anarchism and the black revolution
TRANSCRIPT
8/2/2019 Anarchism and the Black Revolution
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/anarchism-and-the-black-revolution 1/60
LorenzoKom’boaErvinDedicationForthesecondeditionofAnarchismandtheBlackRevolution
IdedicatethissecondeditionofAnarchismandtheBlackRevolutiontoComradeGingerKatz,oneofthefoundersoftheoriginalNorthAmericanAnarchistBlackCrossalmost15yearsago.ItwasGingerKatzwhoalmostsingle-handedlyarrangedforthetypesetting,publishingandprintingofthefirstedition,andthenshewentoutandsoldthembythethousands.Withouther,thissecondeditionwouldnothavebeenpossible.
Shehadtofighttogetthebookspublished,andtogetahearingformyselfandotherBlackAnarchists,whohadthingstosayaboutthedirectionofthemovement.The“Anarchistpurists,”whowantedtokeepthemovementallwhiteandasanIndividualist,counter-culturalphenomenon,foughthertoothandnail.Someofthesecriticismsandstruggleswerethinlyveiledracism,andIamsurethattheyfrustratedandexhaustedComradeGinger.Ifso,sheneverrelayedittome,butIhearditfromothersources.IremembermydealingswithAnarchistsinthemovementduringthe1970s,whodeniedtheexistenceofracismassomethingweshouldfightentirely.ButnotComradeGinger.ShewasoneofthefewAnarchistswhounderstoodhowtheAmericanstatewasorganized,andhowitusedwhiteskinprivilegetosplittheworkingclass,andtocontinuethedictatorshipofCapitalismthroughsuch“divideandrule”tactics.
IstillhavesomeofthelettersthatGingerwroteme15yearsagowhenIwasin
prison.ButIlostcontactwithhersincetheearly1980.In1983,Iwasreleasedfromprison,andbecameestrangedfromtheAnarchistandprisonmovements,soIdonotknowwheresheis.Butwhereversheis,IhopeshewillknowhowmuchIappreciatewhatshedidtomakethisprojectareality,andhowshelaidtheseedsforthegrowthofthepresentandfutureLibertarianSocialistmovementonthiscontinent,andhopefullyaroundtheworld.IamhopefulthatImightonedaymeether,maybewhenIamonanationalbooktourforthisandotherbooksIhavewritten,andjustthankherforhelpingme,whenIcouldnothelpmyself.Tothiscomrade,Iwillgivemyloveandrespectalways.Thankyou.
LorenzoKom’boaErvin
September1993
Chapter1.AnAnalysisofWhiteSupremacy
ThispamphletwillbrieflydiscussthenatureofAnarchismanditsrelevancetotheBlackLiberationmovement.BecausetherehavebeensomanyliesanddistortionsofwhatAnarchismreallystandsfor,bybothitsleft-andright-wingideologicalopponents,itwillbenecessarytodiscussthemanypopularmythsaboutit.Thisinitselfdeservesabook,butisnottheintentionofthispamphlet,whichismerelytointroducetheBlackmovementtorevolutionaryAnarchistideals.Itisuptothereadertodeterminewhetherthesenewideasarevalidandworthyofadoption.HowtheCapitalistsUseRacism
ThefateofthewhiteworkingclasshasalwaysbeenboundwiththeconditionofBlackworkers.GoingasfarbackastheAmericancolonialperiodwhenBlacklaborwasfirstimportedintoAmerica,Blackslavesandindenturedservantshavebeenoppressedrightalongwithwhitesofthelowerclasses.ButwhenEuropeanindenturedservantsjoinedwithBlackstorebelagainsttheirlotinthelate1600s,thepropertiedclassdecidedto“free”thembygivingthemaspecialstatusas“whites”andthusastakeinthesystemofoppression.
Materialincentives,aswellasthenewlyelevatedsocialstatuswereusedtoensuretheselowerclassesallegiance.Thisinventionofthe“whiterace”andracials
8/2/2019 Anarchism and the Black Revolution
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/anarchism-and-the-black-revolution 2/60
laveryoftheAfricanswenthand-in-glove,andishowtheupperclassesmaintainedorderduringtheperiodofslavery.Evenpoorwhiteshadaspirationsofdoingbetter,sincetheirsocialmobilitywasensuredbythenewsystem.Thissocialmobility,however,wasonthebacksoftheAfricanslaves,whoweresuper-exploited.
Butthediehadbeencastforthedual-tierformoflabor,whichexploitedtheAfrican,butalsotrappedwhitelabor.WhentheysoughttoorganizeunionsorforhigherwagesintheNorthorSouth,whitelaborerswereslappeddownbytherich,whousedenslavedBlacklaborastheirprimarymodeofproduction.Theso-called“free”laborofthewhiteworkerdidnotstandachance.
AlthoughtheCapitalistsusedthesystemofwhiteskinprivilegetogreateffecttodividetheworkingclass,thetruthisthattheCapitalistsonlyfavoredwhiteworkerstousethemagainsttheirowninterests,notbecausetherewastrue“white”classunity.TheCapitalistsdidn’twantwhitelaborunitedwithBlacksagainsttheirruleandthesystemofexploitationoflabor.Theinventionofthe“whiterace”wasascamtofacilitatethisexploitation.WhiteworkerswereboughtofftoallowtheirownwageslaveryandtheAfrican’ssuper-exploitation;theystruckadealwiththedevil,whichhashamperedalleffortsatclassunityforthelastfourcenturies.
Thecontinualsubjugationofthemassesdependsoncompetitionandinternaldisunity.Aslongasdiscriminationexists,andracialorethnicminoritiesareoppr
essed,theentireworkingclassisoppressedandweakened.ThisissobecausetheCapitalistclassisabletouseracismtodrivedownthewagesofindividualsegmentsoftheworkingclassbyincitingracialantagonismandforcingafightforjobsandservices.Thisdivisionisadevelopmentthatultimatelyundercutsthelivingstandardsofallworkers.Moreover,bypittingwhitesagainstBlacksandotheroppressednationalities,theCapitalistclassisabletopreventworkersfromunitingagainsttheircommonclassenemy.Aslongasworkersarefightingeachother,Capitalistclassruleissecure.
IfaneffectiveresistanceistobemountedagainstthecurrentracistoffensiveoftheCapitalistclass,theutmostsolidaritybetweenworkersofallracesisessentialThewaytodefeattheCapitaliststrategyisforwhiteworkerstodefendthedemocraticrightswonbyBlacksandotheroppressedpeoplesafterdecades
ofhardstruggle,andtofighttodismantlethesystemofwhiteskinprivilege.WhiteworkersshouldsupportandadopttheconcretedemandsoftheBlackmovement,andshouldworktoabolishthewhiteidentityentirely.Thesewhiteworkersshouldstriveformulticulturalunity,andshouldworkwithBlackactiviststobuildananti-racistmovementtochallengewhitesupremacy.However,itisalsoveryimportanttorecognizetherightoftheBlackmovementtotakeanindependentroadinitsowninterests.Thatiswhatself-determinationmeans.RaceandClass:theCombinedCharacterofBlackOppression
BecauseofthewaythisnationhasdevelopedwiththeexploitationofAfricanlaborandthemaintenanceofaninternalcolony,Blacksandothernon-whitepeoplesareoppressedbothasmembersoftheworkingclassandasaracialnationality.AsAfricansinAmerica,theyareadistinctpeople,houndedandsegregatedin
U.S.society.BystrugglingfortheirhumanandcivilrightstheyultimatelycomeintoconfrontationwiththeentireCapitalistsystem,notjustindividualracistsorregionsofthecountry.Thetruthsoonbecomesapparent:Blackscannotgettheirfreedomunderthissystembecause,basedonhistoricallyunevencompetition,Capitalistexploitationisinherentlyracist.
Atthisjuncturethemovementcangointothedirectionofrevolutionarysocialchange,orlimititselftowinningreformsanddemocraticrightswithinthestructureofCapitalism.Thepotentialisthereforeither.Infact,theweaknessofthe1960sCivilrightsmovementwasthatitallieditselfwiththeliberalsin
8/2/2019 Anarchism and the Black Revolution
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/anarchism-and-the-black-revolution 3/60
theDemocraticPartyandsettledforcivilrightsprotectivelegislation,insteadofpushingforsocialrevolution.Thisself-policingbytheleadersofthemovementisanabjectlessonaboutwhythenewmovementhastobeself-activatedandnotdependentonpersonalitiesandpoliticians.
Butifsuchamovementdoesbecomeasocialrevolutionarymovement,itmustultimatelyuniteitsforceswithsimilarmovementslikeGays,Women,radicalworkers,andotherswhoareinrevoltagainstthesystem.Forexample,inthelate1960stheBlackLiberationmovementactedasacatalysttospreadrevolutionaryideasandimages,whichbroughtforththevariousoppositionmovementsweseetoday.Thisiswhatwebelievewillhappenagain,althoughitisnotenoughtocallformindless“unity”asmuchofthewhiteleftdoes.
Becauseofthedualformsofoppressionofnon-whiteworkersandthedepthofsocialdesperationitcreates,Blacksworkerswillstrikefirst,whethertheirpotentialalliesareavailabletodosoornot.Thisisself-determinationandthatiswhyitisnecessaryforoppressedworkerstobuildindependentmovementstounitetheirownpeoplesfirst.Thisiswhyitisabsolutelynecessaryforwhiteworkerstodefendthedemocraticrightsandgainsofnon-whiteworkers.Thisself-activityoftheoppressedmasses,(suchastheBlackLiberationmovement)isinherentlyrevolutionary,andisanessentialpartofthesocialrevolutionaryprocessoftheentireworkingclass.Thesearenotmarginalissues;itcannotbedowngradedorignoredbywhiteworkersifarevolutionaryvictoryistobehad.Ithastoberecognizedasacardinalprinciplebyall,thatoppressedpeoplesha
vearighttoself-determination,includingtherighttoruntheirownorganizationsandliberationstruggle.Thevictimsofracismknowbesthowtofightbackagainstit.SoWhatTypeofAnti-RacistGroupisNeeded?
TheBlackmovementneedsalliesinitsbattleagainsttheracistCapitalistclass—nottheusualliberalorphony“radical”support,butgenuinerevolutionaryworkingclasssupportandsolidarity,otherwisecalled“mutualaid”byAnarchists.Thebasisofsuchunityhowevermustbeprincipledandbebasedonclassinterest,ratherthanliberal“guilttripping,”“do-gooding”oropportunismandmanipulationbyliberlorradicalpoliticalparties.Theneedsoftheoppressedpeoplemustbethemostimportantconsideration,buttheywantgenuinesupport,notfakeryorleftistrhetoric.
TheAnarchistmovement,whichisoverwhelminglywhite,muststarttounderstandthattheyneedtodopropagandaworkamongtheBlackandotheroppressedcommunity,andtheyneedtomakeitpossiblefornon-whiteAnarchiststoorganizeintheircommunitiesbyprovidingthemwithtechnicalresources(printingofzines,videoandaudiocassetteproduction,etc.)andassistingwithfinancialresources.
OnereasontherearesofewBlackAnarchistsisbecausethemovementprovidesnomeanstoreachpeopleofcolor,winthemovertoAnarchismandhelpthemorganizethemselves.ThismustchangeifwewantthesocialrevolutiontotakeplaceinAmerica,andifwewantNorthAmericanAnarchismtobemorethan“whiterights”movement.
Thetypeoforganizationneededmustbea“mass”organizationworkingtouniteallworkersincommonclassstruggle,butmustbeabletorecognizethedutytosupportandadoptthespecialdemandsoftheBlackandothernon-whitepeoplesasthoseoftheentireworkingclass.Itmustchallengewhitesupremacyonadailybasis,itmustrefuteracistphilosophyandpropaganda,andmustcounterracistmobilizationandattacks,witharmedself-defenseandstreetfighting,whennecessary.Theobjectiveofsuchamassmovementistowinthewhiteworkingclassovertoananti-whitesupremacy,class-consciousposition;tounitetheentireworkingclass;andtodirectlyconfrontandoverthrowtheCapitaliststate,anditsr
8/2/2019 Anarchism and the Black Revolution
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/anarchism-and-the-black-revolution 4/60
ulers.ThecooperationofandsolidarityofallworkersisessentialforfullSocialrevolution,notjustitsprivilegedwhitesector.
Forinstance,anexistingorganizationlikeAnti-RacistAction,ifadoptingsuchpoliticsasanAnarchistgroup,shouldbegivenahigherprioritybyourmovement.EverycityandtownshouldhaveARA-typecollectives,andeveryexistingAnarchistfederationshouldhaveinternalworkinggroupsthatdoworkaroundracismandpolicebrutality.Infact,thetypeofgroupthatIamtalkingaboutwouldbeafederationitselftocoordinatestrugglesonthenationalandmaybeeveninternationallevel.
Thiswouldbearevolutionarymovement,notcontenttositaroundandreadbooks,electafewBlackpoliticiansor“friendsofLabor”toCongressortheStateLegislature,writeprotestletters,circulatepetitions,orothersuchtametactics.ItwouldtaketheexamplesoftheearlyradicallabormovementsliketheIWW,aswellastheCivilrightsmovementofthe1960s,toshowthatonlydirectactiontacticsofconfrontationandmilitantprotestwillyieldanyresultsatall.Itwouldalsohavetheexampleofthe1992LosAngelesrebelliontoshowthatpeoplewillrevolt,butthereneedtobepowerfulalliesextendingmaterialaidandresistanceinfo,andanexistingmassmovementtotakeittothenextstepandspreadtheinsurrection.
TheAnarchistsmustrecognizethisandhelpbuildamilitantanti-racistgroup,whichwouldbebothasupportgroupfortheBlackrevolutionandamass-organizi
ngcentertounitetheclass.Itisveryimportanttowrestthemassinfluenceoftheracialequalitymovementoutofthehandsoftheleft-liberalDemocraticwingoftherulingclass.Theleftliberalsmaytalkagoodfight,butaslongastheyarenotforoverthrowingCapitalismandsmashingthestate,theywillbetrayandsabotagetheentirestruggleagainstracism.Thestrategyoftheleft-liberalsistodeflectclass-consciousnessintostrictlyraceconsciousness.TheyrefusetoappealonthebasisofclassmaterialintereststotheU.S.workingandmiddleclassestosupportBlackrights,andasaresultallowtheright-wingtocapitalizeunopposedonthelatentracistfeelingamongwhites,aswellasontheireconomicinsecurity.ThekindofmovementIamproposingwillstepinthebreachandattackwhitesupremacy,anddismantletheverythreadsofwhatholdsCapitalismtogether.WithoutthemasswhiteconsensustotheruleoftheAmericanstate,andthesystemofwhiteskinprivilege,Capitalismcouldnotgooninto
thenextcentury!TheMythof“ReverseRacism”
“ReverseDiscrimination”hasbecomethewarcryofallthoseraciststryingtorollbackcivilrightsgainswonbyBlacksandotheroppressednationalitiesinhousing,education,employment,andeveryaspectofsociallife.Theracistsfeelthesethingsshouldonlygotowhitemales,andthat“minorities”andwomenaretakingthemawayfromwhitemen.Millionsofwhiteworkersday-inandday-outarebombardedbythisracistpropaganda,anditishavingebigimpact.Manywhitesbelievethislieofreversediscriminationagainstwhitepeople.Thisbeliefisembracedbymanydupedwhiteworkers,whoconsider“reversediscrimination”tobeatleastpartlyresponsiblefortheeconomicproblemssomanyofthemaresufferingfromtoday.SuchbeliefspropelledRonaldReagantohistwotermsasU.S.president
.Reagantriedtousethisracistpropagandalinetoprecipitatearollbackinthecivilrightsgainsofoppressednationalities.
TheracistsclaimtheconceptofreversediscriminationsuggeststhewholesalediscriminationagainstBlacksandotherraciallyoppressedgroupsisahoax.Baldlystated,theideaisthatthepassageofthe1964CivilrightsActendeddiscriminationagainstBlacks,Latinosandothernationalities,andwomen,andnowthelawisdiscriminatingagainstwhitepeople.TheracistssayracialminoritiesandwomenarethenewprivilegedgroupsinAmericansociety.Theyareallegedlygettingthepickofjobs,preferentialcollegeplacements,thebesthousing,gov
8/2/2019 Anarchism and the Black Revolution
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/anarchism-and-the-black-revolution 5/60
ernmentgrants,andsoonattheexpenseofwhiteworkers.Theracistssayprogramstoenddiscriminationarenotonlyunnecessary,butareactuallyattemptsbyminoritiestogainpowerattheexpenseofwhiteworkers.TheysayBlacksandwomendonotwantequality,butratherhegemonyoverwhiteworkers.
AnAnarchistanti-racistmovementwouldcountersuchpropagandaandexposeitasarulingclassweapon.TheCivilRightsActdidnotcauseinflationby“excessive”spendingonwelfare,housing,orothersocialservices.Further,Blacksaren’tdiscriminatingagainstwhites:whitesarenotbeingherdedintoghettohousing;removedfromorprohibitedfromenteringprofessions;deprivedofdecenteducation;forcedintomalnutritionandearlydeath;subjectedtoracialviolenceandpolicerepression,forcedtosufferdisproportionatelevelsofunemployment,andotherformsofracialoppression.ButforBlackstheoppressionstartswithbirthandchildhood.Infantmortalityrateisnearlythreetimesthatofwhites,anditcontinuesanthroughouttheirlives.Thefactis“reversediscrimination”isahoax.Anti-Blackdiscriminationisnotathingofthepast.Itisthesystematic,allpervasiverealitytoday!
MalcolmXpointedoutinthe1960sthatnocivilrightsstatuteswillgiveBlackpeopletheirfreedom,andaskedifAfricansinAmericawerereallycitizenswhywouldcivilrightsbenecessary.MalcolmXobservedcivilrightshadbeenfoughtforatgreatsacrifice,andthereforeshouldbeenforced,butifthegovernmentwon’tenforcethelaws,thenthepeoplewillhavetodoso,andthemovementwillhavetopressurethegovernmentauthoritiestoprotectdemocraticrights.Tou
nitethemassesofpeoplebehindaworkingclassanti-racistmovement,thefollowingpracticaldemands,whichareacombinationrevolutionaryandradicalreformism,toensuredemocraticrights,arenecessary:
Blackandwhiteworkers’solidarity.Fightracismonthejobandinsociety.
Fulldemocraticandhumanrightsforallnon-whitepeoples.Makeunionsfightracismanddiscrimination.
Armedself-defenseagainstracistattacks.Buildmassmovementagainstracismandfascism.
Communitycontrolofthepolice,replacementofcopsbycommunityself-defen
seforceelectedbyresidents.Endpolicebrutality.Prosecutionofallkillercops.
Moneyforrebuildingthecities.Creationofpublicworksbrigadestorebuildinnercityareas,madeupofcommunityresidents.
Fullsociallyusefulemploymentatunionwagesforallworkers.Endracialdiscriminationinjobs,trainingandpromotions.Establishaffirmative:actionprogramstoreversepastracistemploymentpractices.
BantheKuKluxKlan,Nazisandotherfascistorganizations.Prosecutionofallracistsforattacksonpeopleofcolor.
Freeopenadmissionstoallinstitutionsoflearningforallthosequalifiedtoattend.Noracialexclusioninhighereducation.
Endtaxesofworkersandpoor.Taxtherichandmajorcorporations.
Fullhealthandmedicalcareforallpersonsandcommunities,regardlessofraceandclass.
Freeallpoliticalprisonersandinnocentvictimsofracialinjustice.Abolishprisons.Fighteconomicdisparity.
8/2/2019 Anarchism and the Black Revolution
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/anarchism-and-the-black-revolution 6/60
RankandfiledemocraticcontroloftheunionsbybuildinganAnarcho-Syndicalistlabormovement.Makeunionsactiveinsocialissues.
Stopracistharassmentanddiscriminationofundocumentedworkers.
SmashtherightWing!
“Fascismisnottobedebated.Itistobesmashed…”
—BuenaventuraDurritti,SpanishAnarchistrevolutionary,1936.
AsCapitalistsocietydecays,peoplewilllookforradicalandtotalsolutionstothemiserytheyface.TheNazisandtheKlanareamongthefewright-wingpoliticalforcesthatoffer,orappeartooffer,aradicalanswertothecurrentproblemsofsocietyforthewhitemasses.ThatthesesolutionsarefalsewillmatterlittletoconfusedandhystericalpeoplesearchingdesperatelyforawayoutofthesocioeconomiccrisistheCapitalistworldisfacing.Sectionsofthemiddleclass,better-offlayersofthewhiteworkingclass,poorandunemployedwhiteworkers,allpoisonedbytheracismofthissociety,areeasypreyforNaziandKlandemagogues.
