloses,
For the people hear us singing: “Bread and roses! Bread and roses!”
As we come marching, marching, we battle too
for men,
For they are women’s children, and we mother them again.
Our lives shall not be sweated from birth until life closes;
Hearts starve as well as bodies; give us bread, but give us roses!
For they are women’s children, and we mother them again.
Our lives shall not be sweated from birth until life closes;
Hearts starve as well as bodies; give us bread, but give us roses!
As we come marching, marching, unnumbered women
dead
Go crying through our singing their ancient cry for bread.
Small art and love and beauty their drudging spirits knew.
Yes, it is bread we fight for — but we fight for roses, too!
Go crying through our singing their ancient cry for bread.
Small art and love and beauty their drudging spirits knew.
Yes, it is bread we fight for — but we fight for roses, too!
As we come marching, marching, we bring the
greater days.
The rising of the women means the rising of the race.
No more the drudge and idler — ten that toil where one reposes,
But a sharing of life’s glories: Bread and roses! Bread and roses!
The rising of the women means the rising of the race.
No more the drudge and idler — ten that toil where one reposes,
But a sharing of life’s glories: Bread and roses! Bread and roses!
Departamento de Inglés
Trabajo realizado en clase ,
a cargo de los alumnos y alumnas de 3º y 4º de ESO, en conmemoración del Día Internacional
de la Mujer Trabajadora.
