Revolutionary Hillbilly

by Hy Thurman

Revolutionary Hillbilly is a history book, an organizer's notebook, and an autobiography. These are stories of unity against poverty and racism. Hy Thurman is a hillbilly and a revolutionary organizer. As a co-founder of the Young Patriots Organization, Thurman helped organize poor white communities in alliance with the Illinois Black Panther Party and Young Lords Organization during the Sixties. He is an educator who got his schooling in the fields of Tennessee, his PhD on the streets of Chicago, and his hunger for justice in the back of a patrol car.

Revolutionary Hillbilly is unique because it is a first person chronicle of the unfolding of landmark events of the 1960's. Hy Thurman's book provides an insiders view of how coalitions can form and the group dynamics that can keep these movements vibrant. It is an invaluable resource for historians and activists alike.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography

204 pages, Paperback

Published December 1, 2020

Reviews

[Arlo Hatcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really easy read, but interesting none-the-less. Very insightful look at the Young Patriots Organization in Chicago that really helps to stress the importance of community organization centered around and emphasizing the voices of people within the community. The accomplishments of the YPO to achieve actual, material benefits to the citizens of Uptown Chicago is extremely impressive, and highlights how effective this kind of organization can be. It also shows the necessity to build strong and safe networks, and exposes the disgusting extent the state will go to stop any kind of progressive action that could potentially be threatening. While not highly academic and containing many spelling errors (and one instance in which the end of a chapter gets randomly ended), it’s still worth a read and further investigation into the history of the YPO.

[Cortney Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

A real life history book that humanizes the movement of the Rainbow Coalition of the 60s and makes you feel you are there with them! Highly recommended!

[Lonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great history and organizing guide. Having grown up in Kern County, California - Trump country long before Trump was a thing - I come from a family of displaced Southern white migrants. I had the honor of meeting Hy Thurman at Left Bank Books on October 21, 2022. Thurman was on the Principled Unity Tour with Kwame Shakur. This book and others on the Young Patriots is really helpful in organizing white workers who are often left out of contemporary left organizing.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such an important and necessary story of interracial working class solidarity and it’s especially valuable to understand the history of the Young Patriots Organization and original Rainbow Coalition through Hy’s own words. I just wish the press had copy edited the book better—the story deserves it.

[James Tracy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm a biased friend of Hy's, and I co-wrote the introduction.

That out of the way, this is a beautiful book.

If you are looking for clues on how to pull people away from the fascist magnet, start here.

Accessible, with passion for a better world, beyond class oppression and racism.