TheNazis,skinheadsandtheKlanarethemostextremeright-wingracist/fascistorganizationsintheUnitedStates.Todaythesegroupsaresmall,andmanylibe
ralsliketodownplaythethreattheyrepresent,eventoarguefortheirlegal“rights”tospreadtheirracistvenom.Butthesegroupshaveatremendousgrowthpotentialandcouldbecomeamassmovementinasurprisinglyshortperiodoftime,especiallyduringaneconomicandpoliticalcrisislikewearenowin.
Basingthemselvesonalienatedwhitesocialforces,theNazisandKlanaretryingtobuildamassmovementthatcanhireitselfouttotheCapitalistsatthepropermomentandassumestatepower.WhentheCapitalistfeelthattheymightneedanadditionalclubtokeeptheworkersandtheoppressedinline,theywillturntotheNazis,Klanandsimilarright-wingorganizations,withbothmoneyandsupport,inadditiontostrengtheningthestatepoliceandmilitaryforces.Ifneedbe,theCapitalistswillplacetheminpower,(astheydidinSpain,GermanyandItalyinthe1920sand1930s),sothefascistswillsmashtheunionsandot
herworkingclassorganizations;placeBlacks,LatinosGays,Asians,andJewsintoconcentrationcamps;andturntherestoftheworkersintoStateslaves.Fascismistheultimateauthoritariansocietywheninpower,eventhoughithaschangeditsfacetoamixtureofcruderacismandsmootherracisminthemoderndemocraticstate.
SoinadditiontotheNazisandtheKlan,thereareotherright-wingforcesthathavebeenontheriseinthelast15years.Theyincludeultra-conservativerightistpoliticiansandChristianfundamentalistpreachers,alongwiththeextremerightsectionoftheCapitalistrulingclassitself—smallbusinessowners,talkshowhostslikeRushLimbaugh,alongwiththeprofessors,economists,philosophersandothersinacademiaprovidingtheideologicalweaponryfortheCapitalistoffensiveagainsttheworkersandoppressedpeople.Notalltheracistswearsh
eets.Thesearethe“respectable”racists,thenewrightconservatives,whoarefarmoredangerousthantheKlanorNazisbecausetheirpoliticshavebecomeacceptabletolargemassesofwhiteworkers,whointurnblameracialminoritiesfortheirproblems.
TheCapitalistclasshasalreadyshowntheirwillingnesstousethisconservativemovementasasmokescreenforanattackontheLabormovement,Blackstruggleandtheentireworkingclass.Manycitypublicworkershavebeenfired;schools,hospitalsandothersocialserviceshavebeencurtailed;governmentagencieshavebeenprivatized;welfarerollshavebeencutdrastically;andthebudgetsof
8/2/2019 Anarchism and the Black Revolution
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/anarchism-and-the-black-revolution 7/60
cityandstategovernmentsslashed.Bankshaveevenusedtheirdictatorialpowerstodemandthesebudgetcuts,andtoeven,makeentirecitiesdefaultiftheydidnotsubmit.ThisevenhappenedtoNewYorkCityinthe1970s.Sothisisnotjustanissueofpoor,dumbrednecksinhoods.Thisisabouthoodsinbusinesssuits.
Afirststepinorganizingandpreparingtheworkingclassintheeconomiccrisiswefaceistodirectlytakeontheright-wingthreat.Repressiveeconomiclegislationbyconservativepoliticianstopunishthepoorandworkingclassmustbedefeated;taxesontherichandmajorcorporationsmustbeincreased,whiletaxesontheworkersandfarmersmustbeabolished.Ifthepoliticianswillnotdoit,wewillorganizeataxboycotttoforcethemtodoit.TheNazisandKlanmustbeconfrontedthroughdirectaction.Anarchists,theleftandlabororganizationsmustorganizetodefendworkersandoppressedfromphysicalassaultsbytheracists,aswellasholdmassdemonstrationsinthestreetsatfascistrallies.WealsomustopposescumlikeOperationRescuethatusesviolentFascisttacticsagainstwomen’srightstoabortions.Itispartofthesamebattleground.
Hereisthesituation:DavidDuke,the“ex”-Klansmanisnowpartofthe“respectable”rght,whichpicksupsupportamongtheuppermiddleclass.MeanwhiletheKlanandNaziskinheadsaremakingheadwayamongdifferentsociallayers,mainlypoorwhiteworkersandunemployedwhiteyouth.TomMetzger,theleaderofwhiteAryanResistance,calledtheNaziskinheadshis“Brown-shirtsofthe’90s.”Thisisverydangerous,butwecannotleavethesepeopletotheNazisandKlanuncontested.Wesh
ouldtrytowinthemover,oratleastneutralizeanyactiveoppositionontheirpart.Thisisadefensivetacticattheveryleast,butreallywehavenochoice,anditispartofourrevolutionarydutytoorganizetheentireworkingclassanyway.WeshoulddirectpropagandatotheseworkerstoexposetheNazisandKlanforthescumtheyare,andshowhowtheworkersarebeingmisled.Weshouldalsomakeitpossibleforthemtofightthismiseryagainsttherealenemy:theCapitalistclass.
Butinadditiontodefensiveoperationsforpropaganda,wemusttakedirectoffensiveactiontophysicallyresisttheracistswhenthisispossible.Forexample,wherethebalanceofforcesallowsit,wemustorganizetoforcefullydrivetheNazisandKlanoffthestreets.Inordertosmashtheirmovementswemustorganizecommando-typeactionstoattacktheirrallies,closetheirbookshopsandne
wspapers,destroytheirmeetinghalls,andbreakuptheirmarches.SincetheNazisandKlanorganizebythreateningandusingviolence,wemustbepreparedtoreplytotheminkind,butinabetter-organizedandmoreeffectiveway.Forinstance,pigslikeDavidDukeandTomMetzger,whohavebeenadvocatingandleadingthefascistmovementinAmerica,shouldbeassassinated.WeshouldinfiltrateKlanandNazidemonstrationsinordertoassaultleadersanddisruptthem,orhideatadistanceandsnipeatthemwithhigh-poweredrifles.IhavealwaysfeltthatundergroundguerillamovementsliketheBlackLiberationArmy,WeatherUnderground,andNewWorldLiberationFrontshouldhaveattackedfascistmovementsandassassinatedtheirleaders.Ifwecripplethefascistsinthisfashion,wecansmashtheentirerightandbegintosmashtheState.Thisistheonlywaytostopfascists.DeathtotheKlanandallfascists!
NoneotherthanAdolphHitlerhasbeenquotedassaying:“Onlyonethingcouldhavestoppedourmovement.Ifouradversarieshadunderstooditsprinciple,andfromthefirstdayhadsmashedwiththeutmostbrutalitythenucleusofournewmovement.”Weshouldtakeheed.
Oneotherthingthatwemustdo,andissomethingwhichtacticallyseparatesusAnarchistsfromtheMarxist-Leninists,isthatweuseourstudiesoftheauthoritarianpersonalitytohelpusorganizeagainstfascistrecruitmentAlltheM-L’s“UnitedFronts”careaboutisastrictpoliticalapproachtodefeatfascismandpreventthemfromattainingstatepower,whilebeingabletoushertheCommunistpart
8/2/2019 Anarchism and the Black Revolution
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/anarchism-and-the-black-revolution 8/60
yininstead.Theyorganizeliberalsandothersintomasscoalitionsjusttoseizepower,andthencrushallradicalandliberalideologicalopponentsaftertheygetdonewiththefascists.ThatiswhytheStalinist`Communist”statesresemblefascistpolicestatessomuchinrefusingtoallowideologicalplurality—theyarebothtotalitarian.Forthatmatter,howmuchdifferencewastherereallybetweenStalinandHitler?So,Isaythatmerelyphysicallybeatingbackthefascistsisnottheissue.Weneedtostudywhataccountsforthemasspsychologyoffascismandthendefeatitideologically,goingtothecoreofthedeepseatedracistbeliefs,emotions,andauthoritarianconditioningofthoseworkerswhosupportfascismandallpolicestateauthority.
Thethirdprongofourstrategyistoorganizeamongtheworkersandotheroppressedsectionsofsocietywithaprogramthataddressestheirneeds.Ashasbeensaid,theKlanandNazisrecruitamongcertainsociallayers—overwhelminglywhiteyouthwhoarehard-pressedbytheeconomiccrisis.ThesepeopleseeBlacks,Latinos,Asians,Gays,women,andradicalmovementsasathreat.Theyareracist,reactionaryandpotentiallyveryviolent.Fearfulthattheywilllosethelittletheyhave,theybuythemyththattheproblemsis“thosepeople”tryingtostealtheirjobs,homes,future,etc.,ratherthanthedecayoftheCapitalistsystem.
Aslongasthereappearstobenoalternativetofightingoverashrinkingsocial“pie,”thefascists,withtheirsimpleminded“solutions,”willgetahearingamongtedegenerateelementsoftheworkingclass.TheonlywaytoundercuttheappealoftherightistoorganizeaLibertarianworkersmovementthatcanfightforan
dwinthethingsthatpeopleneed—jobs,decenthousingandschools,healthcare,etc.Thiscandemonstrateconcretelythatthereisanalternativetotherightwing’spoisonous“solutions,”anditcanwintotheranksoftheworkers’movementsomeofthosepeopleattractedtothefascistmovement.
Inallareasofourorganizing,wemustcarryoutconsistentrevolutionarypropagandaexplainingCapitalismisresponsibleforunemployment,risingprices,rottenschoolsandhousingandtherestofthedecayweseearoundus.Wemustexposethefactthat,whiletheNazis,Klanandotherright-wingersmakeBlack,Gays,Latinosandotheroppressedpeoplethescapegoatfortheeconomiccrisis,theirrealaimistodestroytheentireworkersmovement,commitgenocide,startanadventuristicwarandturnworkersintooutrightslavesoftheState.Therefore,thesefascistforcesareathreattoallworkersofeverynationality.Itmustb
eexplainedthattheyonlywanttousewhiteworkersaspawnsintheirschemetocreateafascistdictatorship,andallworkersmustuniteandfightbackandoverthrowthestateiftheyaretobefree.DeathtotheKlan,deathtothenazis!Defeatwhitesupremacy!
Theverymeansofclasscontrolbytherichistheleastunderstood.Whitesupremacyismorethanjustasetofideasorprejudices.Itisnationaloppression.Yettomostwhitepeople,thetermconjuresupimagesoftheNazisorKuKluxKlanratherthanthesystemofwhiteskinprivilegesthatreallyundergridstheCapitalistsystemintheU.S.Mostwhitepeople,Anarchistsincluded,believeinessencethatBlackpeopleare“thesame”aswhites,andthatweshouldjustfightaround“commonissues”ratherthandealwith“racialmatters,”iftheyseeanyurgencyinealingwiththematteratall.Somewillnotraiseitinsuchabluntfashion,t
heywillsaythat“classissuesshouldtakeprecedence,”butitmeansthesamething.Theybelieveit’spossibletoputoffthestruggleagainstwhitesupremacyuntilaftertherevolution,wheninfacttherewillbenorevolutionifwhitesupremacyisnotattackedanddefeatedfirst.Theywon’twinarevolutionintheU.S.untiltheyfighttoimprovethelotofBlacksandoppressedpeoplewhoarebeingdeprivedoftheirdemocraticrights,aswellasbeingsuper-exploitedasworkers.
AlmostfromtheveryinceptionoftheNorthAmericansocialistmovement,thesimple-mindedeconomistpositionthatallBlackandwhiteworkershavetodotowagearevolutionistoengageina“common(economic)struggle”hasbeenusedtoavoid
8/2/2019 Anarchism and the Black Revolution
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/anarchism-and-the-black-revolution 9/60
struggleagainstwhitesupremacy.Infact,thewhitelefthasalwaystakenthechauvinistpositionthatsincethewhiteworkingclassistherevolutionaryvanguardanyway,whyworryaboutanissuethatwill“dividetheclass”?HistoricallyAnarchistshavenotevenbroughtupthematterof“racepolitics,”asoneAnarchistreferredtoitthefirsttimethispamphletwaspublished.Thisisatotalevasionoftheissue.
YetitistheCapitalistbourgeoisiethatcreatesinequalityasawaytodivideandruleovertheentireworkingclass.WhiteskinprivilegeisaformofdominationbyCapitaloverwhitelaboraswellasoppressednationalitylabor,notjustprovidingmaterialincentivesto“buyoff”whiteworkersandsetthemagainstBlackandotheroppressedworkers.ThisexplainstheobedienceofwhitelabortoCapitalismandtheState.Thewhiteworkingclassdoesnotseetheirbetteroffconditionaspartofthesystemofexploitation.Aftercenturiesofpoliticalandsocialindoctrination,theyfeeltheirprivilegedpositionisjustandproper,andwhatismorehasbeen“earned.”Theyfeelthreatenedbysocialgainsofnon-whiteworkers,whichiswhytheysovehementlyopposedaffirmativeactionplanstobenefitminoritiesinjobsandhiring,andtoredressyearsofdiscriminationagainstthem.Itisalsowhywhiteworkershaveopposedmostcivilrightslegislation.
Yetitistheday-to-dayworkingsofwhitesupremacythatwemustfightmostvigorously.Wecannotremainignorantorindifferenttotheworkingsofraceandclassunderthissystem,sothatoppressedworkersremainvictimized.Foryears,B
lackshavebeen“firsthired,firstfired”byCapitalistindustry.Further,senioritysystemshaveengagedinopenracialdiscrimination,andarelittlemorethanwhitejobtrusts.Blackshaveevenbeendrivenoutofwholeindustries,suchascoalmining.Yetthewhitelaborbosseshaveneverobjectedorintervenedonbehalfoftheirclassbrothers,norwilltheyifnotpressedupagainstthewallbywhiteworkers.
Aspointedouttherearematerialincentivestothiswhiteworkeropportunism:betterjobs,higherpay,improvedlivingconditionsinwhitecommunities,etc.,inshortwhathascometobeknownasthe“whitemiddleclasslifestyle.”Thisiswhatlaborandthelefthavealwaysfoughttomaintain,notclasssolidarity,whichwouldnecessitateastruggleagainstwhitesupremacy.Thislifestyleisbasedonthesuper-exploitationofthenon-whitesectorofthedomesticworkingclassa
swellascountriesexploitedbyimperialismaroundtheworld.
InAmerica,classantagonismhasalwaysincludedracialhatredasanessentialcomponent,butitisstructuralratherthanjustideological.Sincealloftheinstitutions,theculture,andthesocioeconomicsystemofU.S.Capitalismarebasedonwhitesupremacy,howthenisitpossibletotrulyfighttheruleofCapitalwithoutbeingforcedtodefeatwhitesupremacy?Thedual-tiereconomyofwhitesontopandBlacksonthebottom(evenwithalltheclassdifferencesamongwhiteshassuccessfullyresistedeveryattemptbyradicalsocialmovements.Thesereluctantreformershavedancedaroundtheissue.Whilewinningreforms,inmanycasesprimarilyforwhiteworkersonly,thesewhiteradicalshaveyettotopplethesystemandopentheroadtosocialrevolution.
ThefightagainstwhiteskinprivilegealsorequirestherejectionoftheviciousidentificationofNorthAmericansas“white”people,ratherthanasWelsh,German,Irish,etc.astheirnationalorigin.This“whiterace”designationisacontrivedsuper-nationalitydesignedtoinflatethesocialimportanceofEuropeanethnicsandtoenlistthemastoolsintheCapitalistsystemofexploitation.InNorthAmerica,whiteskinhasalwaysimpliedfreedomandprivilege:freedomtogainemployment,totravel,toobtainsocialmobilityoutofone’sbornclassstanding,andawholeworldofEurocentricprivileges.Therefore,beforeasocialrevolutioncantakeplace,theremustbeanabolitionofthesocialcategoryofthe“whiterace.”(withfewexceptionsinthisessay,Iwillbeginreferringtothemas“NorthA
8/2/2019 Anarchism and the Black Revolution
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/anarchism-and-the-black-revolution 10/60
mericans.”)
These“white”peoplemustengageinclasssuicideandracetreacherybeforetheycantrulybeacceptedasalliesofBlackandnationallyoppressedworkers;thewholeideabehinda“whiterace”isconformityandmakingthemaccomplicestomassmurderandexploitation.Ifwhitepeopledonotwanttobesaddledwiththehistoricallegacyofcolonialism,slaveryandgenocidethemselves,thentheymustrebelagainstit.Sothe“whites”mustdenouncethewhiteidentityanditssystemofprivilege,andtheymuststruggletoredefinethemselvesandtheirrelationshipwithothers.Aslongaswhitesociety,(throughtheStatewhichsaysitisactinginthenameofwhitepeople),continuestooppressanddominatealltheinstitutionsoftheBlackcommunity,racialtensionwillcontinuetoexist,andwhitesgenerallywillcontinuetobeseenastheenemy.
SowhatdoNorthAmericansstarttodotodefeatracialopportunism,whiteskinprivilegesandotherformsofwhitesupremacy?Firsttheymustbreakdownthewallsseparatingthemfromtheirnon-whiteallies.Thentogethertheymustwageafightagainstinequalityintheworkplace,communities,andinthesocialorder.YetitnotjustthedemocraticrightsofAfricanpeoplewearereferringtowhenwearetalkingabout“nationaloppression.”Ifthatwerethewholeissue,thenmaybemorereformscouldobtainracialandsocialequality.Butno,thatisnotwhatwearetalkingabout.
Blacks(orAfricansinAmerica)arecolonized.Americaisamothercountrywith
aninternalcolony.ForAfricansinAmerica,oursituationisoneoftotaloppression.Nopeoplearetrulyfreeuntiltheycandeterminetheirowndestiny.Oursisacaptive,oppressedcolonialstatusthatmustbeoverthrown,notjustsmashingideologicalracismordenialofcivilrights.Infact,withoutsmashingtheinternalcolonyfirstmeansthelikelihoodofacontinuanceofthisoppressioninanotherform.WemustdestroythesocialdynamicofaveryrealexistenceofAmericabeingmadeupofanoppressorwhitenationandanoppressedBlacknation,(infactthereareseveralcaptivenations).
ThisrequirestheBlackLiberationmovementtoliberateacolony,andthisiswhyitisnotjustasimplematterofBlacksjustjoiningwithwhiteAnarchiststofightthesametypeofbattleagainsttheState.ThatisalsowhyAnarchistscannottakearigidpositionagainstallformsofBlacknationalism(especiallyre
volutionarygroupsliketheBlackPantherParty),evenifthereareideologicaldifferencesaboutthewaysomeofthemareformedandoperate.ButNorthAmericansmustsupporttheobjectivesofraciallyoppressedliberationmovements,andtheymustdirectlychallengeandrejectwhiteskinprivilege.Thereisnootherwayandthereisashortcut;whitesupremacyisahugestumblingblocktorevolutionarysocialchangeinNorthAmerica.
TheBlackRevolutionandothernationalliberationmovementsinNorthAmericaareindispensablepartsoftheoverallSocialrevolution.NorthAmericanworkersmustjoinwithAfricans,Latinosandotherstorejectracialinjustice,Capitalistexploitation,andnationaloppression.NorthAmericanworkerscertainlyhaveanimportantroleinhelpingthosestrugglestotriumph.Materialaidalone,whichcanbeassembledbywhiteworkersfortheBlackrevolution,coulddictatethe
victoryordefeatofthatstruggleataparticularstage.
Iamtakingtimetoexplainallthis,becausepredictablysomeAnarchistpuristswilltrytoarguemedownthathavingawhitemovementisagoodthing,thatBlacksandotheroppressednationalitiesjustneedtoclimbaboardthe“AnarchistGoodShip”(ashipoffools?),andallofthisisjust“Marxistnationalliberationnonsense.”Well,weknowpartofthereasonforanAnarchistanti-racistmovementistochallengethischauvinistperspectiverightinthemiddleofourownmovement.AnAnarchistAnti-RacistFederationwouldnotexistjusttofightNazis.Weneedtochallengeandcorrectracistanddoctrinairepositionsonraceandclass
8/2/2019 Anarchism and the Black Revolution
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/anarchism-and-the-black-revolution 11/60
withinourmovement.Ifwecannotdothat,thenwecannotorganizetheworkingclass,Blackorwhite,andareofnousetoanyone.Chapter2.WhereistheBlackstruggleandwhereshoulditbegoing?
Some—usuallycomfortableBlackmiddleclassprofessionals,politiciansorbusinessmenwhorodethe1960sCivilrightsmovementintopowerorprominence—willsaythereisnolongeranynecessitytostruggleinthestreetsduringthe1990sforBlackfreedom.Theysaywehave“arrived”andarenow“almostfree.”Theysayouronlstrugglenowisto“integratethemoney,”orwinwealthforthemselvesandmembersoftheirsocialclass,eventhoughtheygivelipserviceto“empoweringthepoor.”Look,theysay,wecanvote,ourBlackfacesarealloverTVincommercialsandsituationcomedies,therearehundredsofBlackmillionaires,andwehavepoliticalrepresentativesinthehallsofCongressandStatehousesallovertheland.Infact,theysay,therearecurrentlyover7,000Blackelectedofficials,severalofwhompresideoverthelargestcitiesinthenation,andthereisevenagovernorofaSouthernstate,whoisanAfrican-American.That’swhattheysay.Butdoesthistellthewholestory?
