Kim Kelly (journalist)

Last updated

Kim Kelly is an American journalist and writer, best known for her coverage of labor issues, and of heavy metal music. [1]

Contents

Early life

Kim Kelly was born in the Pine Barrens region of southern New Jersey. She was born with ectrodactyly, a congenital limb difference. [2] Kelly grew up in a working class household with several generations having worked in the construction industry. She was active within the construction industry trade unions. Kelly is a third generation union member. [3] [4]

Career

Kelly began her career in journalism covering music and culture, in particular the heavy metal music scene. She initially began writing for her school newspaper as a teenager, and eventually became editor for Vice Magazine's music and culture section. [5] [6] In 2015, she became one of the leaders of the successful unionization drive at Vice Media. [7] She was laid off from Vice in 2019, as part of mass layoffs by the company. [8]

Following the unionization drive, she began covering labor issues more frequently, including starting a regular column on labor for Teen Vogue in 2018. [9] [10]

Kelly is a member of the Industrial Workers of the World's Freelance Journalists Union. [11] In 2021, she was elected to the council of the Writers Guild of America, East. [12] [13]

In April 2022, she released Fight Like Hell: The Untold History of American Labor, a non-fiction book covering the history of the American labor movement and of marginalized voices who have been overlooked in most narratives of the American labor movement. [14] [15] [16] [17]

Kelly has been published by the following publications: The New Republic, The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Baffler, The Nation, the Columbia Journalism Review, Esquire, and as Vice's music blog heavy metal editor. Kelly has also worked as a video correspondent for More Perfect Union, The Real News Network, and Means TV. [18]

Activism

Kelly was an anti-fascist counter-demonstrator at the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville in 2017, with the Metropolitan Anarchist Coordinating Council. [19] [20] She has spoken out against Nazis within the metal community. [21] [22] [23] She was a co-founder of the Black Flags Over Brooklyn anti-fascist music festival. [24] Kelly's congenital condition ectrodactyly has led her to be a disability activist. She has worked to highlight the stories of those, who because of their own congenital issues, were mistreated in society. Three of those people figure in Kelly's book FIGHT LIKE HELL: The Untold History of American Labor they are: Julia Pastrana, William Henry Johnson, and Joice Heth. [25]

Related Research Articles

Doom metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal music that typically uses slower tempos, low-tuned guitars and a much "thicker" or "heavier" sound than other heavy metal genres. Both the music and the lyrics are intended to evoke a sense of despair, dread, and impending doom. The genre is strongly influenced by the early work of Black Sabbath, who formed a prototype for doom metal. During the first half of the 1980s, a number of bands such as Witchfinder General and Pagan Altar from England, American bands Pentagram, Saint Vitus, the Obsessed, Trouble, and Cirith Ungol, and Swedish band Candlemass defined doom metal as a distinct genre. Pentagram, Saint Vitus, Trouble and Candlemass have been referred to as "the Big Four of Doom Metal".

<i>Vogue</i> (magazine) American fashion and lifestyle magazine

Vogue, also known as American Vogue, is a monthly fashion and lifestyle magazine that covers style news, including haute couture fashion, beauty, culture, living, and runway. It is part of the global collection of Condé Nast's VOGUE media.

Extreme metal is a loosely defined umbrella term for a number of related heavy metal music subgenres that have developed since the early 1980s. It has been defined as a "cluster of metal subgenres characterized by sonic, verbal, and visual transgression".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emma Roberts</span> American actress, singer and producer (born 1991)

Emma Rose Roberts is an American actress, singer and producer. Known for her performances spanning multiple genres of film and television, her work in the horror and thriller genres have established her as a scream queen. Roberts has received various accolades including a Young Artist Award, an MTV Movie & TV Award, and a ShoWest Award.

<i>Teen Vogue</i> American fashion and culture magazine

Teen Vogue is an American progressive online publication, formerly in print, launched in January 2003, as a sister publication to Vogue, targeted at teenage girls and young women. Like Vogue, it included stories about fashion and celebrities. Since 2015, following a steep decline in sales, the magazine cut back on its print distribution in favor of online content, which has grown significantly. The magazine had also expanded its focus from fashion and beauty to include politics and current affairs. In November 2017, it was announced Teen Vogue would cease in print and continue online-only as part of a new round of cost cuts. Other publications would also follow and go digital, such as InStyle. The final print issue featured Hillary Clinton on the cover, and was on newsstands on December 5, 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">We're Not Gonna Take It (Twisted Sister song)</span> 1984 single by Twisted Sister

"We're Not Gonna Take It" is a song by American heavy metal band Twisted Sister from their album Stay Hungry. It was first released as a single in May 1984.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alicia Warrington</span> American drummer (born 1980)

