[Peace-discuss] Race & class

[Karen Aram]

They were both right at the time. Focus on "class" is necessary if we want change, especially today. At the time of their discussion race was as it had been for some time quite decisive in preventing change and the focus on it brought only change for a few, not the many. Carmichael was the first to say that throughout the 80's and 90's. To say he was wrong is to negate the fact that no one but Communists and academics were speaking of class, the majority of working class in the USA had no idea what was meant by class, keeping in mind Communists and Socialists were few in the US at that time, or were unheard, as a result of McCarthyism. If MLK had focused on class, he would not have been heard. Focus on race by African American leaders was the only way forward at the time. Carmichael aka Kwame Ture, focus was on African American people as those to bring about progressive change, and he was right, only a few today such as Ajamu Baraka are speaking out against what is taking place both here and abroad, speaking of class. Leadership will come from those most victimized that is the African American community. Both Carmichael and James focused on ending exploitation and imperialism so there is no need to point out their differences, rather focus on that to which they agreed.

Academics only enlighten a few, as they speak to one another in hopes it may filter down. Activists, those who have been enlightened, speak to the working class in a manner they understand, in order to reach a goal.



> On Aug 7, 2020, at 20:24, C. G. Estabrook <carl at newsfromneptune.com> wrote:
> 
> TARIQ ALI WROTE 40 YEARS AGO—
> 
> "C.L.R. James (1901-89) is now, by any standards, an old man. He appears somewhat frail, but this impression evaporates when he begins to talk. It is almost as if one is being transported back to the polemical debates and arguments of the Thirties.
> 
> "James was born in the West Indies some 80 years ago. He came to Britain in the Thirties and soon developed a reputation as a sports writer and historian.
> 
> "I had last heard him speak at the ‘Dialectics of Liberation’ conference in the Roundhouse in 1967. On that occasion he had clashed fiercely with the black American leader Stokely Carmichael. ‘Race is decisive’, Carmichael had thundered. ‘No’, James had replied with quiet dignity, ‘it is class.’”
> 
> —CGE
> 

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