Thefactisweareinasbadorevenworseashape,economicallyandpolitically,aswhentheCivilrightsmovementbeganinthe1950s.OneineveryfourBlackmalesareinprison,onprobation,parole,orunderarrest;atleastone-thirdormoreofBlackfamilyunitsarenowsingleparentfamiliesmiredinpoverty;unemploymenthoversat18-25percentforBlackcommunities;thedrugeconomyisthenumberoneemployerofBlackyouth;mostsubstandardhousingunitsarestillc
oncentratedinBlackneighborhoods;Blacksandothernon-whitessufferfromtheworsthealthcare;andBlackcommunitiesarestillunderdevelopedbecauseofracialdiscriminationbymunicipalgovernments,mortgagecompaniesandbanks,who“redline”Blackneighborhoodsfromreceivingcommunitydevelopment,housingandsmallbusinessloanswhichkeepourcommunitiespoor.Wealsosufferfrommurderousactsofpolicebrutalitybyracistcopswhichhasresultedinthousandsofdeathsandwounding;andinternecinegangwarfareresultinginnumerousyouthhomicides(andagreatdealofgrief).Butwhatwesufferfrommostandwhatencompassesalloftheseillsisthatfactthatweareanoppressedpeople—infactacolonizedpeoplesubjecttotheruleofanoppressivegovernment.Wereallyhavenorightsunderthissystem,exceptthatwhichwehavefoughtforandeventhatisnowinperil.ClearlyweneedanewmassBlackprotestmovementtochallengethegovernmentandcorporations,andexpropriatethefundsneededforourcommunities
tosurvive.
Yetforthepast25yearstherevolutionaryBlackmovementhasbeenonthedefensive.Duetocooptation,repressionandbetrayalsoftheBlackLiberationmovementofthe1960s,today’smovementhassufferedaseriesofsetbacksandhasnowbecomestaticincomparison.ThismaybebecauseitisjustnowgettingitsstufftogetherafterbeingpummeledbytheState’spoliceagencies,andalsobecauseoftheinternalpoliticalcontradictionswhicharoseinthemajorBlackrevolutionarygroupsliketheBlackPantherParty,StudentNonviolentCoordinatingCommittee(SNCCor“snick’asitwascalledinthosedays),andtheLeagueofRevolutionaryBlackWorkers.Ibelieveallwerefactorsthatledtothedestructionofthe1960s’Blackleftinthiscountry.Ofcourse,manyblamethisperiodofrelativeinactivityintheBlackmovementonthelackofforcefulleadersinthemoldofMalc
olmX,MartinLutherKing,MarcusGarvey,etc.,whileotherpeopleblamethe“fact”theBlackmasseshaveallegedlybecome“corruptandapathetic,”orjustneedthe“correctrevolutionaryline.”
Whateverthetruefactsofthematter,itcanclearlybeseenthatthegovernment,theCapitalistcorporations,andtheracistrulingclassareexploitingthecurrentweaknessandconfusionoftheBlackmovementtomakeanattackontheBlackworkingclass,andareattemptingtototallystripthegainswonduringtheCivilrightsera.Inadditionthereisaresurgenceofracismandconservatismamongbroadlayersofthewhitepopulation,whichisadirectresultofthisright
8/2/2019 Anarchism and the Black Revolution
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/anarchism-and-the-black-revolution 12/60
-wingcampaign.Clearlythisisatimewhenwemustentertainnewideasandnewtacticsinthefreedomstruggle.
TheidealsofAnarchismaresomethingnewtotheBlackmovementandhaveneverreallybeenexaminedbyBlackandothernon-whiteactivists.Putsimply,itmeansthepeoplethemselvesshouldrule,notgovernments,politicalpatties,orself-appointedleadersintheirname.Anarchismalsostandsfortheself-determinationofalloppressedpeoples,andtheirrighttostruggleforfreedombyanymeansnecessary.
SowhatroadisinorderfortheBlackmovement?ContinuetodependonopportunisticDemocratichackpoliticianslikeBillClintonorTedKennedy;thesameoldgroupofmiddleclasssellout“leaders”oftheCivilrightslobby;oneoranotheroftheauthoritarianLeninistsects,whoinsistthattheyandtheyalonehavethecorrectpathto“revolutionaryenlightenment”;orfinallybuildingagrassrootsrevolutionaryprotestmovementtofighttheracistgovernmentandrulers?
OnlytheBlackmassescanfinallydecidethematter,whethertheywillbecontenttobearthebruntofthecurrenteconomicdepressionandtheescalatingracistbrutality,orwillleadafightback.Anarchiststrustthebestinstinctsofthepeople,andhumannaturedictatesthatwherethereisrepressiontherewillberesistance;wherethereisslavery,therewillastruggleagainstit.TheBlackmasseshaveshowntheywillfight,andwhentheyorganizetheywillwin!ACallforaNewBlackProtestMovement
ThoseAnarchistswhoareBlacklikemyselfrecognizetherehastobeawholenewsocialmovement,whichisdemocratic,onthegrassrootslevelandisself-activated.Itwillbeamovementindependentofthemajorpoliticalparties,theStateandthegovernment.Itmustbeamovementthat,althoughitseekstoexpropriategovernmentmoneyforprojectsthatbenefitthepeople,doesnotrecognizeanyprogressiveroleforthegovernmentinthelivesofthepeople.Thegovernmentwillnotfreeus,andispartoftheproblemratherthanpartofthesolution.InfactonlytheBlackmassesthemselvescanwagetheBlackfreedomstruggle,notagovernmentbureaucracy(liketheU.S.JusticeDepartment),reformistcivilrightsleaderslikeJesseJackson,orarevolutionaryvanguardpartyontheirbehalf.
Ofcourse,atacertainhistoricalmoment,aprotestleadercanplayatremendousrevolutionaryroleasaspokespersonforthepeople’sfeelings,orevenproducecorrectstrategyandtheoryforacertainperiod,(MalcolmX,MarcusGarvey,andMartinLutherKing,Jr.cometomind),anda“vanguardparty”maywinmasssupportandacceptanceamongthepeopleforatime(e.g.,theBlackPantherPartyofthe1960s),butitistheBlackmassesthemselveswhowillmaketherevolution,and,oncesetspontaneouslyinmotion,knowexactlywhattheywant.
Thoughleadersmaybemotivatedbygoodorbad,eventheywillactasabrakeonthestruggle,especiallyiftheylosetouchwiththefreedomaspirationsoftheBlackmasses.Leaderscanonlyreallyservealegitimatepurposeasanadvisorandcatalysttothemovement,andshouldbesubjecttoimmediaterecalliftheyactcontrarytothepeople’swishes.Inthatkindoflimitedroletheyarenotlea
dersatall—theyarecommunityorganizers.
ThedependenceoftheBlackmovementonleadersandleadership(especiallytheBlackbourgeoisie)hasledusintoapoliticaldeadend.Weareexpectedtowaitandsufferquietlyuntilthenextmessianicleaderassertshimself,asifheorshewere“divinelymissioned”(assomehaveclaimedtobe).WhatisevenmoreharmfulisthatmanyBlackpeoplehaveadoptedaslavishpsychologyof“obeyingandservingourleaders,”withoutconsideringwhattheythemselvesarecapableofdoing.Thus,ratherthantryingtoanalyzethecurrentsituationandcarryingonBrotherMalcolmX’sworkinthecommunity,theyprefertobemoanthebrutalfacts,forye
8/2/2019 Anarchism and the Black Revolution
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/anarchism-and-the-black-revolution 13/60
arafteryear,ofhowhewastakenawayfromus.Somemistakenlyrefertothisasaleadershipvacuum.”ThefactistherehasnotbeenmuchmovementintheBlackrevolutionarymovementsincehisassassinationandthevirtualdestructionofgroupsliketheBlackPantherParty.Wehavebeenstagnatedbymiddleclassreformismandmisunderstanding.
Weneedtocomeupwithnewideasandrevolutionaryformationsinhowtofightourenemies.Weneedanewmassprotestmovement.ItisuptotheBlackmassestobuildit,notleadersorpoliticalparties.Theycannotsaveus.Wecanonlysaveourselves.Whatformwillthismovementtake?
Iftherewasonethinglearnedbyanarchistrevolutionaryorganizersinthe1960s,youdon’torganizeamassmovementorasocialrevolutionjustbycreatingonecentralorganizationsuchasavanguardpoliticalpartyoralaborunion.EventhoughAnarchistsbelieveinrevolutionaryorganization,itisameanstoanend,insteadoftheendsitself.Inotherwords,theAnarchistgroupsarenotformedwiththeintentionofbeingpermanentorganizationstoseizepowerafterarevolutionarystruggle.Butrathertobegroupswhichactasacatalysttorevolutionarystruggles,andwhichtrytotakethepeople’srebellions,likethe1992LosAngelesrevolt,toahigherlevelofresistance.
Twofeaturesofanewmassmovementmustbetheintentionofcreatingdualpowerinstitutionstochallengethestate,alongwiththeabilitytohaveagrassroot
sautonomistmovementthatcantakeadvantageofapre-revolutionarysituationtogoalltheway.
DualpowermeansthatyouorganizeanumberofcollectivesandcommunesincitiesandtownalloverNorthAmerica,whichare,infact,liberatedzones,outsideofthecontrolofthegovernment.Autonomymeansthatthemovementmustbetrulyindependentandafreeassociationofallthoseunitedaroundcommongoals,ratherthanmembershipastheresultofsomeoathorotherpressure.
SohowwouldAnarchistsinterveneintherevolutionaryprocessinBlackneighborhoods?Well,obviouslyNorthAmericanor“white”AnarchistscannotgointoBlackcommunitiesandjustproselytize,buttheycertainlyshouldworkwithanynon-whiteAnarchistsandhelpthemworkincommunitiesofcolor.(Idothinkthattheexa
mpleoftheNewJerseyAnarchistFederationanditsloosealliancewiththeBlackPanthermovementinthatstateisanexampleofhowwemuststart.)AndwearedefinitelynottalkingaboutasituationwhereBlackorganizersgointotheneighborhoodandwinpeopletoAnarchismsothattheycanthenbecontrolledbywhitesandsomeparty.ThisishowtheCommunistPartyandotherMarxistgroupsoperate,butitcannotbehowAnarchistswork.WespreadAnarchistsbeliefsnotto“takeover”people,buttoletthemknowhowtheycanbetterorganizethemselvestofighttyrannyandobtainfreedom.`Wewanttoworkwiththemasfellowhumanbeingsandallies,whohavetheirownexperiences,agendas,andneeds.Theideaistogetasmanymovementsofpeoplefightingthestateaspossible,sincethatiswhatbringsthedayoffreedomforusallalittlecloser.
ThereneedstobesomesortofrevolutionaryorganizationforAnarchiststowork
onthelocallevel,sowewillcalltheselocalgroupsBlackResistanceCommittees.EachoneoftheseCommitteeswillbeBlackworkingclasssocialrevolutionarycollectivesinthecommunitytofightforBlackrightsandfreedomaspartoftheSocialrevolutionTheCommitteeswouldhavenoleaderor“partyboss,”andwouldbewithoutanytypeofhierarchystructure,itwouldalsobeanti-authority.Theyexisttodorevolutionarywork,andthusarenotdebatingsocietiesoraclubtoelectBlackpoliticianstooffice.Theyarerevolutionarypoliticalformations,whichwillbelinkedwithothersuchgroupsalloverNorthAmericaandotherpartsoftheworldinalargermovementcalledafederation.Afederationisneededorcoordinatetheactionsofsuchgroups,toletothersknowwhatishappe
8/2/2019 Anarchism and the Black Revolution
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/anarchism-and-the-black-revolution 14/60
ningineacharea,andtosetdownwidespreadstrategyandtactics.(Wewillcallthisone,forwontofabettername,the“AfricanRevolutionaryFederation,”oritcanbepartofamulticulturalfederation).AfederationofthesortIamtalkingaboutisamassmembershiporganizationwhichwillbedemocraticandmadeupofallkindsofsmallergroupsandindividuals.ButthisisnotagovernmentorrepresentativesystemIamtalkingabout;therewouldbenopermanentpositionsofpower,andeventhefacilitatorsofinternalprogramswouldbesubjecttoimmediaterecallorhavearegularrotationofduties.Whenafederationisnolongerneeded,itcanbedisbandedTrythatwithaCommunistpartyoroneofthemajorCapitalistpartiesinNorthAmerica!Revolutionarystrategyandtactics
IfwearetobuildanewBlackrevolutionaryprotestmovementwemustaskourselveshowwecanhurtthisCapitalistsystem,andhowhavewehurtitinthepastwhenwehaveledsocialmovementsagainstsomeaspectofouroppression.Boycotts,massdemonstrations,rentstrikes,picketing,workstrikes,sit-ins,andothersuchprotestshavebeenusedbytheBlackmovementatdifferenttimesinitshistory,alongwitharmedself-defenseandopenrebellion.Putsimply,whatweneedtodoistakeourstruggletoannewandhigherlevel:weneedtotakethesetriedandtruetactics,(whichhavebeenusedprimarilyonthelocalleveluptothispoint),anutilizethemonanationallevelandthencouplethemwithasyetuntriedtactics,forastrategicattackonthemajorCapitalistcorporationsandgovernmentalapparatus.Weshalldiscussafewofthem:ABlackTaxBoycott
Blackpeopleshouldrefusetopayanytaxestotheracistgovernment,includingfederalincome,estateandsatestaxes,whilebeingsubjectedtoexploitationandbrutality.Therichandtheircorporationspayvirtuallynotaxes;itisthepoorandworkerswhobearthebruntoftaxation.Yettheyreceivenothinginreturn.TherearestillhugeunemploymentlevelsintheBlackcommunity,theunemploymentandwelfarebenefitsarepaltry;theschoolsamdilapidated;publichousingisadisgrace,whilerentsbyabsenteelandlordpropertiesareexorbitant—alltheseconditionsandmorearesupposedlycorrectedbygovernmenttaxationofincome,goods,andservices.Wrong!ItgoestothePentagon,defensecontractors,andgreedyconsultants,wholikevulturespreyonbusinesswiththegovernment.
TheBlackLiberationmovementshouldestablishamasstaxresistancemovementto
leadaBlacktaxboycottasameansofprotestandalsoasamethodtocreateafundtofinanceblackcommunityprojectsandorganizations.Whyshouldwecontinuetovoluntarilysupportourownslavery?ABlacktaxboycottisjustanothermeansofstrugglethattheBlackmovementshouldexamineandadopt,whichissimilartothepeacemovement’s“wartaxresistance.”Blacksshouldbeexemptedfromalltaxationonpersonalproperty,incometaxes,stocksandbonds(thelatterofwhichwouldbeanewtypeofcommunitydevelopmentissuance).TaxtheRich!ANationalRentStrikeandUrbanSquatting
Hand-in-glovewithataxboycottshouldbearefusaltopayrentfordilapidatedhousing.Theserentboycottshavebeenusedtogreateffecttofightbackagainstrentgougingbylandlords.AtonetimetheyweresoeffectiveinHarlem(NY)thattheycausedthecreationofrentcontrollegislation,preventingevictions,
unjustifiedpriceincreases,andrequiringreasonableupkeepbytheownersandthepropertymanagementcompany.Amassmovementcouldbringarentstriketoareas(suchasinthe.SoutheastandSouthwestwherepoorpeoplearebeingrippedofbythegreedylandlords,butarenotfamiliarwithsuchtactics.Unfairlawsnowonthebooks,so-calledLandlord-Tenant(wheretheonly“right”thetenantshaveistopaytherentorbeevicted)shouldalsobeliberalizedoroverturnedentirely.Theselawsonlyhelpslumlordsstayinbusiness,andkeepexploitingthepoorandworkingclassTheyaccountformassevictions,whichinturnaccountforhomelessness.Weshouldfighttorollbackrents,preventmassevictions,andhousethepoorandthehomelessindecentaffordableplaces.
8/2/2019 Anarchism and the Black Revolution
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/anarchism-and-the-black-revolution 15/60
Besidestherefusaltopaytheslumlordsandexploitativebanksandpropertymanagementcompanies,thereshouldbeacampaignof“urbansquatting”tojusttakeoverthehousing,andhavethetenantsrunitdemocraticallyasahousingcollective.Thenthatmoneywhichwouldhavegonetowardrentcouldnowgointorepairingthedwellingoftenants.Thehomeless,poorpersonsneedingaffordablehousing,andotherswhobadlyneedhousingshouldjusttakeoveranyabandonedhousingownedbyanabsenteelandlordorevenabearded-upcityhousingproject.Squattingisanespeciallygoodtacticinthesetimesofserioushousingshortagesandarson-for-insurancebytheslumlords.Weshouldthrowthebumsoutandjusttakeover!Ofcoursewewillprobablyhavetofightthecopsandcrookedlandlordswhowilltrytousestrong-armedtactics,butwecandothattoo!Wecanwinsignificantvictoriesifweorganizeanationwideseriesofrentstrikes,andbuildanindependenttenantsmovementthatwillself-manageallthefacilities,notonbehalfofthegovernment(withthetricky“Kempplan”),butonbehalfofthemselves!ABoycottofAmericanBusiness
ItwasproventhatoneofthestrangestweaponsoftheCivilrightsmovementwasaBlackconsumerboycottofacommunity’smerchantsandpublicservices.Merchantsandotherbusinessmen,ofcourse,arethe“leadingcitizens”ofanycommunity,andthelocalrulingclassandbossofthegovernment.Inthe1960swhenBlacksrefusedtotradewithmerchantsaslongastheyallowedracialdiscrimination,theirlossofrevenuedrovethemtomakeconcessions,andmediatethestruggle,evenholdthecopsandtheKlanatbay.Whatistrueatthelocalleveliscertainly
trueatthenationallevel.Themajorcorporationsandelitefamiliesrunthecountry;thegovernmentisitsmeretool.Blacksspendover$350billionayearinthisCapitalisteconomyasconsumes,andcouldjustaseasilywageeconomicwarfareagainstthecorporatestructurewithawellplannedboycotttowinpoliticalconcessions.Forinstance,acorporationlikeGeneralMotorsisheavilydependentuponBlackconsumes,whichmeansthatitisveryvulnerabletoaboycott,ifonewereorganizedandsupportedwidely.IfBlackswouldrefusetobuyGMcars,itwouldresultinsignificantlossesforthecorporation,tothetuneofhundredsofmillionsofdollars.Somethinglikethiscouldevenbringacompanytoitsknees.YettherevolutionarywingoftheBlackmovementhasyettouseboycotts,callingit“reformism”andoutdated.
Butfarfrombeinganoutdatedtacticthatweshouldabandon,boycottshavebeco
meevenmoreeffectiveinthelastfewyears.In1988,theBlackandprogressivemovementintheUnitedStateshitonanothertactic,boycottingthetouristindustriesofwholecitiesandstateswhichengagedindiscrimination.Thisreflectedontheonehandhowmanycitieshavegonefromsmokestackindustriessincethe1960stotourismastheirmajorsourceofrevenue,andontheotherhand,arecognitionbythemovementthateconomicwarfarewasapotentweaponagainstdiscriminatorygovernments.The1990-1993BlackBoycottagainsttheMiamiFloridatourismindustryandthecurrentGayrightsboycottagainsttheStateofColorado(startedin1992)havebeenbothsuccessfulandhavegottenworldwideattentiontotheproblemsintheircommunities.Infact,boycottshavebeenexpandedtocovereverythingfromCaliforniagrapes,beer(Coors),acertainbrandofJeans,allproductsmadeinthecountryofSouthAfrica,acertainmeatindustry,andmanythingsinbetween.Boycottsaremorepopulartodaythantheyeverhavebeen.
