Black History Month: Lessons for Today

Latest

Rally in Chicago to reclaim the radical legacy of Martin Luther King. PHOTO/SARAH JANE RHEE
Rally in Chicago to reclaim the radical legacy of Martin Luther King.
PHOTO/SARAH JANE RHEE

Black History Month is more than a time to set forth or celebrate the contributions of outstanding African Americans to American history. It is increasingly becoming a time to sum up the struggles of the past, extract the lessons and adjust our efforts for the oncoming battles.
America has entered a vast social revolution. This revolution is having its effect on all aspects of life, including the on-going African American fight for equality. It is not possible to think strategically for the coming period without considering the impact it is having and will have on today’s movement.
While it is clear that a new form of movement is emerging, it is necessary to sum up the breaks in continuity that create new possibilities.
Historically, there were two main conditions for controlling the Black movement.
Most important was the isolation of the Black workers from their white counterpart. Thus the century of legal segregation. Today, technological development is forcing a sector of white workers into social and economic conditions similar to those occupied by the Black. Communication among the workers is now possible and the ideological fight for class unity can now be won.
Secondly, segregation forced the isolated Black worker to rely on those who had communication with not only the “power structure,” but with other Black communities. These were, in the main, the direct descendants of the “house slave.”
Under such conditions, the white ruling class literally appointed the leaders of the Blacks. It should be remembered that every single uprising of the field slaves in America was compromised by the “house slave,” who was living better that the field slaves.
The upsurge of national unity beginning with the Trayvon Martin case through the police murder of Eric Garner in New York, could not possibly have happened without social media. There is a huge effort to contain this new weapon—but the reality is that the grassroots today have the communication possibilities that were reserved for the elite just a few years back.
New means of struggle are available to both sides. However, this latest round of struggle has shown that the days of the unknown national “leader” coming in and disrupting the local organization are coming to an end.
Tactics have to change accordingly. The indispensible introduction of new ideas is possible as never before. The ruling class is even more capable of imposing “leaders” on the mass—but the mass has this new capacity of popularizing concrete demands and exchanging experience.
The revolutionaries today, as never before, can and must dig deeper into the mass— arouse them and guarantee the stability that only local organization can create.

PT Logo collage
+ Articles by this author

Free to republish but please credit the People's Tribune. Visit us at www.peoplestribune.org, email peoplestribune@gmail.com, or call 773-486-3551.

The People’s Tribune brings you articles written by individuals or organizations, along with our own reporting. Bylined articles reflect the views of the authors. Unsigned articles reflect the views of the editorial board. Please credit the source when sharing: ©2024 peoplestribune.org. Please donate to help us keep bringing you voices of the movement. Click here. We’re all volunteer, no paid staff.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Featured

Veterans Launch 40-Day Fast to Protest Israel’s Starvation of Gaza

As the death toll of Palestinians continues to rise and more than a half a million people in Gaza are on the brink of famine, U.S.-based Veterans For Peace and several allied organizations launched a 40-day “Fast for Gaza.”

Another Example of Resistance: The Community Stood Up

Agents, some in full tactical gear, arrested restaurant workers while patrons were dining. Neighbors and patrons spontaneously protested, pushing ICE agents to retreat from their community.

‘I Am a Political Prisoner’ Says Jailed Immigrant Rights Activist

In this interview with Democracy Now, Journalist Maria Hinojosa describes her recent interview in an ICE detention center in Colorado with jailed immigration activist Jeanette Vizguerra.

War No More – Veterans Reflect on the Meaning of Memorial Day

Veterans for Peace say wars will not end, – and nuclear war will not be averted – unless there is a sea-change in the thinking of the U.S. people and our political leaders.

Harvard University Stands Up to Illegal Federal Government Actions

Read letter by Harvard President Alan M. Garner, about the University's stance on the Federal government's illegal actions to force Harvard to give up the school's academic independence and academic freedom.

More from the People's Tribune