Alicia Warrington is an American drummer and professional wrestling ring announcer. She has played drums for Kate Nash, Kelly Osbourne, Lillix, Hannah Montana, Uh Huh Her, Gore Gore Girls, Dawn Robinson, The All-Girl Boys Choir, The Dollyrots, The Bruises, Tracy Chapman, Selena Gomez, Colton Dixon, Chris Rene and others.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kim Kardashian</span> American media personality (born 1980)

Kimberly Noel Kardashian is an American media personality, socialite, and businesswoman. She first gained media attention as a friend and stylist of Paris Hilton, but received wider notice after the sex tape Kim Kardashian, Superstar, which she filmed in 2003 with her then-boyfriend Ray J, was released in 2007. Later that year, she and her family began to appear on the E! reality television series Keeping Up with the Kardashians, which aired until 2021. Its success led to the formation of several spin-offs, including Kourtney and Kim Take New York (2011–2012), Kourtney and Kim Take Miami (2009–2013), and a successor show, Hulu's The Kardashians (2022–present).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kylie Jenner</span> American media personality (born 1997)

Kylie Kristen Jenner is an American media personality, socialite and businesswoman. She starred in the E! reality television series Keeping Up with the Kardashians from 2007 to 2021 and then the Hulu reality television series The Kardashians from 2022. She is the founder and owner of cosmetic company Kylie Cosmetics. She is the fifth-most-followed person on Instagram.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kendall Jenner</span> American model and media personality (born 1995)

Kendall Nicole Jenner is an American model, socialite and media personality. She rose to fame in the reality television show Keeping Up with the Kardashians, in which she starred for 20 seasons and nearly 15 years from 2007 to 2021. The success of the show led to the creation of multiple spin-off series including Kourtney and Khloe Take Miami (2009), Kourtney and Kim Take New York (2011), Khloé & Lamar (2011), Rob & Chyna (2016) and Life of Kylie (2017). Following the decision to end their reality show, in 2022 she and her family starred in the reality television series The Kardashians on Hulu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Madison Beer</span> American singer (born 1999)

Madison Elle Beer is an American singer and songwriter. Beer first gained substantial media coverage when Justin Bieber posted a link to one of her covers she posted on YouTube. In 2013, she released her debut single "Melodies". In 2018, she released her debut extended play (EP), As She Pleases, which produced the singles "Dead" and "Home with You".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kaia Gerber</span> American model and actress (born 2001)

Kaia Jordan Gerber is an American model and actress. After starring in a series of ad campaigns for fashion brands since debuting at Fashion Week in 2017, Gerber won Model of the Year at the British Fashion Awards in 2018. She is the second child and only daughter of the supermodel Cindy Crawford and the businessman Rande Gerber.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maddie Ziegler</span> American actress and dancer (born 2002)

Madison Nicole Ziegler is an American actress and dancer. She appeared in Lifetime's reality show Dance Moms from 2011 until 2016, and starred in a series of music videos by Sia, beginning with "Chandelier" and "Elastic Heart", which have in total attracted more than 6 billion views on YouTube. Ziegler has also appeared in films, television shows, concerts, advertisements and on magazine covers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gigi Hadid</span> American model (born 1995)

Jelena Noura "Gigi" Hadid is an American fashion model and television personality. In 2016, she was named International Model of the Year by the British Fashion Council. Throughout her career, Hadid has made at least 50 appearances in international Vogue. Models.com ranks her as one of the "New Supers." Since 2017, Hadid has been one of the highest-paid models in the world, earning $20 million.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lauren Duca</span> American journalist

Lauren Duca is an American former journalist and political columnist. She formerly worked at Teen Vogue, where she had a column from 2017 to 2018 called "Thigh High Politics". Her book How to Start a Revolution (2019) is on young people and the future of American politics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rina Sawayama</span> Japanese singer (born 1990)

Rina Sawayama is a Japanese singer, actress and model based in the United Kingdom. Born in Niigata, Japan, she immigrated to London with her parents at the age of five. In 2017, she self-released her debut extended play, Rina. After signing to Dirty Hit in 2020, she released her debut studio album, Sawayama, to critical acclaim. Her second studio album, Hold the Girl, was released on 16 September 2022. Known for her musical versatility, and integration of feminism into her craft, Sawayama has also modelled for fashion campaigns, and made her film acting debut in the action film John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hunter Schafer</span> American actress and model (born 1998)