Dr.MartinLutherKing,Jr.recognizedthepotentialrevolutionarypowerofanationalBlackboycottofAmerica’smajorcorporations,whichiswhyheestablished“OperationBreadbasket”shortlybeforeanassassinkilledhim.Thisorganization,withofficesinChicagowasdesignedtobetheconduitforthefundsthatthecorporationsweregoingtobeforcedtopourmoneyintoforanationalBlackcommunitydevelopmentprojectforpoorcommunities.Andalthoughhewasassassinatedbeforethiscouldhappen,wemustcontinuehisworkinthismatter.AlloverthecountryBlackBoycottofficesshouldbeopened!Weshouldbuilditintoamassmovement,involvingallsectorsofourpeople.Weshoulddemonstrate,picket,and
8/2/2019 Anarchism and the Black Revolution
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/anarchism-and-the-black-revolution 16/60
sit-inatmeetingsandofficesoftargetcorporationsalloverthecountryWemusttakeittotheirverydoorstepandstoptheirlootingoftheBlackcommunity.ABlackGeneralStrike
Becauseoftheroletheyplayinproduction,BlackworkersarepotentiallythemostpowerfulsectoroftheBlackcommunityinthestruggleforBlackfreedom.ThevastmajorityoftheBlackcommunityisworkingclasspeople.Barringthedisproportionatenumbersofunemployed,about11millionBlackmenandwomenaretodaypartoftheworkforceoftheUnitedStates.About5-6millionoftheseareinbasicindustry,suchassteelandmetalfabrication,retailtrades,foodproductionandprocessing,meatpacking,theautomobileindustry,railroading,medicalserviceandcommunications.Blacksnumberl/3tol/2ofthebasicblue-collarworkers,and1/3ofclericallaborers.BlacklaboristhereforeveryimportanttotheCapitalisteconomy.
BecauseofthisvulnerabilitytojobactionsbyBlackworkers,whoaresomeofthemostmilitantworkersonthejob,theycouldtakealeadingroleinaprotestcampaignagainstracismandclassoppressionIftheyareproperlyorganizedtheywouldbeaclassvanguardwithinourmovementsincetheyareatthepointofproduction.BlackworkerscouldleadanationwideGeneralStrikeattheirplaceofworkasaprotestagainstracialdiscriminationinjobsandhousing,theinordinatelyhighlevelsofBlackunemploymentbrutalworkingconditions,andtofurtherthedemandsoftheBlackmovementgenerally.ThisgeneralstrikeisaSocialiststrike,notjustastrikeforhigherwagesandovergeneralworkingconditio
ns;itisrevolutionaryinpoliticsusingothermeans.Thisgeneralstrikecantaketheformofindustrialsabotage,factoryoccupationsorsit-ins,workslowdowns,wildcats,andotherworkstoppagesasaprotesttogainconcessionsonthelocalandnationallevelandrestructuretheworkplaceandwinthe4-hourdayforNorthAmericanlabor.Thestrikewouldnotonlyinvolveworkersonthejob,butalsoBlackcommunityandprogressivegroupstogivesupportwithpicketlineduty,leafletingandpublishingstrikesupportnewsletters,demonstrationsatcompanyofficesandworksites,alongwithotheractivities.
Itwilltakesomeseriouscommunityandworkplaceorganizingtobringageneralstrikeoff.Inworkplacesalloverthecountry,BlackworkersshouldorganizeGeneralStrikeCommitteesattheworkplaces,andBlackStrikeSupportCommitteestocarryonthestrikeworkinsidetheBlackcommunityitself.Becausesuchastr
ikewouldbeespeciallyhard-foughtandvicious,BlackworkersshouldorganizeWorker’sDefenseCommitteestodefendworkersfiredorblacklistedbythebossesfortheirindustrialorganizingwork.Thisdefensecommitteewouldpublicizeavictimizedworker’scaseandrallysupportfromotherworkersandthecommunity.Thedefensecommitteewouldalsoestablish,aLaborstrikeanddefensefundandalsostartfoodcooperativetofinanciallyandmaterialsupportsuchvictimizedworkersandtheirfamilieswhilecarryingonthestrike.
Althoughtherewilldefinitelybeanattempttoinvolvewomenandwhiteworkers;wheretheyarewillingtocooperate,thestrikewouldbeunderBlackleadershipbecauseonlyBlackworkerscaneffectivelyraisethoseissueswhichmosteffectthem.WhiteworkershavetosupportthedemocraticrightsofBlacksandothernationallyoppressedlaborers,insteadofjustwhiterightscampaigns”onso-called
“commoneconomicissues,”ledbytheNorthAmericanleft.InadditiontoprogressiveNorthAmericanindividualsorunioncaucuses,thelaborunionlocalsthemselvesshouldberecruited,buttheyarenottheforcetoleadthisstruggle,althoughtheirhelpcanbeindispensableinaparticularcampaign.Ittakesmajororganizingtomakethembreakfreeoftheirracistandconservativenature.Soalthoughwewantandneedthesupportofourfellowworkersofothernationalitiesandgenders,itisridiculousandcondescendingtojusttellBlackworkerstositaroundandwaitfora“whiteworkersvanguard”todecideitwantstofight.Wewilleducateourfellowworkerstotheissuesandwhytheyshouldfightwhitesupremacyatourside,butwewillnotdeferourstruggleforanyone!Wemustorganizet
8/2/2019 Anarchism and the Black Revolution
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/anarchism-and-the-black-revolution 17/60
hegeneralstrikeforblackfreedom!TheCommune:CommunityControloftheBlackCommunity
“Howdoweraiseanewrevolutionaryconsciousnessagainstasystemprogrammedagainstouroldmethods?WemustuseanewapproachandrevolutionizetheBlackCentralCityCommune,andslowlyprovidethepeoplewiththeincentivetofightbyallowingthemtocreateprograms,whichwillmeetalltheirsocial,political,andeconomic,needs.Wemustfillthevacuumsleftbytheestablishedorder…Inreturn,wemustteachthemthebenefitsofourrevolutionaryideals.Wemustbuildasubsistenceeconomy,andasociopoliticalinfrastructuresothatwecanbecomeanexampleforallrevolutionarypeople.”
—GeorgeJackson,inhisbook`BE’
Theideabehindamasscommuneistocreateadualpowerstructureasacountertothegovernment,underconditions,whichexistnow.Infact,Anarchistsbelievethefirststeptowardself-determinationandtheSocialrevolutionisBlackcontroloftheBlackcommunity.ThismeansthatBlackpeoplemustformandunifytheirownorganizationsofstruggle,takecontroloftheexistingBlackcommunitiesandalltheinstitutionswithinthem,andconductaconsistentfighttoovercomeeveryformofeconomic,politicalandculturalservitude,andanysystemofracialandclassinequalitywhichistheproductofthisracistCapitalistsociety.
Therealizationofthisaimmeansthatwecanbuildinner-cityCommunes,whichwillbecentersofBlackcounter-powerandsocialrevolutionarycultureagainstthewhitepoliticalpowerstructuresintheprincipalcitiesoftheUnitedStates.Oncetheyassumehegemony,suchcommuneswouldbeanactualalternativetotheStateandserveasaforcetorevolutionizeAfricanpeople—andbyextension—largesegmentsofAmericansociety,whichcouldnotpossiblyremainimmunetothisprocess.ItwouldserveasalivingrevolutionaryexampletoNorthAmericanprogressivesandotheroppressednationalities.
ThereistremendousfightingpowerintheBlackcommunity,butitisnotorganizedinastructuredrevolutionarywaytoeffectivelystruggleandtakewhatisdue.ThewhiteCapitalistrulingclassrecognizesthis,whichiswhyitpushesthefraudof“BlackCapitalism”andBlackpoliticiansandothersuch“responsibleleaders
.Thesefakesandselloutartistsleadustothedead-endroadofvotingandprayingforthatwhichwemustreallybewiltingtofightfor.TheAnarchistsrecognizetheCommuneastheprimaryorganofthenewsociety,andasanalternativetotheoldsociety.ButtheAnarchistsalsorecognizethatCapitalismwillnotgiveupwithoutafight;itwillbenecessarilytoeconomicallyandpoliticallycrippleCapitalistAmerica.Onethingforsureweshouldnotcontinuetopassivelyallowthissystemtoexploitandoppressus.
ThecommuneisastaginggroundforBlackrevolutionarystruggle.Forinstance,Blackpeopleshouldrefusetopaytaxestotheracistgovernment,shouldboycotttheCapitalistcorporations,shouldleadaBlackGeneralStrikealloverthecountry,andshouldengageinaninsurrectiontodrivethepoliceoutandwinaliberatedzone.Thiswouldbeapowerfulmethodtoobtainsubmissiontothedemand
softhemovement,andweakenthepowerofthestate.Wecanevenforcethegovernmenttomakemoneyavailableforcommunitydevelopmentasaconcession;insteadofasapayofftobuy-outthestruggleashappenedinthe1960sandthereafter.Ifweputaguntoabanker’sheadandsaid“Yoreknowyou’vegotthemoney,nowgiveitup,”hewouldhavetosurrender.Nowthequestionis:ifwedidthesamethingtothegovernment,usingdirectactionmeanswithaninsurrectionarymassmovement,wouldthesewouldbothbeactsofexpropriation?Orisitjusttopacifythecommunitywhytheygaveusthemoney?Onethingforsure,wedefinitelyneedthemoney,andhoweverwecompelitfromthegovernment,isoflessimportantthanthefactthatweforcedthemtogiveituptothepeople’sforcesatall.Wewo
8/2/2019 Anarchism and the Black Revolution
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/anarchism-and-the-black-revolution 18/60
uldthenusethatmoneytorebuildourcommunities,maintainourorganizations,andcarefortheneedsofourpeople.Itcouldbeamajorconcession,avictory.
ButwehavealsogottorealizethatAfricansinAmericaarenotsimplyoppressedbyforceofarms,butthatpartofthemoralauthorityofthestatecomesfromthemindoftheoppressedthatconsenttotherighttobegoverned.AslongasBlackpeoplebelievethatsomemoralorpoliticalauthorityofthewhitegovernmenthaslegitimacyintheirlives,thattheyoweadutytothisnationascitizens,oreventhattheyareresponsiblefortheirownoppression,thentheycannoteffectivelyfightback.TheymustfreetheirmindsoftheideasofAmericanpatriotismandbegintoseethemselvesasanewpeople.Thiscanonlybeaccomplishedunderdualpower,wherethepatriotismofthepeopleforthestateisreplacedwithloveandsupportforthenewBlackcommune.WedothatbymakingtheCommunearealthingintheday-to-daylivesofordinarypeople.
WeshouldestablishcommunitycouncilstomakepolicydecisionsandadministertheaffairsoftheBlackcommunity.ThesecouncilswouldbedemocraticneighborhoodassembliescomposedofrepresentativeelectedbyBlackworkersinvariouscommunityinstitutions—factories,hospitalsschools—aswellasdelegateselectedonablockbasis.WemustrejectBlackMayorsandotherpoliticians,orgovernmentbureaucrats,asasubstituteforcommunitypower.WemustthereforehavecommunitycontrolofalltheinstitutionsoftheBlackcommunity,insteadofjustlettingtheStatedecidewhatisgoodforus.Notjustjobsandhousing,butalsofullcontroloverschools,hospitals,welfarecents,libraries,etc.,mustturned
overtothatcommunity,becauseonlytheresidentsofacommunityhaveatrueunderstandingofitsneedsanddesires.
Hereisanexampleofhowitwouldwork:wewouldelectacommunitycounciltosuperviseallschoolsintheBlackcommunity.Wewouldencourageparents,students,teachers,andthecommunityatlargetoworkcooperativelyineveryphaseofschooladministration,ratherthanhaveanauthorityfigurelikeaprincipalandhis/heruncaringbureaucraticadministrationrunthingsasaredoneatpresent.ThewholeBlackcommunitywillhavetoengageinamilitantstruggletotakeoverthepublicschoolsandturnthemintocentersofBlackcultureandlearning.WecannotcontinuetodependontheracistorBlackpuppetschoolboardstodothisforus.
Thelocalcouncilwouldthenbefederated,orjoinedtogether,onalocalleveltocreateacitywidegroupofcouncilswhowouldrunaffairsinthatcommunity.Thecouncilsandotherneighborhoodscollectivesorganizedforavarietyofreasonswouldmakeamasscommune.ThiscommunewouldbeinturnfederatedattheregionalandnationalleveltheaimbeingtocreateanationalfederationofBlackcommunes,whichwouldmeetperiodicallyinoneoranumberofmassassemblymeetings.ThisfederationwouldbecomposedofelectedorappointeddelegatesrepresentingtheirlocalcommuneorcouncilSuchanationalfederalofcommuneswouldallowcommunitycouncilsfromalloverNorthAmericatoworkoutcommonpoliciesandspeakwithonevoiceonallmattersaffectingtheircommunitiesorregions.ItwouldthushavefarmorepowerthananysinglecommunitycouncilcouldHowever,topreventthisnationalfederationfrombureaucraticusurpationofpowerbypoliticalfactionsoropportunisticleaders,electionsshouldbeheldregularl
yanddelegateswouldbesubjecttorecallatanytimeformisconduct,sothattheyremainunderthecontrolofthelocalcommunitiestheyrepresent.
TheBlackcommunitycouncilsarereallyatypeofgrassrootsmovementmadeupofallthesocialformationsofourpeople,theblockandneighborhoodcommittees,Labor,studentandyouthgroups,(eventhechurch,toalimiteddegree),socialactivistgroups,andotherstounitethevariousprotestactionsaroundacommonprogramofstruggleforthisperiod.Thecampaignsforthisperiodmustutilizethetacticsofdirectmassaction,asitisveryimportantthatthepeoplethemselvesmustrealizeasenseoftheirorganizedpower.Thesegrassrootsassociat
8/2/2019 Anarchism and the Black Revolution
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/anarchism-and-the-black-revolution 19/60
ionswillprovidetotheusuallymassspontaneousactions,aformoforganizationwhosesocialbaseisoftheBlackworkingclass,insteadoftheusualBlackmiddleclassmis-leadership.
TheAnarchistsrecognizethesecommunitycouncilsasbeingaformofdirectdemocracy,insteadofthetypeofphonyAmerican“democracy,”whichisreallynothingbutcontrolbypoliticiansandbusinessmen.Thecouncilsareespeciallyimportantbecausetheyprovideembryonicself-ruleandthebeginningsofanalternativetotheCapitalisteconomicsystemanditsgovernment.Itisawaytounderminethegovernmentandmakeitanirrelevantdinosaur,becauseitsservicesarenolongerneeded.
TheCommuneisalsoaBlackrevolutionarycounterculture.ItistheembryoofthenewBlackrevolutionarysocietyinthebodyoftheoldsick,dyingone.Itisthenewlifestyleinmicrocosm,whichcontainsthenewBlacksocialvaluesandthenewcommunalorganizations,andinstitutions,whichwillbecomethesociopoliticalinfrastructureofthefreesociety.
OurobjectiveistoteachnewBlacksocialvaluesofunityandstruggleagainstthenegativeeffectsofwhiteCapitalistsocietyandculture.TodothatwemustbuildtheCommuneintoaBlackConsciousnessmovementtobuildraceprideandrespect,raceandsocialawarenessandtostruggleagainsttheCapitalistslavemasters.ThisBlackcommunalismwouldbebotharepositoryofBlackcultureandideology.Weneedtochangebothourlivesandourlifestyles,inordertodealw
iththemanyinterpersonalcontradictionsthatexistinourcommunity.WecouldexaminetheBlackfamily,Blackmale/femalerelationships,thementalhealthoftheBlackcommunity,relationsbetweenthecommunityandthewhiteestablishmentandamongBlackpeoplethemselves.WewouldholdBlackconsciousnessraisingsessionsinschools,communitycenters,prisonsandinBlackcommunitiesalloverNorthAmerica—whichwouldteachBlackhistoryandculture,newliberatingsocialideasandvaluestochildrenandadults,aswellascounselingandtherapytechniquestoresolvefamilyandmaritalproblems,allthewhilegivingaBlackrevolutionaryperspectivetotheissuesoftheday.Ourpeoplemustbemadetoseethattheself-hatred,disunity,distrust,internecineviolenceandoppressivesocialconditionsamongBlackpeoplearetheresultofthelegacyofAfricanslaveryandthepresentdayeffectsofCapitalism.FinallythemainobjectiveofBlackrevolutionarycultureistoagitateandorganizeBlackpeopletostrugglefort
heirfreedom.
AsSteveBiko,themurderedSouthAfricanrevolutionary,hasbeenquotedassaying:
“ThecallforBlackconsciousnessisthemostpositivecalltocomefromallygroupintheBlackworldforalongtime.ItismorethanjustareactionaryrejectionofwhitesbyBlacks…AttheheartofthiskindofthinkingistherealizationbyBlackthatthemostpotentweaponinthehandsoftheoppressoristhemindoftheoppressedOncethelatterhasbeensoeffectivelymanipulatedandcontrolledtrytheoppressorastomaketheoppressedbelievethatheisaliabilitytothewhiteman,thenthereisnothingtheoppressedcandothatwillreallyscarethepowerfulmasters…ThephilosophyofBlackconsciousness,thereforeexpress
esgroupprideandthedeterminationbyBlackstoriseupandattaintheenvisagedself.”
Bythe“envisagedself,”BikoreferstotheBlackself,aliberatedpsyche.ItisthatwhichwewanttorescuewithsuchaBlackconsciousnessmovementhereinAmerica.WeneedtocounterBlackself-hatredandthefrivolous“partymentality.Wealsowanttoendthesocialdegradationofourcommunity,andriditofdrugaddiction,prostitution,Black-on-Blackcrime,andothersocialevilsthatdestroysthemoralfiberoftheBlackcommunity.Drugsandprostitutionaremainlycontrolledbyorganizedcrime,andprotectedbythepolice,whoacceptbribesandgift
8/2/2019 Anarchism and the Black Revolution
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/anarchism-and-the-black-revolution 20/60
sfromgangsters.Thesenegativesocialvalues,theso-called“dog-eat-dog”philosophyoftheCapitalistsystemteachespeopletobeindividualistsoftheworstsort.Willingtocommitanykindofcrimeagainsteachother,andtotakeadvantageofeachother.Thisoppressivecultureiswhatwearefighting.Aslongasitexists,itwillbehardtounifythepeoplearoundarevolutionarypoliticalprogram.BuildingABlacksurvivalprogram
Buttheremustalsobesomewaytoensuretheireconomicsurvival,inadditiontoprovidingnewculturalrolemodels.ItisthenwhentheCommune,anetworkofcommunityorganizationsandinstitutions,assumesitsgreatestimportance.WewillbuildasociopoliticalinfrastructuretointerveneineveryareaofBlacklife:foodandhousingcooperatives,BlackLiberationschools,people’sbanksandcommunitymutualaidfunds,medicalclinicsandhospitals,rodentcontrolandpestexterminationprograms,cooperativefactories,communityculturalandentertainmentcenters,theestablishmentofanintercommunalelectroniccommunicationsnetwork,landandbuildingreclamationprojects,publicworksbrigadestorebuildthecities,youthprojects,drugclinics,andmanyothersuchprograms.
AlltheseprogramssatisfythedeepneedsoftheBlackcommunity,buttheyarenotsolutionstoourproblems,becausealthoughwecanbuildasurvivaleconomynow,wehavetorealizeitwilltakeasocialrevolutiontooverthrowCapitalismandobtainfulleconomicself-sufficiency.ButtheywillhelpustoorganizetheBlackcommunityaroundatrueanalysisandunderstandoftheirsituation.This
iswhytheyarecalledsurvivalprograms,meaningsurvivingunderthissystempendingasocialrevolution.
Buildingconsciousnessandrevolutionaryculturemeanstakingonrealisticday-to-dayissues,likehunger,theneedforclothingandhousing,joblessness,transportationandotherissues.ItmeansthattheCommunemustbeinthevacuumwherepeoplearenotbeingproperlyfedclothed,providedwithadequatemedicaltreatmentorareotherwisebeingdeprivedofbasicneeds.
Contrarytotherhetoricofsomeleftistgroups,thiswillnotmakepeoplepassiveorjustdependentonus.Ratherthanstrugglingagainstthegovernmentanddemandingthosethings,itinspiresconfidenceintherevolutionaryforcesandexposesthegovernmentasuncaringandincompetent.Thatismoreofanincentivefo
rthepeopletorevoltandoverthrownthegovernmentthanbaldingpoliticalpeprallies,givingspeeches,runningforpublicoffice,andpublishingmanifestosandresolutionsorpartynewspapersandothergarbage(thatnoonereadsbuttheirownmembers),likemostBlackandradicalgroupsdonow.
Weneedanewwayofconfrontingouroppressedsituation.Weneedtouniteoutpeopletofight,andtodothatweneedtoeducate,agitateandorganize.That’stheonlywaywe’llwinanewworld.WhatfollowsisanexampleoftheandofsurvivalprogramImean:
Wemusthavecommunitycontrolofallbusinessesandfinancialinstitutionslocatedinourcommunities,andforthosebusinessesnotworkinginourbestinterestsornotreturningsomeofitsrevenuebacktothecommunity,wewillseize
saidbusinessesandturnthemintocommunitycooperativesandmutualaidbankingsocieties.
