The 1900s
This tin badge advertised membership in Boston's Cigar Maker's Union #97, founded to protect workers' wages and conditions in the cigar industry. Worn on a lapel or vest, it was both a declaration of belonging and a statement that this worker had fought for fair treatment.
The 1900s · Full story
You pin this small metal badge to your vest before heading to the cigar factory—a quiet signal to every foreman and fellow worker that you're union. The weight of it is barely noticeable, but its meaning is everything: you've got brothers watching your back, and you won't work for less than you're worth.
Reflect
What would it mean to you to wear a visible symbol of something you believe in?