Joel A Lewis Youth Against Fascism.pdf

DEMOCRACY
published a songbook entitled Songs Of America. 214 Selections from Songs of America
were published monthly in the Young Communist Review to advertise for the songbook.
One song by Sonny Vale entitled "Fighting For Democracy" praised the AFL-CIO "rank
and file" for fighting "in good old Yankee style," ending each verse with a chorus of
"We've got to fight – `Cause we know we're right – We're fighting for Democracy!" 215
Other songs blended themes of freedom and patriotism with class rhetoric. One song
entitled "A Song For the Fourth of July" stated, "If a man has nothing, nothing at all, how
can a man be free – In a land of plenty, plenty for all, that's where a man is free." 216
The YCL incorporated forms of popular entertainment into democratic culture campaigns.
The YCL published a "peppy cheer song" that encouraged youth to, "Get a life
with a purpose – Get a point of view – It's not hard – Just sign a card – And make your
dreams come true!" 217 Some YCL branches attempted to blend traditional culture with
popular youth activities. An YCL branch in Colorado held a "barn party" for Halloween
to bring together Colorado farmers and Mexican farm hands. The YCL made it a popular
event, utilizing beer, pop, pumpkin pie and a "snappy little Spanish band" that got the
"dancing girls swinging it to their hot tune." 218 The YCL utilized CPUSA pamphlets like
Give a Party For the Party that highlighted using popular party activities that could
attract, entertain and politicize youth. 219 During the Popular Front the YCL even revised
their traditional rejection of jazz music and swing dancing. The New York branch of the
YCL held a "swing concert" in Madison Square Garden in 1939, attended by over 10,000
youth. 220 The YCL began to praise jazz as "democratic music" since it was "characterized
by the fellow-feeling among the players… and the folk nature of its melodies and lyrics."
221 Leninist Generation propaganda had focussed cultural articles almost entirely on
praising Soviet initiatives. The Popular Front Generation rejected many of these practices,
seeking to construct an authentic modern American democratic and socialist youth
culture.
Much like their British comrades, the YCLUSA contended that leisure and lifestyle
issues were vital to the health of youth and democratic society. Leisure initiatives
attracted young people to the YCL and were an integral part of their "character building"
campaigns. The YCL critiqued how their organization traditionally had a "tendency to
cast aside the recreations and frivolities of youth;" the Popular Front program needed to
clarify that there "must be no contradiction between being young and being a Communist."
222 In 1938 the YCL began to clarify this new outlook on youth leisure in their
official statements:
At our Eighth National Convention the YCL was characterized as "an organization for
education, action and recreation. We seek to provide cultural and social activities and
sport and recreational facilities for young people. We want to teach them an appreciation
of literature, drama, art and music. We want to enrich their lives, to build their bodies,
to develop their characters, to train them for leadership."… Through our serious
political work coupled with wholesome, healthy activities and popular methods, let us
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