WemusthavecommunitycontrolofallhousingandmajorinputinallcommunityplanningofBlackcommunities.Ifapieceofpropertyorhouseisownedbyaslumlord(eitheraprivateRealtororgovernmentagency),wewillseizeitandturnitintocommunityhousingcooperatives.WeopposeUrbanRenewal,spatialdecomposition,yuppiegentrificationandothersuchracistschemestodriveusoutofthecities.WmusthavecompletecontrolofallplanningboardsaffectingandconcerningtheBlackcommunity.Toenforcethesedemands,weshouldleadrents
8/2/2019 Anarchism and the Black Revolution
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/anarchism-and-the-black-revolution 21/60
trikes,demonstrations,armedactionsandurbansquattingtodrivelandlordsoutandtakeovertheproperty.
Wemusthaveanindependentself-sustainingeconomytoguaranteefullemploymentforallourpeople.WedemandthattheU.S.governmentprovidemassiveeconomicaidtorebuildthecities.ThegovernmentspendsbillionsperyearforthePentagonkillingmachine.AtleastthatamountshouldberedirectedtomeettheneedsofAmerica’soppressedcommunities.Ghettohousingmustberebuiltandturnedovertotheoccupants.AdequatejobsandservicesmustbeprovidedtoallcommunityresidentsincludingfirstpreferenceforallconstructionjobsintheBlackcommunity,whenpublicworksbrigadesareassignedtorebuildthecities.WemustfightforBlackgrassrootscontrolofallgovernmentfundsallocatedtotheBlackcommunitythroughanetworkofmutualaidbankingsocieties,communitydevelopmentcorporations,andcommunitydevelopmentcreditunions.
Reparations:theBigPayback.TheUnitedStatesgovernmentandtherichclassofthiscountryhasstolenandoppressedAfricansinthiscontinentfordecades.Theyworkedourancestorsasslaves,andafterslaverytheycontinuedtooppress,murderandexploitourpeople,ondowntothepresentday.Wemustbuildamassmovementinourcommunitiestocompelthegovernmentandtherichtoprovidethemeansforourcommunityredevelopment.Theyoweusforcenturiesofabuseandrobbery!Wemustdemandthatreparations,intheformofcommunitydevelopmentmoneyandotherfunds,beprovidedandplacedincreditunions,cooperatives,andothermutualaidinstitutionsintheBlackcommunity,sothatwecanstart
toobtainsomemeasureofeconomicselfsufficiency.Yetweknowthattheywon’tgivethemoneytous.Wemustfightthemforit,justlikewemuststruggletooverturnthesystemofwageslaverytoday.
Endpolicebrutality.Wemustorganizeself-defenseunitstoprotecttheBlackcommunityanditsorganizations,andremovetheState’spolicefarces.Wedemandcriminalprosecutionandjailingofallbrutalorkillercops.NojurisdictionfortheState’sjudicialsysteminBlackliberatedzones.
Wemustundertakealarge-scaleprogramtotrainBlackpeopleasdoctors,nursesandmedicalparaprofessionalsinordertomakefreequalitymedicalanddentalcareavailabletoBlackpeople.Wemustdemandthatthegovernmentsubsidizeallsuchmedicalanddentaltraining,aswebasfortheoperationofclinics,b
utBlackpeoplethemselvesmustestablishandrunthefreemedicalclinicsinallBlackcommunitieswhetherurbanorrural.Thiswouldincludecommunityanti-drugprogramsanddrugrehabilitationclinics.
WemustestablishaBlackcommunity-controlledfoodsystemforself-sufficiencyandasawayoffightingtoendhungerandmalnutrition,includingatruckingnetwork,warehouses,communalfarms,farmers’cooperatives,foodcooperatives,agriculturalunions,andothercollectiveassociations.ThiswillincludeaprotestcampaignchallengingthetheftofBlackfarmlandbyagribusinesscorporationsandrichwhite“landbarons”andreclaimingitforourprojects.ThisisespeciallyimportantnowthattheU.S.hasenteredaneconomiccrisisthatwillnotbeabletoprovideforourneeds.Wemustforcethegovernmenttoprovidethemoneyformanyoftheseprojects,tobeadministeredunderourtotalcontrol,insteadof
byagovernmentagency.
TheBlackcommunitymusthavecontrolofitsentireeducationalsystemfromthenurseryschoolthroughcollege.WemustestablishaBlackLiberationeducationalsystemwhichmeetsthetrainingneedsofBlackchildren,preparesthemforjobtrainingandfutureeconomicsecurity,servicetotheircommunity,andgivesthemaknowledgeofthemselvesandanunderstandingofthetruehistoryandcultureofAfricanpeople;aswellasaprogramofadulteducationforcommunitypeoplewhoseearliereducationalopportunitieshavebeenstuntedWeshoulddemandfreehighereducationforBlacksandotherminoritiesatfullgovernmentexpense
8/2/2019 Anarchism and the Black Revolution
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/anarchism-and-the-black-revolution 22/60
,includingremedialtrainingprogramsforallwhowishtoqualify.
WemustdemandandfightforthereleaseofallBlackpoliticalprisonersandvictimsofracialinjustice,wemustinvestigateandreviewthecasesofallsuchprisonerswhoarethevictimsofgovernmentpoliticalrepressionandracistframe-ups,andleadamasscampaignfortheirrelease.Someofourbestrevolutionaryorganizersarerottingawayintheprisonhousesofthisland.
ThecentraldemandisforBlackcontroloftheBlackcommunity,itpoliticsandeconomy.Wehavetotakeoverthecities,establishmunicipalcommunes,andexerciseself-government,asavitalstep.Wearethemajorityinmanyofthemajorcitiesofthiscountryandweshouldbeabletocontrolourownaffairs(oratleastobtainsomeautonomy),butasweshouldnowbeawarewewon’tevergetthiscommunitysocialpowerbyvotingforsomeBlackCapitalistpolitician,orfrompassivelydependingfor“salvation”onleadersofonesortoranother.Wehavetodoitourselvesifwearetoevergetontheroadtofreedom.
TheNeedforaBlackLaborFederation
ThedemandforBlacklaborhasbeenthecentraleconomicfactorinAmerica;itwasBlacklaborthatbuiltthefoundationsofthisnation.BeginningwithslavelaborintheOldSouthonplantations,thenwithsharecroppingandotherfarmlaboraftertheCivilwar,successivemigrationtotheNorthandworkingmills,mineandfactoriesduringa40yearperiod(1890-1920),andondowntothepresent
day,BlacklaborisimportanttothefunctioningoftheCapitalisteconomicorder.Almostfromthebeginning,BlackworkershaveorganizedtheirownLaborunionsandworker’sassociationstorepresenttheirinterests:theNationalColoredLaborUnionin1869,thenationalColoredFarmer’sAlliance(Populist)inthesameyear,theBrotherhoodofSleepingCarPortersinthe1940s,theleagueofBlackRevolutionaryWorkersinthe1960s;theUnitedConstructionWorkersAssociationandtheBlackandPuertoRicanCoalitionofConstructionWorkersinthe1970s,andondowntothepresentdaywithsuchunionsorassociationsastheBlackWorkersforJusticeandtheCoalitionforBlackTradeUnionists.Someofthesewereunions,somewerejustassociationsofBlackworkersinexistingunions.(Note:InadditiontoBlackorganizedorledlaborfederationsinthe1870s,therewere90,600BlackworkersintheKnightsofLaborinthe1880sandatleast100,000intheIndustrialWorkersoftheWorld(IWW)inthe1900s.)
Infact,thetradeunionswouldnotevenexisttodayifitwerenotfortheassistanceandsupportoftheBlackworker.TradeunionismwasbornasaneffectivenationalmovementamidthegreatconvulsionsoftheCivilWarandthefighttoendslavery,yetBlackworkerswereroutinelyexcludedfromunionsliketheAmericanFederationofLabor.OnlymilitantassociationsliketheKnights,IWWandtheAnarchist-initiatedInternationalWorkingPeople’sAssociation(IWPA)wouldaccepttheirmembershipsatall.Thiscontinuedformanyyears,untilthefoundingoftheCongressofIndustrialOrganizations(CIO)beganitscampaignofstrikes,sit-downs,andotherprotestactionstoorganizetheunskilledindustrialworkers.Blacklaborwaspivotalinthesebattles,yethasneverfullyreapedthebenefits.Infact,theLaborbossesbetrayedthemwhentheCIOwasbeatendowninthe1950s.
YouwouldthinkthatAmericanlabormovementwouldseeitascriminalorracisttoignorethesefellowworkerstodayinthatfashion.ButevennowthereisnolabororganizationintheU.S.whichgivesfullrepresentationandequaltreatmenttoBlackworkers.ThefactisthatevenwithsomeBlackLaborofficialsinoffice,Blackworkersreceivefarfewerunionbenefitsthanwhiteworkers,andaretrappedinthemostlow-paid,tediousanddangerousjobs,eventhoughtheymadesubstantialeconomicgainsduringthe1960s.
ThemajorityoftheBlackmassesareintheworkingclass.Becauseoftherolet
8/2/2019 Anarchism and the Black Revolution
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/anarchism-and-the-black-revolution 23/60
heyplayinproduction,BlackindustrialandclericalworkersarepotentiallythemostpowerfulsectoroftheBlackcommunityinthestruggleforBlackliberation.Asthevictimsofinequalityintheeconomy,Blackworkershavealreadybeguntoorganizefortheirinterestsandprotecttheirrightsonthejob,eveniftheunionisconservativeandwon’tfighttheboss.Theyhaveformedunioncaucusesandevenindependentlaborunionswherenecessary.Ofcourse,theunityofBlackandwhiteworkersisindispensabletocombatandoverthrowCapitalism.ButwherewhiteworkersarenowprivilegedandBlackworkersarepenalized,BlackunityandstrugglemustprecedeandpreparethegroundforanyBlack-whiteunityonabroadscale.BlackcaucusesintheUnionscanfightagainstdiscriminationinhiring,firing,andupgrading,andforequalityoftreatmentintheunions,now,whilewhiteworkersstillhaveyettowidelysupportdemocraticrightsforBlackandotheroppressednationalities.BlackCaucusesareimportant.Wheretheyarepartoforganizedlabor,theyshouldstrivetodemocratizetheunions,regeneratetheirfightingspirits,andeliminatewhitejobtrustpractices.TheseBlackcaucusesintheunionsshoulddemand:
Rankandfiledemocraticcontroloftheunion.
Equalrightsandtreatmentforallunionists;eliminateallracistpracticesinthelabormovement.
Affirmativeactionprogramstoredresspastracistemploymentpractices,endracialdiscriminationbasedonseniorityandotherploys.
FullemploymentforallBlacks,women,andothernon-whiteworkers.
A20-30hourworkweekwithnoreductioninpay.
Therighttostrike,includingwildcatstrikeswithoutunionsanction.
Speedierandfairgrievanceprocedures.
Anescalatorclauseinallunioncontractstoensureautomaticwageadjustmentstokeepupwiththerisingcostofliving.
Fullpaymentofsocialsecuritybyemployerandthegovernment.Fullunemplo
ymentcompensationat100ofbasepay.
Minimumwagesatunionscale.
Preventrunawayshops,phonybankruptcy,or“strategicplantshutdowns”bycompanieswithoutnoticetounionortogainadvantageincontractnegotiations.
ApublicworksprogramtorebuildtheBlackandotherinner-citycommunities,andtoprovideworkforBlackworkers.
Worker’sself-managementofindustrybyfactorycommitteesandworker’scouncils,electedbytheworkersthemselves.
Inadditiontotheunioncaucuses,BlackworkingpeopleneedanationalBlackworkersassociation,whichwouldbebotharevolutionaryunionmovementtodoworkplaceorganizing,butalsowouldbeamasssocialmovementforcommunityorganizing.SuchamovementwouldcombinetheorganizingtacticstoboththelaborandBlackLiberationmovements.ItisnotdesignedtodriveBlacksoutofthoseunionswheretheyarealreadyorganized,butwouldratherserveasatooltomultiplytheirnumbersandstrength,andturntheirunionsintomilitant,classstruggleinstruments.
TheLeagueofRevolutionaryBlackWorkers,whichorganizedBlackautoworkersdu
8/2/2019 Anarchism and the Black Revolution
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/anarchism-and-the-black-revolution 24/60
ringthelate190sprovidesanexampleofthetypeoforganizationneededTheLeague,whichgrewoutofitsmajoraffiliate,theDodgeRevolutionaryMovement(DRUM),wasundoubtedlythemostmilitantBlackLabormovementinAmericanhistory.ItwasaBlacklaborfederationwhichexistedasanorganizedalternativetotheUnitedAutoWorkers,andwastheinevitablestepoftakingtheBlackLiberationstruggletotheindustrialshopfloor,thepointofproduction,andCapitalism’smostvulnerablearea.
TheLeaguehadwiselydecidedtoorganizeintheDetroitautomobileproductionindustry.ThiswasanindustrywhereitsworkerswereanimportantpartoftheworkforceandalsointheDetroitBlackcommunity,wheretheLeagueunitedthestruggleinthefactorieswiththatoftheBlackstruggleasawhole.ItquicklybecameamajorforceintheworkplaceandinthestreetsasmanyofitscadresorganizedoncollegecampusesandintheBlackinner-cityareas.IthadthepotentialtobecomeamassnationwideBlackworkingclassmovement,butthispotentialwasstifledthroughpoliticalfactionfightsamongtheleadership,lackofasolidorganizedbaseinthefactories;company/UAW/andStaterepression,organizedracismandlackofcooperationamongwhiteworkers,andothersuchreasons.EventuallytheLeaguesplitintomutuallyhostilefactionsanddied,afterlessthanfiveyearsofexistence.
EventhoughtheLeaguewasatbestarevolutionarysyndicalismorganization,andlaterarigidMarxist-Leninistorganization,(andtheiradoptionofthislaterauthoritarianideology,withitsideasofpurgesandunquestionedleadership,di
rectlyleadtoitsdemise),thereismuchthatAnarchistsandradicalBlacklaboractivistscanlearnfromtheLeague.ThemainthingisthatBlackworkerscanandshouldbeorganizedintosomesoreofindependentlaborassociation,inadditiontooreveninlieuof,theirmembershipinorganizedlaborunionsandespeciallywheretheunionsareofthesellouttypeanddiscriminatesagainstBlacks.AlsoitismucheasierforBlackworkerstoorganizeotherBlackworkersandtheircommunityinsupportofstrikesandworkplaceorganizing.ThatispreciselywhyweneedtoestablishagroupliketheLeaguetoday,butasanAnarcho-Syndicalistorganization,soastoavoidthepastpitfallsandideologicalsquabblesofMarxism-Leninism.SimplystatedwhatwouldbetheprogramofanewlyformedNationalFederationofBlackWorkers?
Forclassstruggleagainstthebosses.
ToorganizetheunorganizedBlackworkersignoredbythetradeunions.
Forworkerssolidarityamongallnationalitiesofworkers.
ItshouldbeanInternationalBlackLaborFederation!
FromDetroit,MichigantoDurban,SouthAfrica,fromtheCaribbeantoAustralia,fromBraziltoEngland,Blackworkersareuniversallyoppressedandexploited.TheBlackworkingclassneedsitsownworldlabororganization.ThereisnoracialgroupmorebornedownbysocialrestraintthanBlackworkers;theyareoppressedasworkersandasapeople.BecauseofthesedualformsofoppressionandthefactthatmosttradeunionsexcludeordonotstruggleforBlacklaborer’sright
s,wemustorganizeforourownrightsandliberation.EventhoughinmanyAfricanandCaribbeancountriesthereare“Black”laborfederations,theyarereformistorgovernment-controlled.Thereisalargeworkingclassinmanyofthesecountries,buttheyhavenomilitantlabororganizationstoleadthestruggle.ThebuildingofaBlackworkers’movementforrevolutionaryindustrialsabotageandageneralstrike,ororganizetheworkersforself-managementofproduction,andsoundermineandoverthrowthegovernmentisthenumberonepriority.
WhatwouldaninternationalBlacklaborfederationstandfor?Firstly,sincemanyBlackworkers,farmers,andpeasantsarenotorganizedatallinmostcountrie
8/2/2019 Anarchism and the Black Revolution
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/anarchism-and-the-black-revolution 25/60
s,suchanorganizationwouldbeonebigunionofBlackworkers,representingeveryconceivablesillandvocation.AlsosuchanorganizationmeanstheworldwideunityofBlackworkers,andthen,secondly,itmeanscoordinatedinternationallaborrevolts.CapitalandLaborhavenothingincommon.
TherealstrengthofworkersagainstCapitalandtheimperialistcountriesiseconomicwarfare.ArevolutionarygeneralstrikeandboycottofthemultinationalcorporationsandtheirgoodsbyBlackworkersallovertheglobeishowtheycanbehurt.Forinstance,ifwewanttomakeBritainandtheUSAwithdrawfinancialandmilitarysupportfromSouthAfricathenweusetheweightandpowerofBlackLaborinthosecountriestowagestrikes,sabotage,boycottandotherformsofpoliticalandeconomicstruggleagainstthosecountriesandthemultinationalcompaniesinvolved.Itwouldberpowertobereckonedwith.Forinstance,coordinatedactionsbytradeunionsandpoliticalactiongroupsinthatcountryhavealreadycausesmajor-policychanges,afull-fledgedgeneralstrikewouldlikelyleadtothetotaleconomiccollapseoftheracistSouthAfricanstate,especiallyifsuchstrikesweresupportedbyBlackworkersinNorthAmerica.
InadditiontoaskingtheBlackworkerstoformtheirowninternationallaborfederationandtoorganizerank-and-filecommitteeswithintheirexistingtradeunionstopushthemintoaclassstruggledirection,wealsoinviteBlackworkerstojoinAnarcho-SyndicalistlabororganizationsliketheIWWandtheWorkersSolidarityAlliance,theAmericansectionoftheInternationalWorkers’Association,whichisbasedinParis,France.But,ofcourse,itisnotintendedtodriveBla
ckworkersoutofthoseunionswheretheyarealreadyactive,butwouldratherserveasatooltomultiplytheirnumberandstrengthinsuchunions,andmakethemmoremilitant.UnemploymentandHomelessness
Inthefirstthreemonthsof1993,theU.S.LaborDepartment’sBureauoflaborStatisticslistedofficialunemploymentratesataboutsixmillionpersonsorjustsevenofthelaborforce.UnderCapitalismhalfthatfigureis“normal”andnonsensicallyisconsideredbyCapitalisteconomistsas“fullemployment”eventhoughthisismillionsofpeopleconsignedtoeconomicpovertyoftheworstsort.Butthegovernmentfiguresareintentionallyconservative,anddonotincludethosewhohavegivenupactivelysearchingforjobs,theunderemployed(whocan’tmakeenoughtoliveon),thepart-timeworkers(whocan’tfindafulltimeorsteadyjob)and
thehomelessofwhichthemarenowbetween3-5millionalone.
Ofthe6millionpeoplethatthegovernmentdoescountasjoblessnow,lessthan3millionaregivenanyunemploymentcompensationorotherfederalorstateaid;therestarelefttostarve,stealorhustlefortheirsurvival.ApersonwithoutajobundertheCapitalistsystemiscountedasnothing.Everyworkerhasthehumanrighttoajob;yetunderCapitalism,workersaredismissedformemploymentintimesofbusinesscrisis,overproduction,depressionorjusttosavelaborcoststhroughlessworkersandmorespeed-up.AndsomeworkerscannotfindjobsintheCapitalistlabormarketbecauseoflackofskills,orracialorsocialdiscrimination.
Butthegovernment’sfigureslie,privateresearchersstatethatthetotalnumber
ofpeoplewhowantfulltimejobsandthuscannotfindthemamountstonearly14.3millionpersons.Clearlythenthisisacrisissituationofbroadproportions,butallthegovernmentisdoingisjugglingandhidingfigures.ButthefiguresdoshowthatBlacks,Latinos,andwomenarebearingthebruntofthecurrentdepressionTheNationalUrbanLeagueinits“BiddenUnemploymentIndex”(includedaspartofitsannual“StateofBlackAmerica”report)reportslevelsof15-38percentforBlackadults25andolderandincrediblelevelsof44-55%forteensandyoungadults17-24years.Infact,Blackyouthunemploymenthasnotdeclinedatallsincethe1974-1975recession.Ithasstayedatanofficiallevelof35-40percent,butinthemajorcitieslikeDetroit,Chicago,Philadelphia,andLosAngeles
8/2/2019 Anarchism and the Black Revolution
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/anarchism-and-the-black-revolution 26/60
,therealunemploymentrateismorelike70percent.ForBlackyouththeunemploymentrateisthreetofivetimeshigherthanthatofwhiteyouth.CapitalismismakingeconomicexilesofBlackpeopleasawhole.ThefactisthatunemploymentisconcentratedintheBlackandHispaniccommunities,andisgreatlyresponsibleforthemostdestructivetendenciesinhumanrelationsanddeterioratingneighborhoods.Crime,prostitution,suicide,drugaddiction,gangfighting,mentalillness,alcoholism,andthebreakupoftheBlackfamily,andothersocialills—allarerootedinthelackofjobsandthedenialofessentialsocialservicesintheircommunities.Itisactuallyracialgenocideintheformofsocialneglect.
