The Transformation of Mob Menaltiy into Individuality

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Recommended: Labor unions during the 1800s

According to Emerson’s Self-Reliance, “It is easy in the world to live after the world’s opinion; it is easy in solitude after own own; but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude.” On the contrary, life during the 19th century was not private or peaceful. Many employees were mistreated and their rights were violated especial during the late 1960s after the Vietnam War. Jimmy Hoffa, the leader of the successful labor union the Teamsters, was a hero to the mistreated trucking employees by gaining the employees benefits and respect. However, his escalating success led to his own personal turmoil. As a result of Hoffa’s mob mentality and deathly relationships earned Hoffa an infamous reputation, which could have change into a positive reputation with some guidance. If Ralph Emerson were Jimmy Hoffa’s trusted advisor, Hoffa’s teamsters and mafia filiations would be non-existent due to Emerson’s Transcendentalism ideals of self-reliance and individuality; therefore today’s labor unions would have less power.

Everyone has a past that educates, alters their perception and shapes the future. Jimmy Hoffa’s past was stricken with difficult economically distress, constant work environment and both negative and positive aspects of labor, these attributes contributed to the shaping of his future as an infamous political leader. When Hoffa was seven years old his father died from lung cancer from working at a coal mine. As a result of this tragic death Hoffa was exposed to the fatal effects of work. The death of his father caused his mother to take on his burden as both the father and mother; Hoffa as well had to double his responsibilities by maintaining the order of the...

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Hoffa, James Riddle, and Oscar Fraley. Hoffa. New York: Stein and Day, 1975. Print.

"Jimmy Hoffa." ProQuest International Academic Research Library. ProQuest, 2001. Web. Nov. 2011.

Miller, Arthur. "McCarthyism." American Masters. Educational Broadcasting Corporation, 23 Aug. 2006. Web. Nov. 2011. .

Ridenour, Amy. "Self-Reliance by Ralph Waldo Emerson." National Center for Public Policy Research - A Conservative Organization. 2008. Web. 05 Nov. 2011.

Schulman, Frank. "Ralph Waldo Emerson." UUA Server for Other Organizations' Web Sites. Web. 5 Nov. 2011.

Synder, Todd. "Teamsters Union Boss James Hoffa." Cartoon. Politifake. Politifake, 07 Sept. 2011. Web. Nov. 2011.

"Transcedentalism." Harvard Square Library. Emerson Bicentennial Committee of UUA, 2009. Web. 2011

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