The Big Scary "S" Word

"True or false: Socialism is as American as apple pie. The US Republican Party was founded by socialists in Wisconsin in the 1850s. Liberty, freedom and self-rule are founding principles that the USA and socialism share. All of the above are proven true in this hidden history of socialism in America that explores the foundations, applications and fallacies surrounding a homegrown ideology. From the socialist-led early labour movement through the New Deal, to Martin Luther King connecting economic and civil rights, and the 2008 Wall Street bailout and ensuing Occupy movement, socialist ideas continue to provide language for people experiencing economic hardship and political suppression. Mixing animation, interviews with luminaries such as Cornel West and Naomi Klein, and a pair of personal stories that demonstrate socialism in practice, Socialism: An American Story challenges capitalism as a root value of democracy, and questions where humanity is headed if only making dollars makes sense."
(Angie Driscoll - Hot Docs 2021)