Unemploymentisprofitableforthebossesbecauseitdrivesdownthewagesofworkersandhelpstheemployerstokeeptheworkforceundercontrolthroughthis“reservearmyoflabor,”whichareallegedlyalwaysreadytoscab.BecauseofpervasivediscriminationagainstBlacks,Latinosandothernationallyoppressedworkers,includinghigherlevelsunemployment—thejobstheydogetartgenerallyonthebottomrung.Thisisalsoprofitablefortheboss,anddividestheworkingclass.
Homelessnessisjustthemostintensifiedformofunemployment,whereinadditiontolossofjoborincome,thereislossofhousingandlackofaccesstosocialservices.Therearenowmillionsofpeoplehomelesssincethelast15years,becauseoftheCapitalistoffensivetodestroytheunions,beatbackthegainsofthecivilrightsstruggle,anddoawaywiththeaffordablehousingsectorinfa
vorofyuppiegentrificationinthecities.Youseethemincities,bigandsmall,andwhatthisreflectsisatotalbreakdownintheCapitalistState’ssocialservicessystem,inadditiontotheheatingupoftheclasswarwagedbygovernmentandthemajorcorporations,Itshows,morethananything,thatCapitalismworldwideisundergoinganinternationalfinancialpanic,andisreallyinthebeginningstagesofaworlddepression.Inadditiontothe90millionpersonswholivebelowthepovertylineandthreetofivemillionhomelessintheU.S.;thereareanother2.7millionhomelessinthetwelvenationsoftheEuropeancommunity,and80millionpeopleamlivinginpovertythere,withmillionsmoreintheCapitalistcountriesofJapan,KoreaandotherpartsofAsia.SoalthoughBlackworkersmustorganizeandfightagainsthomelessandunemploymentintheU.S.,clearlytheremustbeaninternationalmovementofworkerstofightthiseconomicdeprivation,aspartoftheoverallclassstruggle.IneverycityinNorthAmerica
,theBlackworkersmovementshouldorganizeunemploymentcouncilstofightforunemploymentbenefitsandjobsforthejobless,thebuildingofdecent,affordablelow-incomehousingandanendtohomelessness,aswellasagainstracialdiscriminationinjobsandhousing.Suchcouncilswouldbedemocraticorganizations,organizedonaneighborhoodbasis,(toensurethatitwouldbeunderthecontrolofthepeople,andagainstinfiltrationandtakeoverbyliberalor“radical”politicalparties,orco-optationbythegovernment),whichwouldbefederatedintoacitywide,regional,andnationalorganization.ThatorganizationwouldbeanationalBlackunemploymentleague,tocreateamassfightbackmovementinthisdepression.ItwouldbemadeupofBlackcommunityunemployedcouncilsfromalloverthecountry,withdelegateselectedfromallthelocalgroups.Suchanationalorganizationcouldmeettomapoutalarge-scaleattackonunemployment,aswellasserveasanationalclearinghouseonBlackunemploymentconditions.
OnthelocallevelintheBlackneighborhoods,itwouldbethecommunityunemploymentcouncilswhichwouldestablishfoodandhousingcooperatives,leadrentstrikesandsquatting,initiatelandandbuildingreclamationprojects,establishproducerandconsumercooperatives,distributefoodandclothing,andprovideforotherservices:theywouldestablishneighborhoodmedicalclinicsforfreetreatmentofthehomelessandunemployed,rodentcontrolprograms,etc.,andtheywoulddealwithcommunitysocialproblems(broughtonbyunemployment),andotherissuesofinterestTheywouldbuildhungermarchesandotherdemonstrationsandcarrythepeople’swrathtovariousgovernmentofficesandtothebusinessesoft
8/2/2019 Anarchism and the Black Revolution
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/anarchism-and-the-black-revolution 27/60
herich.Notonlywouldtheunemploymentcouncilsbeawayoffightingforjobsandunemploymentbenefits,butalsothecouncilswouldawaytoaobtainagreatdealofcommunityself-sufficiencyanddirectdemocracy,insteadoftotallydependingoncityhall,CongressorthePresident,andhelpsleadtothekindofconfidenceamongthemassesthataBlackmunicipalcommunebecomesaseriouspossibility.
Oneofthemostimportantfunctionsofanunemploymentmovementistoobtainunitybetweentheemployedandunemployedorhomeless,andworkerssolidarityacrossracelines.TheemployedandunemployedmustworktogethertostruggleagainsttheBossclassiftheyaretoobtainanyseriousgainsduringthisperiodofeconomiccrisis.Workerswhoareonstrikeorprotestingagainstthebosswouldbesupportedbytheunemployed,whowouldevenmanthepicketlineswiththemandrefusetoscab.Inturntheworkerswouldformunemployedcaucusintheirtradeunionstoallowunionrepresentationoftheseworkersandalsoforcesuchunionstoprovidefoodandothernecessities,makefundsandtrainingavailabletotheunemployed,aswellasthrowtheweightoftheunionsinthefightfordecentjobsandhousingforallworkers.TheCapitalistbosseswillnotbemovedotherwise.Makethebossespayfortheireconomiccrisis!
Hereiswhataunitedmovementofworkersandhomelessmustdemand:
Fullemployment(zerounemployment)forallworkersatunionwage.
Establishmentofashorterworkweek,sothatworkerswouldbepaidattheratefor40hoursofworkfor20-30hoursaweekonthejob.
Endhomelessness,buildandmakeavailabledecentaffordablehousingforall.Repealallloitering,anti-panhandlingandotherlawsagainstthehomeless.
Endthewarbudget,andusethosefundsfordecent,low-incomehousing,betterschools,hospitalsandclinics,libraries,parksandpublictransportation.
Endracismandsexisminjobopportunitiesandreliefbenefits.
Jobsoraguaranteedincomeforall.
Fullfederalandstatebenefitsforunemployedworkersandtheirfamilies,includingcorporateandgovernmentfundstopaythebills,rentsanddebtsforanylaidoffworker,andunemploymentcompensationat100%ofregularpaidwage,lastingthefulllengthofaworker’speriodofunemployment.
Nationalminimumwagesetatprevailingunionentrywage.
Governmentandcorporatefundstoestablishapublicworksprogramtoprovidejobs(withfullunionrightsandwagescale)torebuildtheinnercitiesandprovideneededsocialservices.TheprogramanditsfundsshouldbeunderthecontrolofcommitteesdemocraticallyelectedfrompoorandBlackneighborhoods,soastoavoid“povertypimps”andripoffjobagencies,orgovernmentbureaucrats.
Freeallpersonsinprisonforcrimesofeconomicsurvival.
These,andthedemandspreviouslymentioned,aremerelyasurvivalprogramandagendaforunemployedworkers;therealanswerisSocialrevolutiontheeliminationofCapitalism,andworkers’self-managementoftheeconomyandsociety.Thisisavitalfirststephowever.ThemwouldbenounemploymentorsocialneedforwagelaborinanAnarchist-Communistsociety.CrimesAgainstthePeople
Itistherichwhodecidewhatisorisnotacrime;itisnotaneutraldesigna
8/2/2019 Anarchism and the Black Revolution
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/anarchism-and-the-black-revolution 28/60
tion.ThelawsarewrittentoprotecttherichandthosewhoactasagentsoftheState.Butmostpersonalcrimesartnotcommittedagainsttherich,theyareusuallyinaccessible.ItispoorandworkingclassBlackpeoplewhoarethemajorvictimsofviolentcrime.TheBlackfemaleistheprimaryvictimofrapeandabusebytheBlackmaleinthiscountry.TheBlackmalehimselfistheleadinghomicidevictimintheU.S.byanotherBlackmanlikehimself,andsadlyourchildrenareamongtheleadingvictimsofchildabuse,manytimesbyhisorherownparents.WedonotliketothinkofthesethingsintheBlackcommunity,butwearebatteringandkillingourselvesatanalarmingrate.ThisisnottodenythattheCapitalistsocialsystemhascreatedfrustrating,degradingconditionsoflifethatcontributetothisbrutalityandfratricide,butwewouldbelaxinourhumaneandrevolutionarydutyifwedidnottrytocorrectthisproblemontheshort-term,andalsomakeBlackpeopleassumeresponsibilityforouractions.IamnottalkingsomeBlackconservativeor“lawandorder”garbagehere,butratherrecognitionoffactthatwehaveaproblem.
Wehaveanexternalandaninternalcrisissituationfacingusinourcommunity.Theexternalcrisisisracismandcolonialism,whichworkstosystematicallyoppressusandisresponsibleforwhateverinternalcrisisthereis.Theinternalcrisisistheresultofanenvironmentwheredrugsandviolence(bothsocialandphysical)arerampant,andlifeissometimesconsideredcheap.Black-on-Blackcrimesandinternalviolencearedestroyingourcommunity.Itisundoubtedlyself-hatredandthedesperateeconomicandsocialconditionsweliveunderwhichmakesuspreyoneachother.Drugs,frustratedrage,prostitutionandothervicesa
resymptomsofoppression.
Wekill,beat,rapeandbrutalizeeachotherbecauseweareinpainourselves.Thusweareactingoutanti-socialrolesdefinedforusbysomeoneelse,notourselves.Inourpainandconfusionwestrikeoutatconvenientandfamiliarvictims;thoselikeourselvesThemareordinaryBlackpeoplewhostealandrobjusttosurviveunderthissystem,becauseofthatunequaldistributionofwealth.Further,forsameofus,inourdesireto“makeit”inCapitalistsocietywewillstopatnothing,includingmurder.Andfinally,therearethosewhodowhatevertheydobecauseofdrugaddictionormentalsickness.
Whateverthereasons,wehaveaseriousproblemthatwemustremedybecauseitistearingawayatthemoralandsocialfabricofourcommunity.Itwillbeimpas
sibletouniteBlackpeopleiftheyareinfearandhatredofoneanother.ItisalsoobviousthatthepoliceandgovernmentrectifythisproblemandthatonlytheBlackcommunitycandoso.Thecourtsandprisonpreventthesituationfromrecurring.Thereforewhatcanwedo?
Itisthecommunity,throughitsownorganizationsofconcern,whichwillhavetodealwiththisproblem.Communityself-managedprogramstoworkwithBlackyouthgangmembers,(asourceofmuchviolenceinthecommunity),ratherthanthemilitaryapproachofcallinginthecops,empowerthecommunityratherthantheracistprisonbureaucracyandthecops.Also,thecommunity-rundrugrehabilitationgroups,therapyandcounselinggroups,andotherneighborhoodorganizinghelpustoeffectivelydealwiththeproblemofinternalviolenceandhopefullydefuseit.Mostimportantlyitinvolvesthecommunityintheeffort.
Butwecannottotallydependuponcounselingorrehabilitationtechniques,especiallywherethemisanimmediatethreatofviolenceorwhereithasoccurred.So,toinsurepeaceandpublicsecurity,aBlackcommunityguardservicewouldbeorganizedforthispurpose,aswellastoprotectagainstthewhitePowerstructure.Thissecurityforcewouldbeelectedbylocalresidents,andwouldworkwiththehelpofpeopleinneighborhoods.Thisistheonlywayitwouldwork.Itwouldnotbeanauxiliaryofthecurrentcolonialoccupationarmyinourcommunity,andwouldnotthreatenorintimidatethecommunitywithviolenceagainstouryouth.Norwouldsuchacommunityguardprotectviceandorganizedcrime.Thisco
8/2/2019 Anarchism and the Black Revolution
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/anarchism-and-the-black-revolution 29/60
mmunityguardwouldonlyrepresentthecommunitythatelectedit,insteadofcityhall.Similarsuchunitswouldbeorganizedalloverthecityonablock-by-blockbasis.
YettheAnarchistsgofurther,andsaythatafteramunicipalcommuneissetup,theexistingcourtsmustbereplacedbyvoluntarycommunitytribunalsofarbitration,andincasesofgravecrimes,connectedwithmurder,oroffensesagainstlibertyandequality,aspecialcommunalcourtofanon-permanentnaturewouldbesetup.Anarchistsbelievethatantisocialcrime,meaninganythingthatoppresses,robs,ordoesviolencetotheworkingclassmustbevigorouslyopposed.Wecannotwaituntilaftertherevolutiontoopposesuchdangerousenemiesofthepeople.ButsincesuchantisocialcrimesareadirectexpressionofCapitalism,therewouldbearealattempttosocialize,politicallyeducateandrehabilitateoffenders.NotbythrowingthemintothewhiteCapitalistprisonstosufferlikeanimalsandwhere,becauseoftheirtortureandhumiliation,theywilldeclarewaronallsociety,butbyinvolvingtheminthelifeofthecommunityandgivingthemsocialandvocationaltraining.Sinceallthe“criminologyexperts”agreethatcrimeisasocialproblem,andsinceweknowthat88percentofallcrimesareagainstpropertyandarecommittedinordertosurviveinaneconomicallyunjustsociety,wemustrecognizethatonlyfullemployment,equaleconomicopportunity,decenthousingandotheraspectsofsocialjusticewillensureanendtocrime.Inshort,wemusthaveradicalsocialchangetoeradicatethesocialconditionsthatcausecrime.AnunequalunfairsocietylikeCapitalismcreatesitsowncriminalclass.Therealthievesandmurderers,businessmenandpoliticians,are
protectedundertoday’slegalsystem,whilethepoorarepunished.Thatisclassjustice,andthatiswhatSocialrevolutionwouldabolish.
Butunderstandably,manypersonswanttoendtherape,murder,andviolenceinourcommunitiestoday,andwindupstrengtheningthehandsoftheStateanditspoliceagents.Theywillnotgetridofcrime,butthecopswillmilitarilypatrolourcommunities,andfurtherturnusagainstoneanother.Wemuststayawayfromthattrap.Frustratedandconfused,Blackpeoplemayattackoneanother,butinsteadofcondemningthemtoaslowdeathinprisonorshootingthemdowninthestreetsforrevenge,wemustdealwiththeunderlyingsocialcausesbehindtheact.
Anarchistsshouldbegintohavecommunityforumsonthecauseandmanifestations
ofcrimeintheBlackcommunity.Wehavetoseriouslyexaminethesocialinstitutions:family,schools,prisons,jobs,etc.thatcauseustofuss,fight,robandkilleachother,ratherthantheenemywhoiscausingallourmisery.Whileweshouldmobilizetorestrainoffenders,wemustbegintorealizethatonlythecommunitywilleffectivelydealwiththemater.NottheracistCapitalistsystem,withitsrepressivepolice,courtsandprisons.Onlywehavepsychologyandunderstandingtodealwithit;nowwemustdevelopthewill.Nooneelsecares.
Insteadofeye-for-eyepunishment,thereshouldberestitutiontothevictims,theirfamiliesorsociety.Norevenge,suchasthedeathpenaltywillbringamurdervictimback,norwilllong-termimprisonmentserveeitherjusticeortheprotectionofsociety.Afterall,prisonsareonlyhumantrashcansforthosethatsocietyhasdiscardedasworthless.Nosaneandjustsocietywouldadoptsuchac
ourse.Societymakescriminalsandmustberesponsiblefortheirtreatment.Whitecapitalistsocietyisitselfacrime,andisthegreatestteacherofcorruptionandviolence.
InanAnarchistsociety,prisonswouldbedoneawaywith,alongwithcourtsandpolice(exceptfortheexceptionsIhavealludedto),andbereplacedwithcommunity-runprogramsandcentersinterestedsolelywithhumanregenerationandsocialtraining,ratherthancustodialsupervisioninainhumanlockup.Thefactisthatifapersonissoviolentordangerous,heisprobablymentallywarpedorhassomephysicaldefectanyway,whichcauseshimtocommitviolentactsafterso
8/2/2019 Anarchism and the Black Revolution
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/anarchism-and-the-black-revolution 30/60
cialjusticehasbeenwon.Ifsuchpeoplearementallydefective,thentheyshouldbeplacedinamentalhealthfacility,ratherthanaprison.Humanrightsshouldneverbestrippedandheshouldnotbepunished.Schools,hospitals,doctorsandaboveallsocialequality,publicwelfareandlibertymightprovethesafestmeanstogetridofcrimesandcriminalstogether.Ifaspecialcategorysuchas“criminal”or“enemy”iscreated,thenthesepersonsmayforeverfeelanoutcastandneverchange.Evenifheorsheisaclassenemy,theyshouldretainallcivilandhumanrightsinsociety,eventhoughtheyofcoursewouldberestrainediftheyledacounter-revolution;thedifferenceiswewanttodefeatthemideologically,notmilitarilyorbyconsigningthemtoaso-calledreeducationcamportobeshotliketheBolsheviksdidwhenassumingpowerinRussiain1917.
TherearetwomajorreasonswhyactivistsintheBlackcommunityaswemovetochangesociety,itsvaluesandconditions,mustimmediatelytakeaseriouslookandacttochangethepoliticaldebatearoundcrime,prisonsandtheso-calledcriminaljusticesystem.Thosetworeasonshitrighthome!Oneisbecauseduringanygivenyear,oneoutoffourBlackmeninthiscountryisinprison,injailonparole,orprobation,comparedtojustoneofeveryfifteenwhitemen.InfactBlacksmakeup50-85percentofmostprisonpopulationsaroundtheU.S.,makingatruismoftheradicalphraseologythat“PrisonsareconcentrationcampfortheBlackandpoor.”Itmaybeyourbrother,sister,husband,wife,daughterorsoninprison,butIguaranteeyouweallknowsomeoneinprisonatthisveryminute!TheotherprimaryreasonBlackshaveavestedinterestincrimeandpenalinstitutionsisbecausebyfar,mostBlacksandothernon-whitesareinprisonforcom
mittingoffensesagainsttheirowncommunity.
PrisonsarecompactduplicatesoftheBlackcommunity,inthatmanyofthesamenegativeanddestructiveelementsthatareallowedtoexistinourcommunityandcausecrime,especiallydrugs,areinpoisoninamoreblatantandconcentratedformTocallsuchplaces`correctional”or“rehabilitative”institutionsisagrossmisnomer.Deathcampsaremorelikeit.Theseprisonsdonotexisttopunisheveryoneequally,buttoprotecttheexistingCapitalistsystemfromyouandI,thepoorandworkingclass.
Thehighrateorrecidivismproves,andtheso-calledauthoritiesallagree,thattheprisonsystemisatotalfailure.About70percentofthoseenteringprisonarerepeatoffenderswhocommitincreasinglyseriouscrimes.Thebrutalityor
prisonexperienceandthe“ex-con”stigmawhentheyarefinallyreleasedmakethemworse.Basictosolvingthesecrucialproblemsisorganization.TheBlackcommunityandtheBlackLiberationmovementmustsupporttheprisonersintheirfightforprisonershumanrightsTheyshouldfightfarthereleaseofpoliticalprisonersandvictimsofracialinjustice.TheyshouldalsoformcoalitionsofgroupsintheBlackcommunitytofightagainsttheracistpenalandjudicialsystem,andespeciallytheunequalapplicationofthedeathpenalty,whichisjustanotherformofgenocideagainsttheBlackrace.Andfinally,andmaybemostimportantly,localcommunitygroupsmustbeginprogramsofre-educationwithbrothersandsistersinprisonbecauseonlythroughplanned,regular,andconstantcontactcanwebegintoresolvethisproblemthatsodirectlytouchesourlives.Abolishprisons.TheDrugEpidemic:ANewFormofBlackGenocide?
Oneoftheworstformsofcriminalityisdrugdealing,anditdeservessameseparatecommentsallitsown.ThereisanegativedrugsubcultureintheBlackcommunitythatglorifies,oratleastmakesacceptable,druguse,eventhoughitiskillingusanddestroyingourcommunity.Infact,everydaywereadofsomejunkieinourcommunitiesdyingoveranoverdoseofdrugs,orofsomestreetcornerdrugdealerdyingfromashootoutoveradisputeortip-offduringadrugdeal“gonesour.”Thetragedyofthelatteristhat,thesedays,innocentvictims—childrenorelderlypeople—havealsobeengunneddowninthecrossfire.Thedrugaddict(thenewtermseemstobe“crack-head”)isanothertragicfigure;hewasahumanbei
8/2/2019 Anarchism and the Black Revolution
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/anarchism-and-the-black-revolution 31/60
ngjustlikeanyoneelse,butbecauseofhisoppressedsocialenvironment,soughtdrugstoeasethepainortoescapetemporarilyfromthe“concretejungles”weareforcedliveintheurbanghettosofAmerica.
