The Socialist Shadows of Texas: Unpacking the State's Forgotten Radical Past David Griscom's book, The Myth of Red Texas , is more than just a historical account of the state's socialist past – it's a reminder that the narrative we tell about Texas has been distorted to fit a particular ideological mold.
The Lone Star State's history often reduces to its current status as a Republican stronghold, but Griscom's work reveals a rich tradition of radical politics and labor activism predating the state's rightward shift.
The mythology surrounding Texas's cowboy culture is particularly interesting in this context.