by Bryce A.
National Association of Letter Carriers (personal capacity)
South Shore, MA
Growing up, my family was never interested in politics, though I remember Fox News was always on our TV before school and at dinner time. My third grade class held a mock presidential election in 2004, and when I told my dad that I voted for John Kerry because I saw him as opposed to the Iraq War, my dad told me I voted wrong, which confused me. As I learned to play music, I found that what I appreciated most about my favorite artists was the message behind their art, not the level of musicianship they displayed. My favorite bands were any who sang about the evils of war, the shallows of fortune, or the importance of love and human connection. It was around the time of the 2016 presidential race that I came to the conclusion that the beliefs I had been passionate about my whole life were connected to one core belief: that capitalism is failing humanity.
I grew despondent watching the Democratic Party choose Hillary Clinton as its presidential nominee over Bernie Sanders, a candidate who ran on promises of universal healthcare, a shortened wage gap, and a promise to look after the interest of average, working-class people. While I had always known I would never be a Republican, for the first time in my life I was realizing that I could no longer support the Democratic Party either. As a result of this, I spent most of my twenties avoiding politics altogether, and it wasn’t until two years ago that I realized my avoidance was a privilege that not everyone could afford. I felt a sense of duty to educate myself on what my beliefs actually were, and eventually I arrived at the conclusion that I was a socialist.
After this discovery, it wasn’t long until I realized that no amount of reading theory or studying history would change anything around me, I had to put what I had learned into practice. In October of last year, the No Kings rally in Boston became the first protest that I’d ever participated in. I had gone with the sole purpose of finding a socialist organization to join. While there were many groups in attendance, the one that caught my eye was the Independent Socialist Group, as they were the only group present that outwardly displayed a refusal to align with either capitalist political party. I signed up immediately, and have been truly grateful for how much I have been able to learn and grow as a socialist in the short time I’ve been a member.
Since joining ISG, I have taken a job at the United States Postal Service as a City Letter Carrier, and am proud to be a member of Branch 18 of the National Association of Letter Carriers. ISG has opened my eyes to the rich history of working-class struggle in America, and motivated me to join a union and continue the fight for worker’s rights and international socialism.
Independent Socialist Group 