Withtheintroductionofcrack,amorepowerfulderivativeofcocaine,whichmadeitsappearanceinthe1980s,evenmoreproblemsandtragediesofthissorthaddeveloped—moreaddicts,morestreetgangkillings,andmoredeteriorationofourcommunity.Inthemajorurbanareastherehavealmostalwaysbeendruguses,whatisnewisthedepthofgeographicalpenetrationofcracktoBlackcommunitiesinallareasofthecountry.Butthespreadofcrackisjustafollow-uptomassivegovernmentdrugpeddlingthatbeganattheendofthedecadeofthe1960s.ThewhiteHouseisthe“rockhouse,”meaningtheU.S.politicaladministrationisbehindthewholedrugtrade.TheU.S.governmenthasactuallybeensmugglingdrugsintothiscountryformanyyearsaboardCIAandmilitaryplanestouseasachemicalwarfareweaponagainstBlackAmerica.Thesedrugsweremostlyheroinimportedfromtheso-called“GoldenTriangle”ofSoutheastAsiaduringtheVietnamWar.Butwiththeintroductionofcrackcocaine,therewasnoneedtoimportdrugsintothecountryatthesameextentasbefore,becauseitcouldbechemicallypreparedinamainlandlab,andthendistributedimmediately.Crackcreatedawholenewgenerationofdrugclientsandcustomersforthedrugdealers;itwascheapandhighlyaddictive.
Crackandotherdrugsareahugesourceofprofitsforthegovernment,anditkeepstheBlackcommunitypassiveandpoliticallyindifferent.Thatisthemainre
asonwhywecannotdependuponthepoliceforceandorthegovernmenttostopthedrugtrafficorhelpthevictimshookedondrugs.Theyarepushingthedrugstobeatusdown,ontheonehand,buttheStateisalsomademorepowerfulbecauseofthephony“warondrugs”whichallowspolicestatemeasuresinBlackandoppressedcommunities,andbecauseofmillionsofdollarsingovernmentmonetaryappropriationsmadeof“lawenforcement”agencies,whosupposedlyareputtingdownthetrafficindrugs.Buttheynevergoafterthebankersorthebigbusinesspharmaceuticalcompanieswhofundthedrugtrade,justthestreetleveldealers,whoareusuallypoorBlacks.
Unemploymentisanotherreasonthatdrugtraffickingissoprevalentinourcommunities.Poorpeoplewilldesperatelylookforanythingtomakemoneywith,eventheverydrugsthataredestroyingoutcommunities.Butifpeoplehavenojobs
orincome,drugslookverylucrativeandthebestwayoutofthesituation.Infact,thedrugeconomyhasbecometheonlyincomeinmanypoorBlackcommunities,andtheonlythingthatsomepeopleperceivewillliftthemoutoflivesofdesperatepoverty.Clearly,decentjobsataunionwagearepartoftheanswertoendingdrugtraffickinginourcommunity,ratherthanadependenceonpolice,courtsandtheState.Thecopsarenotourfriendsorally,andmustbeexposedfortheirpartinprotectingthetrade,ratherthansuppressingit.
Onlythecommunitycanstopdrugtrafficking,anditisourresponsibilityhoweveryoulookatit.Afterall,thosejunkiesareourbrothersandsisters,mothersandfathers,neighborsandfriends;theyarenostrangers.Wemustorganizetosavetheirlivesandthelifeofourcommunity.Wemustestablishanti-dopeprogramsinBlackcommunitiesalloverthecountry.Wemustexposeandcounterthe
government’sroleaspusherofdope,alongwiththatofthepoliceasprotectorofthedrugtrade.Butalsowemustbepreparedtohelpthedrugvictimswithstreetcounseling,streetclinics(wheretheycabclean-upandlearnatradeandthesociopoliticalreasonsfordruguse),propagandaagainstdruguse,andotheractivities.
Junkiesarethevictimsofthedrugsociety,whichthinksitscooltousedrugs.Childrenaresomeofthebiggestvictimsofdrugdealing,whentheyaretrickedorforced(byeconomicnecessity)intousingorsellingit.Theusersanddealersbotharevictims,butthedealersaresomethingelsethanentirelyinnocentE
8/2/2019 Anarchism and the Black Revolution
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/anarchism-and-the-black-revolution 32/60
venthoughthatBlackonthecornersellingdopebagsisavictimhimselfoftheeconomicandpoliticalsystemwhichmakeshimdoit,dopedealersareacorrupt,dangerousbreedwhomustbestoppedManypeoplehavebeenkilledorseriouslyinjuredfornaivelytryingtoopposedopedealers,andmakethemleavetheirneighborhoods.Therefore,whereasthepolicywithjunkieswouldbemorebenevolentandunderstanding,withdopedealerswemustbecautious,andevenruthlesswhenitiscalledfor.Weneedtotrytowinthemoverfirstwithaneconomicandpoliticalprogramtodrawthemawayfromthe(hugtrade,butmanyofthedealersaresoviolenceprone,especiallythe“bigshots”(whoarealsoprotectedbythecops)theymustbeopposedbybothmilitaryandpoliticalmeans.
Wearenotadvocatingthesummarymurderofpeople,butwearesayingifittakesdeathtobringaboutachangeinthecommunity,sobeit!Theissueofdeathisessentiallyanissueofwhoisdoingthedying.Itcanbedirectandexercisedagainstthedeathmerchant,oritcanbeindirectandexercisedagainstouryouth—ifweletit.Tobeawareofadangeroussituationandnotmovetochangeitistobeasresponsibleforthatdangeroussituationasthosewhocreateditinthefirstplace.
Listen,Idon’twanttosimplifythisproblembysayingthatjustkillafewstreet-leveldealersandthatwillendit.Noitwon’t,andwedon’twanttodothatanyway!Theyarejustpoorpeopletryingtosurvivethissystem,justpawnsinthedruggamewhoselivesdon’tmattertothebigCapitalistsorgovernment.Whentheysaysothesestreetleveldealerswillbekilledorimprisoned,butthedrugped
dlingsystemwillgoon.Thisisasociopoliticalproblem,whichcanbestbeaddressedbygrassrootsorganizations.Butit’sthecorporateandindustrialbackersofthedrugtrade(notjustthecomerdealer)thatnotonlymustnotonlybeexposed,butmustbemovedon.Inadditiontoeducational,agitationandotheraction,theremustbemilitaryactionbyrevolutionarycells.
Theundergroundactionswhichweareaskingpeopletomoveancanbecarriedoutbyarelativelysmallgroupofdedicatedpeople,arevolutionarycellofarmedfighters,whohavebeentrainedinguerillatacticsButeventhesesmallgroupsofpeoplemusthavethesupportoftheneighborhoodsinordertofunction,otherwisepeoplewillnotknowitfromanotherviolentgang.Oncethissocialcohesivenessexistsamongthecommunity,thenwecanbegintoputthisproposalintoactionagainstthemostviolent,high-leveldrugdealers.Weareaddressingoursel
vestowhatcanbemoreorlessbeconsideredtobeguidelinesfordealingwiththeproblemonaneighborhoodorcommunity-widelevelthenatanationallevel:
Setupdrugeducationclassesinthecommunity,fortheyouthespecially,toexposethenatureofthedrugtrade,whoithurts,andhowthegovernment,banks,andpharmaceuticalcompaniesarebehinditall.
Exposureofthedeathmerchantsandtheirpoliceprotectors.(Photos,posters,fliers,newsletters,etc.)
Harassmentofthedealers;i.e.,threateningphonecalls,knockingthedrug“product,”havecitizensmarchinginsidetheir“placeofbusiness,”andothertactics.
Setupdrugrehabilitationclinicssothatjunkiescanbetreated,canstudythenatureoftheiroppression,andcanbewanovertorevolutionarypolitics.Wemustwinpeopleawayfromdruguseandtotherevolution.
Physicaleliminationofthedealer;intimidationdrivinghimoutaneighborhoodoroutoftown,beatings,andassassination,wherenecessary.
Dopeisdeath!Wemustfightdopeaddictionbyanymeansnecessary!Doallyoucantohelpyourpeopleintheanti-dopewar!AfricanIntercommunalism
8/2/2019 Anarchism and the Black Revolution
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/anarchism-and-the-black-revolution 33/60
TheAnarchistidealsleadlogicallytointernationalismormorepreciselytrans-nationalism,whichmeansbeyondthenation-state.Anarchistsforeseeatimewhenthenation-statewillceasetohaveanypositivevalueatallformostpeople,andwillinfactbejunked.Butthattimeisnotyethere,anduntilitis,wemustorganizeforintercommunalism,orworldrelationsbetweenAfricanpeopleandtheirrevolutionarysocialmovements,insteadoftheirgovernmentsandheadsofstate.
TheBlackPantherPartyfirstputforwardtheconceptofintercommunalisminthe1960sand,althoughslightlydifferent,isverymuchalibertarianconceptatitscore.(Thisusedtobecalled“PanAfricanism,”butincludedmainly“revolutionary”overnmentsandcolonialorindependencemovementsasallies).Becauseofthelegacyofslaveryandcontinuingeconomicneocolonialism,whichhasdispersedBlackstoeverycontinent,itisfeasibletospeakofBlackinternationalrevolutionarysolidarity.
HereishowAnarchistsseetheworld:theworldispresentlyorganizedintocompetingnation-states,whichthoughtheCapitalistWesternnationshavebeenresponsibleformostoftheworld’sfamine,imperialismandexploitationofthenon-whitepeoplesoftheearth.Infact,allstatesareinstrumentsofoppression.Eventhoughtherearegovernmentsthatclaimtobe“workersstates,”“Socialistcountries”rso-called“Revolutionarygovernments,”inessencetheyallhavethesamefunction:dictatorshipandoppressionofthemanyoverthefew.Thebankruptcyofthesta
teisfurtherprovenwhenonelooksatthemillionsofdeadovertwoworldwars,sparkedbyEuropeanImperialism,(1914-198and1939-1945),andhundredsof“brushwars”incitedbythesuperpowersoftheWestorRussiainthe1950sandcontinuingtothisday.Thisincludes“workers’states”likeChina-Russia,Vietnam-China,Vietnam-Cambodia.Somalia-Ethiopia,Russia-Czechoslovakiaandotherswhohavegonetowaroverborderdisputes,politicalintrigue,invasionorotherhostileaction.Aslongastherearenation-states,therewillbewar,tensionandnationalenmity.
Infact,thesadpartaboutthedecolonizationofAfricainthe1960swasthatthecountrieswereorganizedintotheEurocentricidealofthenation-state,insteadofsomesortofotherformationmoreapplicabletothecontinent,suchasacontinentalfederation.This,ofcourse,wasareflectionofthefactthataltho
ughtheAfricanswereobtaining“flagindependence”andallthetrappingsofthesovereignEuropeanstate,theyinfedwerenotobtainingfreedom.TheEuropeansstillcontrolledtheeconomiesoftheAfricancontinent,andthenationalistleaderswhocametotheforewereforthemastpartthemostpliableandconservativepossible.TirecountriesofAfricawerelikeadogwithaleasharounditsneck;althoughtheEuropeanscouldnotlongerrulesthecontinentdirectlythoroughcolonialrule,itnowdidsothroughpuppetsitcontrolledanddefended,likeMobutuintheCongo,SelassieinEthiopia,andKenyattainKenya.ManyofthesemenweredictatorsoftheworstsortandtheirregimesexistedstrictlybecauseofEuropeanfinancecapitalInaddition,therewerewhitesettlercommunitiesinthePortuguesecolonies,SouthAfrica,andZimbabwe,whooppressedtheAfricanpeoplesevenworsethantheoldcolonialsystem.Thisiswhythenationalliberationmovementsmadetheirappearancesinthe1960sand70s.
Anarchistssupportnationalliberationmovementstothedegreethattheystruggleagainstacolonialorimperialistpower;butalsonotethatinalmosteveryinstancewheresuchliberationfrontshaveassumedstatepower,theyhavebecome“StateCommunist”partiesandnewdictatorsoverthemassesofthepeople.Theseincludesamewhohadengagedinthemastepicstruggles,butalsoincludemanybasedonthemostobviousmilitarydictatorshipfromthestart.TheyarenotprogressiveandtheytoleratenodissentForinstance,nosoonerhadtheMPLAgovernmentbeeninpowerinAngola,thanitbegantoarrestallitsleft-wingideologicalopponents(Maoists,Trotskyites,Anarchists,andothers)andtoforciblytoquel
8/2/2019 Anarchism and the Black Revolution
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/anarchism-and-the-black-revolution 34/60
lstrikesbyworkersforhigherpayandbetterworkingconditions,callingsuchjobactions“blackmail”and`economicsabotage.”AndwiththeNitoAlvesaffairandhisallegedcoupattempt,(Alveswasaherooftherevolutionandapopularmilitaryleader),therewasthefirstpartypurgeofopponentsinthenewgovernment.SomethingsimilartothisalsotookplacewhentheSandinistaNationalLiberationmovementtookoverinNicaraguainthe1980s.NoneofthisshouldseemstrangeoruncharacteristictoAnarchists,whenweconsiderthattheBolshevikpartydidthesamethingwhenitconsolidatedstatepowerduringtheRussianRevolution(1917-1921).
CountriessuchasBenin,Ethiopia,thePeople’sRepublicoftheCongoandother“revolutionary”governmentsinAfrica,arenotinpowerastheresultofapopularsocialrevolution,butratherbecauseofamilitarycouporbeinginstalledbyoneofthemajorworldpowersFurther;manyofthenationalliberationmovementswerenotindependentsocialmovements,butwereratherundertheinfluenceorcontrolofRussiaorChinaaspartoftheirgeopoliticalstruggleagainstWesternimperialismandeachother.Thisisnottosaythatrevolutionarymovementsshouldnotacceptweaponsandothermaterialsupportfromanoutsidepower,aslongastheyremainindependentpoliticallyanddeterminetheirownpolicies,withoutsuchaidbeingconditionalonthepoliticaldictatesandthe“partyline”ofanothercountry.
Buteventhoughwemaydifferwiththempoliticallyandtacticallyinmanyareas,andevenwithalltheirflawsafterassumingStatepower,therevolutionaryli
berationfightersareourcomradesandalliesincommonstruggleagainstthecommonenemy—theU.S.imperialistrulingclass,whilethefightgoeson.TheirstrugglereleasesthedeathgripofU.S.andwesternimperialismorasAnarchistsmorepreciselycallitCapitalistworldpower),andwhilethefightgoesonweareboundtogetherincomradeshipandsolidarity.YetwestillcannotoverlookatrocitiescommittedbymovementsliketheKhmerRouge,aMarxist-LeninistguerillamovementinCambodia,whichjustmassacredmillionsofpeopletocarryoutrigidStalinistpoliticalpoliciesandtoconsolidatethecountry.WemustlaythisbutcheryandothercrimescommittedbyStateCommunismbateforalltosee.Wedonotfavorthiskindofrevolution,whichisjustsheerpowerseekingandterrorismagainstthepeople.ThisiswhyAnarchismhasalwaysdisagreedwithhowtheBolsheviksseizedpowerinSovietRussia;andStalin’sbutcheryoftheRussianpeopleseemstohavesetamodelfortheStateCommunistmovementstofollowovert
heyears.
Thenationalliberationfrontsmakeonebasicmistakeofmanynationalistmovementsofoppressedpeoples,andthatistoorganizeinafashionthatclassdistinctionsareobliteratedThishappenedinAmerica,whereinthefightfordemocraticrights,thecivilrightsmovementincludedBlackmiddleclasspreachers,teachersandothers,andeveryBlackpersonswasa“brother”or”sister,”aslongastheywreBlack.Butthissimplisticanalysisandsocialrealitydidnotholdforlong,becausewhentheCivilrightsphaseoftheAmericanBlackstrugglehadspentitself,classdistinctionsandclassstrugglecametothefore.Theyhavebeengettingsharpereversince.AlthoughthemareBlackmayorsandotherbureaucrats,theymerelyserveaspacificationagentsoftheState,“Blackfacesinhighplaces.”Thisneocolonialsystemissimilartothetypeofneocolonialismwhichtookplac
einthe3rdWorld,aftermanycountrieshadobtainedtheir“independence”inthe1960s.Europestillmaintainedcontrolthroughpuppetpoliticiansandacommandofpettybourgeoisclass,whowerewillingtobarterthefreedomofthepeopleforpersonalgains.Thesepeoplemerelypresideoverthemiseryofthemasses.Theyarenotaseriousconcessiontoourstruggle.Theyareputinofficetoco-optthestruggleanddeadenthepeopletotheirpain.
SowhileBlackrevolutionariesgenerallyfavortheideasofAfricanintercommunalism,theywantprincipledrevolutionaryunity.Ofcourse,thegreatestservicewecanrenderthepeoplesoftheso-called“ThirdWorld”ofAfrica,AsiaandLatinA
8/2/2019 Anarchism and the Black Revolution
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/anarchism-and-the-black-revolution 35/60
merica,istomakearevolutionheminNorthAmerica—inthebellyofthebeast.Forinfreeingourselves,wegettheU.S.imperialistrulingclassoffbothoutbacks.WewishtobuildaninternationalBlackorganizationagainstCapitalism,racism,colonialism,imperialism,andmilitarydictatorship,whichcouldmoreeffectivelyfighttheCapitalistpowersandcreateaworldfederationofBlackpeoples.WewanttouniteabrotherorsisterinNorthAmericawiththeBlackpeoplesofAustraliaandOceania,Africa,theCaribbeanandSouthAmerica,Asia,theMiddleEast,andthosemillionsofourpeopleLivinginBritainandotherWesternEuropeancountries.Wewanttounitetribes,nationsandBlackculturesintoaninternationalbodyofgrassrootsandstrugglingforces.
Allovertheworld,Blackpeoplearebeingoppressedbytheirnationalgovernments.SomearecolonialsubjectsinEuropeancountries,andoneoranotheroftheAfricanStatesexploitssome.OnlyaSocialrevolutionwillleadtoBlackunityandfreedom.HoweverthiswillonlybepossiblewhenthereexistsaninternationalBlackrevolutionaryorganizationandsocialmovement.AnorganizationwhichcancoordinatetheresistancestruggleseverywhereofAfricanpeoples;actuallyanetworkofsuchorganizations,resistancemovements,whicharespreadallovertheworldbasedonaconsensusforrevolutionarystruggle.Thisconceptacceptsanylevelofviolencethatwillbenecessarytoenforcethedemandsofthepeopleandworkers.InthosecountrieswhereanopenBlackrevolutionarymovementwouldbesubjectedtofiercerepressionbythestate,suchasinSouthAfricaandinsameBlackpuppetdictatorshipsinotherpartsofAfrica,theCaribbean,andAsia,itwouldbenecessarytowageanundergroundresistancestruggle.Further,
thestatehasgrownmoreandmoreviolent,withwidespreadtortureandexecutions,prisonsandmaximumpolicecontrols,spyinganddeprivationofdemocraticrights,policebrutalityandmurder.Clearlysuchgovernments—andallgovernments—mustbeoverthrown.Theywillnotfallduetointernaleconomicorpoliticalproblems,butmustbedefeatedanddismantled.SowecallforaninternationalresistancemovementtooverthrowgovernmentsandthesystemofCapitalistworldgovernment.
ButevenintheWesternimperialistcountries,wemustrecognizethelegitimacyofrevolutionaryviolence.Whensuchformsofrevolutionaryactionarerequired,however,acleardifferenceshouldbeseenamongrevolutionariesbetweensimpleterrorismwithoutpopularsupportandcoherentpoliticalprogramandguerillawarfarearisingoutofthecollectivelyfeltfrustrationsofthecommonpeoplean
dworkers.TheuseofmilitarymethodswouldbenecessaryinacasewheretheviolenceofthestatemadeitimperativeforBlackrevolutionariestodefendthemselvesbytakingthearmedoffensiveagainstthestateandtherulingclass,andtoexpropriatethewealthoftheCapitalistclassduringtheSocialrevolution.
TheBlackliberationmovementneedsanorganizationcapableofinternationalcoordinationoftheBlackliberationstruggle,aworldfederationofAfricanpeoples.AlthoughthiswouldnotjustbeanAnarchistmovementafederationlikethiswouldbemadeeffectivethananygroupofstates,whethertheUnitedNationortheOrganizationofAfricanUnity,infreeingtheBlackmasses.Itwouldinvolvethemassesofpeoplethemselves,notjustnationalleadersornationstates.Themilitarydictatorsandgovernmentbureaucratshaveonlyproventhattheyknowhowtospendmoneyonpompandcircumstance,butnothowtodismantlethelastve
stigesofcolonialisminSouthAfricaordefeatWesternneocolonialistintrigues.AfricaisstillthepoorestoftheWorld’scontinents,whilemateriallytherichest.Thecontrastisclear:millionsofpeoplearestarvinginmuchofEquatorialAfrica,butthetribalchiefs,politiciansandmilitarydictators,aredrivingaroundinMercedesandlivinginluxuryvillas,whiletheydothebiddingofWestEuropeanandAmericanbankersthroughtheInternationalMonetaryFund.Theyarepartoftheproblem,notpartofthesolution!