Hunter Schafer is an American actress and model. She first made headlines in 2016 with her activism against the North Carolina bill HB2. In 2017, she started modeling for many worldwide fashion brands. She made her acting debut as transgender high school student Jules Vaughn in the HBO teen drama television series Euphoria (2019–present). She has since starred in the films The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes (2023) and Cuckoo (2024) and will star as co-lead in the upcoming sci-fi television miniseries Blade Runner 2099.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elena Velez</span> American fashion designer, artist (born 1994)

Elena Velez is an American fashion designer and creative from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, based in New York City. Her work is known for its synthesis of metalsmith and high fashion and has been featured in the V&A Museum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bella Poarch</span> American social media personality (born 1997)

Denarie Bautista Taylor (born Belinda Marie Macadengdeng Batumbakal; February 8, 1997), known professionally as Bella Poarch, is an American social media personality and singer. On August 17, 2020, she created the most liked video on TikTok, in which she lip syncs to the song "M to the B" by British rapper Millie B. She is the most followed TikTok contributor from the Philippines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lottie Moss</span> British model (born 1998)

Charlotte Moss is an English fashion model and the younger half-sister of supermodel Kate Moss.

References

  1. "Teen Vogue to Black Metal: Waving the Black Flag with Kim Kelly". 4 October 2018. Archived from the original on 22 August 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  2. Kelly, Kim (2 November 2022). "Disability Rights Are Workers' Rights". tcf.org. The Century Foundation. Archived from the original on 8 May 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  3. "Fighting the Good Fight: An Interview with Kim Kelly". 27 April 2022. Archived from the original on 22 August 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  4. "Kim Kelly". Simon & Schuster . Paramount Global. Archived from the original on 8 May 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  5. "Kim Kelly Unites Metal and Labor Rights in Fight Like Hell". 23 May 2022. Archived from the original on 22 August 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  6. Hines, Lauren (18 April 2022). "Kim Kelly on Fight Like Hell: The Untold History of American Labor: 'Solidarity is essential. We can't win without it.'". KBIA. Archived from the original on 22 August 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  7. Doctorow, Cory (4 September 2019). "Interview with Kim Kelly, Teen Vogue's labor reporter". Boing Boing. Archived from the original on 22 August 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  8. "How "Grim" Kim Kelly's Metal Background Led Her to the Bloody History of American Labor". 27 April 2022. Archived from the original on 3 May 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  9. Specter, Emma (28 April 2022). "Writer Kim Kelly's New Book, Fight Like Hell, Is a Timely Ode to the Labor Movement". Vogue. Archived from the original on 19 July 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  10. "Fight Like Hell: An Interview with Kim Kelly". Law and Political Economy Project . 5 February 2022. Archived from the original on 24 July 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  11. "Kim Kelly". Simon & Schuster . Paramount Global. Archived from the original on 8 May 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  12. "2021 Council Election | Candidate Statements". Archived from the original on 2022-08-22. Retrieved 2022-08-22.
  13. "Kim Kelly's 'Fight Like Hell' Examines the Rebound of Unions". Archived from the original on 2022-08-22. Retrieved 2022-08-22.
  14. "A well-reasoned argument for restoring unions to their former role in the lives of American workers". Kirkus Reviews. 9 February 2022. Archived from the original on 6 December 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  15. "Kim Kelly Reads from Her Book, Fight Like Hell". 26 April 2022. Archived from the original on 22 August 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  16. ""You Can't Trust These Motherfuckers": Why American Workers Need Unions". 26 April 2022. Archived from the original on 22 August 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  17. "What the Labor Movement Can Learn from Its Past". The Atlantic . 6 May 2022. Archived from the original on 22 August 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  18. "Kim Kelly". Simon & Schuster . Paramount Global. Archived from the original on 8 May 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  19. "Listen To Writer Kim Kelly's Nazi-Smashing, Anti-Fascist Playlist". Kerrang. 18 August 2017. Archived from the original on 22 August 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  20. Lennard, Natasha (2 July 2018). "A Year Later, the Fascists of Charlottesville Are Back for More — This Time Outside the White House". The Intercept. Archived from the original on 22 August 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  21. "What covering heavy metal taught me about spotting Nazis". Archived from the original on 2022-10-06. Retrieved 2022-08-22.
  22. "A Beginner's Guide to Heavy Metal Nazi Hunting Online". 5 February 2021. Archived from the original on 22 August 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  23. "Inside Heavy Metal's Battle Against White Supremacy". 12 November 2020. Archived from the original on 29 August 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  24. "Brooklyn Anti-Fascist Metal Fest Was a Beacon for a Troubled Scene". Rolling Stone . 28 January 2019. Archived from the original on 22 August 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  25. Kelly, Kim (2 November 2022). "Disability Rights Are Workers' Rights". tcf.org. The Century Foundation. Archived from the original on 8 May 2023. Retrieved 8 May 2023.