As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary this July, a new grassroots storytelling campaign is
working to make sure working people—and their struggles—are front and center.
#Peoples250 is a social media initiative designed to highlight labor and working-class history through short-form video. Organized in collaboration with unions, state labor history societies, the Zinn Education Project, and a broad network of allies, the campaign is producing 1–2 minute videos that lift up the history of struggle that has advanced worker rights, civil rights, equality, and democracy over the past 250 years.
The goal is simple but ambitious: to create a counter-narrative that centers the experiences, contributions, and victories of working people—stories that are too often overlooked in traditional tellings of American history.
While TikTok is the primary platform for distribution, #Peoples250 videos are also being shared on YouTube, BlueSky, and Facebook to reach as wide an audience as possible.
The project is open to anyone, anywhere. Organizers are encouraging participation from labor historians, students, union members, and community members alike. Taking an expansive view of U.S. history, #Peoples250 welcomes stories at every level—from national moments to deeply personal experiences.
Current prompts include:
- Has anyone in your family ever had to fight for their rights on the job?
- Tell us about a moment in history that directly impacted your town, city, or community.
But participants are also invited to explore any story that speaks to the role of working people in shaping the nation.
Your story counts—whether it’s your family’s history, your community’s struggles, or a moment that changed how you see the world of work.
To get involved, you can reach out at peopleshistory250@gmail.com and check out current contributions on TikTok, YouTube, BlueSky and Facebook .
As the country marks 250 years, #Peoples250 is making sure the voices of workers are part of the story.