Labor liberation and human liberation, from the perspective of historical materialism, are intertwined processes of mutual generation and shaping. The process of achieving labor liberation is also a process of transcending the alienation of the capitalist labor, leading to the liberation of human beings and the repossession of their own essence. Based on criticizing and absorbing previous conceptions of labor, Marx, grounded in the reality of individuals and their emotional activities, unravels the essential relationship between labor and humanity from the perspective of historical materialism. In general, Marx follows a logical path from affi rming general labor as the essence of humanity, to recognizing the reality of labor alienation under capitalist society, and fi nally critiquing and transcending it to restore the essence of humanity. Hence, clarifying this logical path and the humanistic dimension within it is of great theoretical and practical signifi cance for promoting self-understanding in the new era and the development of labor education.