KCML’s Reviews > Red Chicago: American Communism at its Grassroots, 1928-35 > Status Update

Chapter 7: "Not That These Youth Are Geniuses" Dedicated to the Young Communist League(YCL) which had difficulty bwin truly recognized by The Party until the final years of the Third Period. These comrades displayed a less sectarian attitude to the CPUSA in regards to other political ideologies and attracted socialist youth into their ranks. Their failings can be placed at the feet of the CPUSA.

Chapter 6: "Generals Are of No Use Without An Army" deals with the difficulties the CPUSA had in organizing Red Trade Unions. The TUUL constantly faced harrasment from the Mafia, AFL thugs and the City's Red Squad, an anti-communist paramilitary group. As such the Communist Party influence on trade unions was minimal, it's focus on white male workers was also it's downfall.

Chapter 5: "Abolish Capitalism" showcases the extreme difficulties faced by the Party in organizing workers into the TUUL, the Party's answer to the AFL. More results in organizing came from the unemployed or black workers than white workers

Chapter 4: Red Relief Through the Unemployment Councils Communists in Chicago managed to organize thousands of people facing eviction in the early years of the Great Depression. These councils assisted in providing food, turning on gas, electricity, and water in evicted homes and apartments, these militant actions were sometimes attacked by police with deadly force.

Chapter 3 "True Revolutionaries" show us the Party struggled very hard with racism amongst the rank and file and made efforts to set an example of violators. It also showcases the religiosity of Black Communists that disturbed party leaders. The background of the rank and file was a diverse as the multi-ethnic and multi-racial component of the Party.