Black and white illustration of two people—one holding a stylized United States flag, the other with a fist raised—on a black background with red text below

The AFL-CIO (American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations) is not a single food and beverage union but a federation of more than 60 unions. Among them is the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), which represents a large share of food and beverage workers. While the “Food and Beverage Trades AFL-CIO” isn’t an official body today, the federation comprises unions and departments affiliated with the food, agriculture, and hospitality industries. The phrase typically refers to this broader network of unions advocating for food and beverage workers.

Unions display their affiliation with a “union bug”—a small label indicating a product was made by union labor, named for its tiny, bug-like appearance.

“Solidarity” signifies union membership or support, symbolizing unity in the fight for fair pay, benefits, and conditions. These symbols—bugs, buttons, paraphernalia—express pride and reflect labor’s long-standing struggle for justice.

Blue text on a white background with a blue cartoon-style character playing a saxophone about the text

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White background with black text above and below an illustration of a brown and black greyhound dog wearing a muzzle, its head down; a large red "X" overlays the design

Dog racing was introduced in the 1920s as an animal-racing sport similar to horse-racing for entertainment and sports gambling. Sighthounds—primarily greyhounds—make up the majority of the dogs used in dog racing. There are myriad ethical arguments associated with the dog racing industry, including the original practice of slaughtering rabbits to lure the dogs, the treatment of the hounds during and after their racing careers, and the use of animals for entertainment.

Though popular with gamblers throughout the 20th century, scrutiny from animal rights and animal welfare groups advocating for the ethical treatment—as well as from the general public—became more widespread beginning in the 1990s, leading to more regulations, adoption programs for retired racing dogs, and the closure of many dog racing tracks. 

In 2021, a bill was introduced in the United States congress that would end dog racing across the country, though it has yet to be signed into law. As of 2025, there are only two active greyhound racing tracks left in the United States and the practice has been made illegal in 44 states. 

Black text on a red background

The slogan “Dare to Struggle, Dare to Win” has been used internationally as a rallying cry in leftist and revolutionary politics. The phrase is most strongly associated with Mao Zedong, who employed it during the Chinese Communist Party’s campaigns in the mid-20th century. In the 1960s and 1970s, it was adopted by a wide range of activist groups worldwide, including anti-war demonstrators, student movements, and labor organizations, as a call to perseverance in the face of political opposition.

In the United States, the slogan appeared frequently on protest signs, pamphlets, and buttons during the Vietnam War era, often produced by union printers like the N.G. Slater Corporation in New York City, a company known for manufacturing political and protest buttons. The red-and-black color scheme of this button underscores its ties to leftist political movements, with red symbolizing revolution and solidarity, and black often linked to anarchist or radical struggles.

The phrase has endured into the 21st century, resurfacing in political demonstrations and campaigns around the world, demonstrating its continuing symbolic power as a statement of resistance and determination.

Simple illustration of a group of children wearing colorful coats, walking up a large staircase, about to enter a building; the building is located on a green background meant to emulate grass, and has open doors and an arched window above the doors. Above the building is an orange background with white bold text

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Red background with a yellow comic book-style "explosion" graphic in the center and two black letter "R"s outlined in red on top of the graphic; additional black text is found on the lower left-hand side of the button

Grape-Nuts™ cereal was developed in 1897 by the The Postum Cereal Company (now known as Post Consumer Brands), and is still sold in supermarkets today.  

Actor and singer Roy Rogers, a Western star, appeared in more than 100 movies and in multiple radio and television shows in the 1940s and 1950s.

In 1953, Post Consumer Brands collaborated with Roy Rogers to release a series of television ads and cereal box prizes. Rogers also appeared on Grape-Nuts™ packaging during the duration of this campaign.

Color illustration of the head of brown horse with light-colored mane on a faded, light blue background; the horse is wearing a black bridle

Actor and singer Roy Rogers, a Western star, appeared in more than 100 movies and in multiple radio and television shows in the 1940s and 1950s. Trigger the horse often starred alongside Rogers in these films and was known for tricks such as walking on his hind legs, bowing, and being housebroken.

