Thomas Good
Thomas Altfather Good is a photographer with Next Left Notes, an independent Left online journal.
PUBLISHING HISTORY
Good's work has appeared in numerous publications including: In These Times, The Nation, The Industrial Worker, and "Underground: My life in SDS and the Weathermen" by Mark Rudd.
Some New York City based politicians have also used Good's images -- including attorney Norman Siegel and NY City Council Member Debi Rose, the first African-American ever elected to public office in the borough of Staten Island.
Good follows labor issues and his work has appeared on the covers of The American Postal Worker and The Industrial Worker. A member of the National Writers Union (UAW Local 1981), Good's work has also appeared in the United Auto Workers magazine "Solidarity."
In December, 2011, the Austrian magazine "Profil" used one of Good's images in a piece about Occupy Wall Street organizer David Graeber.
RECOGNITION
In October, 2009, Good was recognized by Peace Action for his work as a photojournalist who covers labor, civil rights and the peace movement.
At a "Make Food Not War" dinner, Peace Action Staten Island presented Good and three other recipients (Muslim activist Hesham El-Meligy, antiwar activist Barbara Walker and longtime Peace Action organizer Sylvia Zaage) with "Peacemaker" awards. Rep. Michael McMahon (D, 13 CD) issued Congressional certificates for "outstanding and invaluable service to the community" to the four honorees.
CRITICISM
In December of 2009 the Tea Party and their Republican Party allies criticized Good for being a "radical." The Tea Party also criticized then Congressman McMahon for giving Good the certificate. [1] The president of the National Writers Union, UAW Local 1981, responded. Larry Goldbetter said, "As for the unprincipled attack by Staten Island GOP boss John Friscia, a trivial job if ever there was one, Tom should consider that yet another award, a badge of honor. As a former member of SDS myself, I consider the years spent actively opposing the genocidal war in Vietnam, opposing racism and building a worker-student alliance as having set the course of my life on the side of working people. There’s an old union song called, “Which Side Are You On.” We know the answer with both Tom and Friscia. And I’m standing with Tom Good." [2]
[1] http://blog.silive.com/politics/2009/12/friscia_slams_mcmahon_for_radi.html