The Troubled and Painful History You Never Knew About Labor Day

Understanding the troublesome origins of one of America’s popular holidays

Photo credit: U.S. Department of Labor

If you were to ask anyone around you “what does Labor Day stand for?” what kinds of responses would you receive? In asking friends and family, I received some “I don’t knows” mixed with “a day off” and “hard labor.” I always thought the namesake was the key, celebrating the efforts…