In 1953, Post Consumer Brands collaborated with Roy Rogers to release a series of television ads and cereal box prizes. Rogers, accompanied by Trigger, appeared on Grape-Nuts™ packaging during the duration of this campaign.

After Trigger’s death in 1965, Rogers had the horse’s body preserved as a statue and displayed it in Roy Rogers-Dale Evans Museum in Apple Valley, California. 

Color illustration of the head and shoulders of the cartoon character Olive Oyl: a woman wearing a red shirt with a white collar; she has a distinctive nose and black hair pulled back into a horizontal ponytail

Olive Oyl is a classic cartoon character who first appeared in Elzie Crisler Segar’s Thimble Theatre comic strip in 1919. Although Olive Oyl was the main character for nearly a decade, Popeye the Sailor was introduced later, on January 17, 1929, and soon became the main focus. Over time, Olive shifted from being Ham Gravy’s girlfriend to becoming Popeye’s. She later became best known as the quirky, tall, and outspoken love interest often caught in a love triangle with Popeye and his rival, Bluto. She is portrayed as independent and temperamental, yet frequently finds herself in a damsel-in-distress situation. Recognizable by her slender build, bun hairstyle, and distinctive voice, Olive Oyl remains a cultural icon in American cartoons, appearing in comics, animated shorts, TV shows, and movies. 

Kellogg’s Pep cereal, introduced in 1923, included 13/16” lithographed paper-pinback buttons of a popular comic character as in-box prizes from 1945 to 1947. These collectible “Pep pins” came in five series of 18 comic-character buttons each, totaling 86 unique buttons. Authentic pins will have Kellogg’s Pep stamped on the back. Olive Oyl’s Pep pin was created in the 1940s, at the height of the character’s popularity. 

A black and white simplified illustration of the Chicago skyline divides the button in half with black text on a red background on the top and white text on a blue background on the bottom 

The Chicago White Sox are an American Major League Baseball team affiliated with the American League. Originally founded in 1894 as a minor league team, the Sioux City, Iowa Cornhuskers, the team moved to Chicago—and the major leagues—with the new name, The White Stockings. In 1904, the team name changed a third, and final, time to the White Sox. 

In the 1960s, potato chip companies like Crane Potato Chips sold bags of chips containing an MLB memorabilia button like this one. These buttons could be collected and redeemed for a fitting prize: a baseball! Crane Potato Chips, originally founded in 1928 as Licek Potato Chip Co., operated out of Decatur, Illinois. Each baseball button has DECATUR, ILL. proudly stamped on the backside.

Illustration of the dome of the United States Capitol in the center with two black stars on the left and right sides; red text on a white background above and white text on a red background below

The Washington Nationals are a Major League Baseball (MLB) team from Washington, D.C., but their history stretches back through earlier franchises. Baseball in the nation’s capital has had a unique past; Washington was home to two different teams called the Senators. The first Senators (1901–1960) eventually moved and became the Minnesota Twins, while a second Senators team (1961–1971) was later relocated to Texas, where they became the Rangers. That left Washington without an MLB club for over three decades, until 2005. The Nationals’ franchise actually started as the Montreal Expos, Canada’s first major league team, in 1969. When the Expos moved to D.C. in 2005, they became the Nationals, marking the city’s return to big-league baseball after 34 years. By 2012, the team had captured its first major league title and went on to be a regular playoff contender throughout the 2010s.

Crane Potato Chips, once based in Decatur, Illinois, has its own distinctive story. The company got its start in 1938 under Licek Confectioners and changed hands a few times before Ollie Crane purchased it in 1944, running it for nearly three decades. One of the brand’s most memorable features was its creative packaging—chips sold in large beige cans that doubled as handy storage. But what really stuck with fans were Crane’s baseball promotions in the 1960s. Each summer, the company handed out collectible pins featuring bright team logos and names, with Crane’s branding stamped on the back along with a promise of a free baseball. These colorful pins became a summertime tradition for kids and collectors, with the only dated set known from 1961.