b'ASK THE NANNYDear Stephanie,My employers and I have completely different views onpolitics. I barely survived the last election year. What isthebestwaytohandletheirdesiretohavenonstopbanter?Sincerely,Tired of PoliticsABOUTHOUSEHOLD WORKERS UNITEDear Tired of Politics,TellingthestoriesofAfricanAmericandomesticworkers,thisbookresurrects a little-known history of domestic worker activism in the 1960s Youdonthavetosayanythingtoanyoneaboutand1970s,offeringnewperspectivesonrace,labor,feminism,and politics.Justlikeyourpersonalrelationshipsandorganizing. religion, who you vote for is your private business. InthisgroundbreakinghistoryofAfricanAmericandomestic-worker Itisunfortunatethattheparentsaremakingyouorganizing, scholar and activist Premilla Nadasen shatters countless myths uncomfortablebecausevotingdifferentlythanyourandmisconceptionsaboutanhistoricallymisunderstoodworkforce. employerscouldbeanopportunitytoteachtheResurrecting a little-known history of domestic-worker activism from the childrenaboutrespectingdifferences.Knowledgeof1950s to the 1970s, Nadasen shows how these women were a far cry fromthe stereotyped passive and powerless victims; they were innovative labor howtoengageinpubliclifeisoneofthemostorganizers who tirelessly organized on buses and streets across the United importantrightsandresponsibilitiesthatAmericansStates to bring dignity and legal recognition to their occupation. have.ItisimportanttoteachchildrentheessentialAmericanprinciplesofrespectfullyengagingwithDismissedbymainstreamlaborasunorganizable,AfricanAmerican others,upholdingcivicresponsibility,andvotingourhouseholdworkersdevelopeduniquestrategiesforsocialchangeand conscience.formed unprecedented alliances with activists in both the womens rights and the black freedom movements. Using storytelling as a form of activism But it\'s never okay for the parents to force their beliefsandasmeansofestablishingacollectiveidentityasworkers,thesewomenproudlydeclared,Werefusetobeyourmammies,nannies, or opinions on you, or for you to do that to them. Neveraunties, uncles, girls, handmaidens any longer. tellthechildrenyouthinktheirparent\'spoliticalopinionsarewrong.Hate,disrespect,anger,andWith compelling personal stories of the leaders and participants on the hostility should not be part of the discussion of politics.front lines,Household Workers Unitegives voice to the poor women ofcolorwhosededicatedstruggleforhigherwages,betterworking Ifyouremployersmakeyouuncomfortablewhenconditions, and respect on the job created a sustained political movement discussingpolitics,Iwouldsimplysay,"Iprefernotthat endures today. discussingpolitics."Iftheydon\'trespectyourwishes, Winner of the 2016 Sara A. Whaley Book Prize then I would remain silent and focus on your job duties(likeplayingwiththechildren)ratherthanengagingReprinted from Penguin Random House with your employers about politics.StephanieStephanie FelzenbergStephaniehasworkedasaprofessionalnanny,familyassistant,andhousehold manager since 1993. She was the newsletter editor of theInternationalNannyAssociationforfouryears;sheiscurrentlythenewsletter editor for the US Nanny Association and has been the advicecolumnistforNannyMagazinesince2013.Seehernannyblogat Submit Your Questions to Stephanie by email atwww.bethebestnanny.com. info@NannyMag.com'