The Cry for Justice: An Anthology of the Literature of Social Protest / The writings of philosophers, poets, novelists, social reformers, and others who have voiced the struggle against social injustice; selected from twenty-five languages; covering a period of five thousand years

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Gutenberg ID

65775

Title

The Cry for Justice: An Anthology of the Literature of Social Protest / The writings of philosophers, poets, novelists, social reformers, and others who have voiced the struggle against social injustice; selected from twenty-five languages; covering a period of five thousand years

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

A monumental anthology of social protest literature spanning five millennia and twenty-five languages, edited by Upton Sinclair with an introduction by Jack London. This collection gathers the voices of philosophers, poets, novelists, and reformers who have challenged injustice, exposing systemic cruelty, poverty, and hypocrisy while advocating for a civilization built on service, love, and human brotherhood.

Summary up to 500 words

Edited by Upton Sinclair and introduced by Jack London, *The Cry for Justice* stands as a monumental anthology of social protest literature spanning five thousand years and twenty-five languages. Dubbed a 'humanist Holy Book,' the collection compiles writings from philosophers, poets, novelists, and reformers to awaken readers to the pervasive unfairness, cruelty, and suffering inherent in modern society. The text argues that these conditions are not decreed by divine will or natural law but are human-made problems solvable through understanding and unselfish service. The anthology presents a unified front against 'Mammonism,' the worship of wealth, asserting that true nobility lies in serving the weak rather than exploiting them. It features powerful excerpts from diverse voices: Robert Blatchford defends the 'Bottom Dog' against societal scorn; Patrick MacGill portrays the despair of laborers who build cities only to live in poverty; Thorstein Veblen critiques the class system evidenced by dress and leisure; and W.E.B. Du Bois warns against the corruption of racial ideals by greed. Other selections include Karl Marx's analysis of capitalism replacing feudal ties with cold cash payments, Edward Alsworth Ross's comparison of modern industrial negligence to ancient violence, and J. Pierpont Morgan's testimony on inadequate wages. Jack London's introduction emphasizes that this fair world is not fixed but can be fashioned into a just place by rejecting selfish refuge in favor of sympathy and service. The book asserts that civilizations have historically exalted themselves in terms of power, but the new civilization must exposit itself in terms of 'love-of-man.' By gathering evidence from thinkers who saw clearly despite their own suffering, the anthology proves that the world can be remade through simple yet difficult acts of understanding and service, offering a remedy for this world without relying on metaphysical escapes to other realms. The collection serves as both a report on human ills and a proposal for a fairer society based on brotherhood and the rejection of selfishness.

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4.5/5

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Categories

• Social Problems
• Social Justice