OurideasabouttheimportanceofintercommunalismambasedanafirmbeliefthatonlyafederationoffreepeopleswillbringtrueBlackpowertothemasses“Pow
8/2/2019 Anarchism and the Black Revolution
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/anarchism-and-the-black-revolution 36/60
ertothepeople”doesnotmeanagovernmentorpoliticalpartytoruleintheirname,butsocialandpoliticalpowerinthehandsofthepeoplethemselves.Theonlyreal“people’spower”isthepowertomaketheirdecisionsonmattersofimportance,andtomerelyelectsomeoneelsetodoso,ortohaveadictatorshipforceddowntheirthroats.Truefreedomistohavefullself-determinationaboutone’ssocialeconomicandculturaldevelopment.ThefutureisAnarchistCommunism,notthenation-state,bloodydictators,Capitalismorwageslavery.ArmedDefenseoftheBlackCommune
“Ourinsistenceonmilitaryaction,defensiveandretaliatory,hasnothingtodowithromanticismorprecipitousidealistfervor.Wewanttobeeffective.Wewanttolive.Ourhistoryteachesusthatthesuccessfulliberationstrugglesrequireanarmedpeople,awholepeople,activelyparticipatinginthestrugglefortheirliberty!”
—GeorgeJackson,quotedinBloodinmyEye
Wemustorganizeself-defenseunitstoprotecttheBlackcommunityanditsorganizations.ItisthepoliceandthegovernmentwhoarethemainperpetratorsofviolenceagainstBlackpeople.Everydaywereadofthepolicemurderingandmaimingthepeopleinourcommunity,allinthenameof“lawandorder.”Thispolicebrutalityhasincludedtheuseofdeadlyforceagainstchildrenasyoungasfiveyearsoldandelderlypersonsover75yearsold!Wemustdisarmanddemilitarizethepolice,andforcethemtoleaveourcommunity.Perhapsthiscanbedoneafter
arebellionorinsurrectiondrivesthemout,orperhapstheywillhavetobedrivenoutbyastreetguerillaforce,liketheBlackLiberationArmytriedtodointhe1970s.Ihavenowayofknowing.Ijustknowthattheyhavetogo.Theyareanoppressiveoccupyingarmy,arenotofourcommunity,cannotunderstanditsproblems,anddonotidentifywithitspeopleandtheirneeds.Further,itisthecorruptionofthecopsthatprotectsorganizedcrimeandviceinourcommunity,andCapitalismwithitsexploitativeeconomicconditionswhichisresponsibleforallcrime.
ExistingpoliceforcesshouldbereplacedwiththeBlackcommunity’sownself-defenseforce,madeupofmembersofourcommunityelectedorappointedbytheirneighborstothatposition,orfromanexistingstreetguerillaforceorpoliticalorganizationifthepeopleagree.Theywouldbesubjecttoimmediaterecalland
dismissalbytheCommunityControlboardsofanarea.Thisisonlysothatwewillhavecommunitycontroloftheself-defensefarce,begintodealwithfratricidalBlack-on-Blackcrime,andbeabletodefendourselvesfromwhiteracistorpoliceattacks.Withtheincreaseofwhiteracistviolencetoday,andthepossibilityofwhitemobactioninthefuture,usuallyinthenameof“lawandorder,”thiscommunityself-defenseforceismostimportant.Theonlyquestionis:canwedothisnow?
Weexistnowunderconditionsofnominallegalityandcivilrights,butatsomestageintheprocessofbuildingupourfarces,hisinevitablethatthewhitepowerstructurewillrecognizethedangertoitselfrepresentedbysuchafreeBlackcommune,andwillthentrytoforciblyrepressit.Wemusthavetheself-defensecapabilitytoresist.Thisconceptoforganizingaself-defenseforceaccept
sanylevelofviolencethatwillbenecessarytoenforcethedemandsofthepeopleandworkers.Yettheseself-defenseforceswouldnota`partyvanguard,”apoliceforce,orevenastandingarmyintheStatistorusuallythoughtofsense;theywouldbeaBlackPeoples’militia,self-managedbytheworkersandcommunityitself:inotherwords,thepeople-in-arms.Thesemilitiaorganizationswillallowustoengageinoffensiveordefensiveactions,eitheringeneralcommunitydefense,oraspartofaninsurrectionorundergroundresistance.
Butwhatdowedorightnowinconditionsoflegality,toreclaimourcommunityfromviolentracistcops?Dowesitaroundanddebatetheappropriatenessofmil
8/2/2019 Anarchism and the Black Revolution
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/anarchism-and-the-black-revolution 37/60
itarypreparation,whentheenemyisourcommunitynow,committingrapeandmurderofBlackpeopleordowehitback?Howdoweevengettheideaacrosstoourpeopleandstarttotrainthemforparamilitaryoperations?Onamassscale,Iadvocatetheimmediateformationofdefenseandsurvivalskillsstudygroups,undertheguiseofgunclubs,martialartssocieties,wildernesssurvivalclubsorwhateverweneedtocallthem.Athoroughunderstandingofmarksmanship,ammunitionfabrication,demolitionandweaponmanufacturingisminimalforeveryone.Inaddition,weshouldstudyfirstaidpertainingtotherathertraumaticinjuriessustainedfromgunfireandexplosives,combatcommunications,combatweapons,combattacticsforthesmallgroup,combatstrategyfortheregionornation,combatintelligenceofpoliceandmilitaryactivitiesamongothersubjects.Thesesubjectsareindispensableifamliveundergroundorduringageneralinsurrection.
Weshouldputemphasisonthepurchase,collection,duplicationanddisseminationofmilitarymanuals,gunsmithingtextbooks,explosiveandimproviseddemolitionsmanuals,policeandgovernmenttechnicalmanuals,andpiratededitionsofright-wingmanualsonthesubject(sincetheyseemtowritethebestmaterialinthisarea),andalsobeginthestudyofhowtobuildintelligencenetworkstocollectinformationontherapidlygrowingSkinheadandothertotalitarianracistorganizations,alongwithintelligenceandcounter-intelligenceinformationonthegovernmentsecretpoliceandlawenforcementagencies,liketheFBI,CIA,ATF,etc.,andonanyandeveryothersubjectwhichcouldbeofusetousinthecomingstruggle.
EventhoughintheUnitedStates,developmentofmilitaryskillsandselfdefenseissimplerthanmanyothercountriesbecausearmsandammunitionarewidelyavailable,itislogicaltoassumethatthearmssituationwillsoonbesotightsoastomakefirearmsvirtuallyunobtainable,exceptthroughanexpensiveBlackmarketbecauseofthegovernment’s“warandrugs”andotherproposedguncontrollegislationtopreventstreetviolence,”orsotheysay(Doyouthinkthesportinggoodsstoreswillbeopenduringaninsurrection?)Thereforeweshouldlearntousemachinetooltechnologytoproduceourownweapons.Perfectlyadequatefirearmsmaybeproducedusingaminimumofmachineteals,providingtheindividualorgroupiswillingtodothenecessarystudyingandpreparation.Itisnotenoughtoknowalittleaboutthesesubjects;itisamatteroffuturesurvival—oflifeanddeaththatonebehighlyproficient.
Iamnotadvocatingtheimmediatewagingofurbanguerillawarfare,especiallywherethereisnomassbaseforsuchactivities.WhatIamadvocatingatthisstageisarmedself-defenseandtheknowledgeoftacticstoresistmilitaryaggressionagainsttheBlackcommunity.ItisafoolishandunfortunatetraitamongAnarchists,thewhiteleftandsectionsoftheBlackmovementtocondemnthestudyofmilitarytacticsasprematureoradventuristic,orantheotherhand,tocastoneselfintoablindfuryofbankexpropriations,kidnappings,bombingsorplanehijackings.Toomanypeopleinthemovementhaveadeathtripapproachtoguns—theyassumeifyouarenot“foolingaround,”thenyoushouldproveyourconvictionsviaasuicidalshootoutinthestreets.Itdoesn’thavetobethatway.
ButtheBlackmovementdoesn’tevenhavetheluxuryofsuchtepiddebates,andmus
thaveanarmeddefensepolicybecauseAmericahasalongtraditionofgovernmentpoliticalrepressionandvigilanteparamilitaryviolence.AlthoughsuchattackshavebeendirectedprimarilyatBlacksandotheroppressednationalitiesinthepast,theyhavealsobeendirectedatlaborunionsanddissidentpoliticalgroups.Suchviolencemakesitabsolutelynecessarytoacquirefamiliaritywithfirearmsandmilitarytactics.Infact,theBlackResistancemovementthatIspokeofearliershouldthinkofitselfasaparamilitarymovement,ratherthanastrictpoliticalassociation.
Wemustassertourrightstoarmedself-defenseandrevolution,eventhoughiti
8/2/2019 Anarchism and the Black Revolution
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/anarchism-and-the-black-revolution 38/60
struethatthereisalotofloosetalkaboutguns,selfdefense,revolution,“urbanguerillawarfare,”etc.,intheBlackandradicalmovements,butwithverylittlestudyandpracticeinhandlingandusingweapons.Someofthesamefolksthink“pickingupthegun”meansthatyoupickoneupforthefirsttimeonthedayofaninsurrectionorconfrontationwithpolice.Thisisnonsenseandisthereal“revolutionarysuicide,”youcouldgetlednotknowingwhatyouaredoing.Butmanyinstancesattesttothefactthatarmedcommunityselfdefensecanbecarriedoutsuccessfully,suchastheMOVEresistanceinPhiladelphia,theRepublicofNewAfricaarmedresistanceinDetroitandMississippiandtheBlackPanthercases.Evenasimportantastheactofdefenseitselfis,isthefactthattheseinstancesofsuccessfulself-defensehavemadeatremendousimpactontheBlackcommunity,encouragingotheractsofresistance.Insurrection
Butwhatisarebellionandhowdoesitdifferfromaninsurrection?Aninsurrectionisageneraluprisingagainstthepowerstructure.Itisusuallyasustainedrebellionoverthecourseofdays,weeks,monthsorevenyears.Itisatypeofclasswarthatinvolvesawholepopulationinanactofarmedorsemi-armedresistance.Sometimesmistakenlycalledarebellion,itscharacterisfarmorecombativeandrevolutionary.Rebellionsarealmosttotallyspontaneous,short-termaffairs.Aninsurrectionisalsonottherevolution,sincerevolutionisasocialprocess,ratherthanasingleevent,butitcanbeanimportantpartoftherevolution,maybeitsfinalphase.AninsurrectionisaplannedviolentprotestcampaignwhichtakesthespontaneousrevoltofthemassestoahigherlevelRevolu
tionariesintervenetopushrebellionstoinsurrectionarystage,andtheinsurrectionantoasocialrevolution.Itisnotsmall,isolatedpocketsofurbanguerillastakingactions,unlessthoseguerillasarepartofalargerrevolt.
Theimportanceofrecognizingthetruedifferencesofeachlevelcandefineourstrategyandtacticsatthatstage,andnotleadusprematurelyintoafulloffensive,whentheenemyisnotyetweakenedenoughbymassactionorpoliticalattacks.TheimportanceofalsorecognizingthetruecausesoftherevoltcannotbeunderstatedAnarchistrevolutionariesinterveneinsuchstrugglestoshowpeoplehowtoresistandthepossibilitiesofwinningfreedom.Wewanttotakethepeople’srebellionsagainstthestateandusethemtoweakentheruleofCapitalWewanttocreateresistanceonalongertermandtowinliberatedzonesTodisconnectthesecommunitiesfromthestatemeansthattheserebellionswillassumeac
onsciouspoliticalcharacterlikethePalestinianIntifadaintheoccupiedterritoriescontrolledbyIsraelintheMiddleEast.CreatingthepossibilityofaBlackinsurrectionmeanspopularizingandspreadingthevariousrebellionstoothercities,townsandevencountries,andincreasingtheminnumberandfrequency.Italsomeansconsciouslynullifyingthepowerofthestate,insteadoftemporaryrevoltsagainstit,whichultimatelypreservesitspower.Theremustbeadeliberateattempttopushthegovernmentoutofexistence,andestablishPeople’sPower.ThishasnotyethappenedwiththevariousBlackrevoltswehaveseensince1964,whenthefirstsuchmodernrevolteruptedinHarlem,NY.
Inthe1960s,theBlackcommunitiesallovertheU.S.roseupangrilywithmassiverebellionsagainstthestatedemandingracialjustice.AftertheHarlemrevolt,forthenextfouryearsmajorrebellionsshooktheU.S.intheWattssection
ofLosAngeles,Detroit,Chicago,andhundredsofotherNorthAmericancities.Isolatedactsofpolicebrutality,racialdiscriminationsubstandardhousing,economicexploitation,“thehoodlumelement,”abreakdowninfamilyvalues,andahostofother“explanations”havebeenputforwardbyliberalandconservativesociologistandotherscommissionedbythestatetowhitewashthetruecauses.YetnoneoftheserevealedthisasaprotestagainsttheCapitalistsystemandcolonialrule,eventhoughthesocialscientists“warned”ofthepossibilityofanewoutbreakofviolence.
OnceagainintheSpring,1992,wesawamassiverevoltinLosAngeles,whoseim
8/2/2019 Anarchism and the Black Revolution
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/anarchism-and-the-black-revolution 39/60
mediatecauseswererelatedtotheoutrageousacquittalof1AngelespolicemenwhohadbrutallybeatenRodneyKing.Butthereagainthiswasjustanimmediatecauseactingasatrigger;thisrevoltwasnotasympathyrevoltonbehalfofRodneyKingpersonally.ThecauseofthisrebellionwaswidespreadsocialinequalityintheCapitalistsystemandpoliceterrorism.Thistimetherebellionspreadto40citiesandfourforeigncountries.Anditwasnotjustaso-called“raceriot,”butratheraclassrevoltthatincludedalargenumberofLatinos,whitesandevenAsians.Butitwasundeniablyarevoltforracialinjusticefirstandforemost,evenifitwasnotjustdirectedagainstwhitepeopleingeneralbuttheCapitalistsystemandtherich.ItwasnotlimitedtojusteventheinnercityintheLasAngelesareabutspreadeventowhiteuppercrustareasinHollywood,Ventura,andbeyondThiswasthebeginningstageofclasswarfare.
Ifanundergroundmilitaryforceexistedoramilitiawasassembled,itcouldhaveenteredthefiledofbattlewithmoreweaponryandadvancedtactics.Asitwasthegangsplayedthatrole,andplayeditverywell.Theirparticipationiswhyittooksolongtoputtherebelliondown,buteventheycouldnotpreventthereestablishmentofwhitepowerinSouthCentralLosAngeles.Notjustbecauseofbeingmilitarilyoutgunned,butbecausetheyhadnorevolutionarypoliticalprogramdespitealltheirrhetoricofhavingbeenradicalizedAlsothestatecamedownextremelyhardontherebels.Over20,000personswerejailed,50werekilledandhundredswounded.
Couldaliberatedzonehavebeenwon,sothatdualpowercouldhavebeenestabli
shed?ThatpossibilityexistedandstilldoesexistifthepeopleareproperlyarmedandeducatedMassresistancewithheavymilitaryweaponrymayhavewonseriousconcessions,oneofwhichistopullbackthecops.Wedon’tknowthat,thisispurelyspeculation.WedoknowthatthisisnotthelastrebellioninL.A.andothercities.Theymaycomemuchquickernowthatthegenieofurbanrevolutionofthebagagain.Wecanonlyhopeandprepare.Onwardtotheblackrevolution!Chapter3.AnarchistTheoryandPractice
ThemajoraimofthischapteristolistthemajorelementsofAnarchistthoughtandtogiveexamplesofwhatsomeAnarchiststhinkaboutthem.Unlikeotherstreamsofpoliticalthought,Anarchistsdonotelevatecertaintextsorindividualsaboveothers.TherearedifferenttypesofAnarchistswithmanypointsofdisagreement.TheprimaryareasofdebateamongAnarchistsrelatetowhatformofor
ganizationshouldbestruggledforandwhattacticsweshoulduse.Forinstance,someoftheirmostsignificantdifferencesconcerntheeconomicorganizationoffuturesociety.SomeAnarchistsrejectmoney,andsubstituteasystemoftradeinwhichworkisexchangedforgoodsandservices.OthersrejectallformsoftradeorbarterorprivateownershipasCapitalism,andfeelthatallmajorpropertyshouldbeownedincommon.
ThereareAnarchistswhobelieveinguerillawarfare,includingassassination,bombings,bankexpropriations,etc.,asonemeansofrevolutionaryattacksontheState.ButtherealsoareAnarchistswhobelievealmostexclusivelyinorganizational,labororcommunitywork.Thereisnosingletype,nordotheyallagreeonstrategyandtactics.Someareopposedtoviolence;someacceptitonlyinself-defenseorduringarevolutionaryinsurrection.
AnarchistsandAnarchismhavehistoricallybeenmisrepresentedtotheworld.ThepopularimpressionofanAnarchistasanuncontrollablyemotional,violentpersonwhoisonlyinterestedindestructionforitsownsake,andwhoisopposedtoallformsoforganization,stillpersiststothisday.Further,themistakenbeliefthatAnarchyischaosandconfusion,areignofrape,murderandmindless-totaldisorderandinsanityiswidelybelievedbythegeneralpublic.
Thisfalseimpressionprimarilyisstillwidelybelievedbecausepeoplefromacrossthepoliticalspectrumhaveconsciouslybeenpromotingthislieforyears.A
8/2/2019 Anarchism and the Black Revolution
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/anarchism-and-the-black-revolution 40/60
llwhostrivetooppressandexploittheworkingclass,andgainpowerfarthemselves,whethertheycomefromtherightortheleft,willalwaysbethreatenedbyAnarchism.ThisisbecauseAnarchistsholdthatallauthorityandcoercionmustbestruggledagainst.Infact,Anarchistswanttogetridofthegreatestperpetratorofviolencethroughouthistory:governments.ToAnarchists,aCapitalist“democratic”governmentisnobetterthanafascistorCommunistregime,becausetherulingclassonlydiffersintheamountofviolencetheyauthorizetheirpoliceandarmytouseandthedegreeofrightstheywillallow,ifany.Throughwar,policerepression,socialneglect,andpoliticalrepression.Governmentshavekilledmillionsofpersons,whethertryingtodefendoroverthrowagovernment.Anarchistswanttoendthisslaughter,andbuildasocietybasedonpeaceandfreedom.
WhatisAnarchism?AnarchismisfreeorLibertarianSocialism.Anarchistsareopposedtogovernment,thestateandCapitalism.Therefore,simplyspeaking,Anarchismisano-governmentformofSocialism.
IncommonwithallSocialists,theAnarchistsholdthattheprivateownershipofland,capitalandmachineryhashaditstime;thatitiscondemnedtodisappear,andthatallrequisitesforproductionmustandwill,becomethecommonpropertyofsociety,andbemanagedincommonbytheproducersofwealthPeterKropotkin,inhisAnarchist-Communism:ItsBasisandPrinciples.
Thoughthereareseveraldifferent“schools”ofAnarchistthough,revolutionaryAnar
chistorAnarchist-Communismisbasedupontheclassstruggle,butitdoesnottakeamechanistviewoftheclassstruggletakenbytheMarxist-Leninists.Forinstance,itdoesnottaketheviewthatonlytheindustrialproletariatcanachieveSocialism,andthatthevictoryofthisclass,ledbya“communistworkingclassparty”representthefinalvictoryoverCapitalism.Nordoweaccepttheideaofa“worker’sstate.”Anarchistsbelievethatonlythepeasants,workersandfarmerscanliberatethemselvesandthattheyshouldmanageindustrialandeconomicproductionthroughworkers’councils,factorycommittees,andfarmcooperatives,ratherthanwiththeinterferenceofapattyorgovernment.
Anarchistsaresocialrevolutionaries,andfeelthattheSocialrevolutionistheprocessthroughwhichafreesocietywillbecreated.Self-managementwillbeestablishedinallareasofsociallife,includingtherightofalloppressedra
cesofpeopletoself-determination.AsIhavestated,self-determinationistherighttoself-government.Bytheirowninitiative,individualswillimplementtheirownmanagementofsociallifethroughvoluntaryassociations.Theywillrefusetosurrendertheirself-directiontotheState,politicalparties,vanguardsectssinceeachofthesemerelyaidinestablishingorreestablishingdomination.Anarchistsbelievethestateandcapitalistauthoritywillbeabolishedbythemeansofdirectaction-wildcatstrikes,slowdowns,boycotts,sabotage,andarmedinsurrection.Werecognizeourgoalscannotbeseparatedfromthemeansusedtoachievethem.Henceourpracticeandtheassociationswecreatewillreflectthesocietyweseek.
Crucialattentionwillnecessarilybepaidtotheareaofeconomicorganization,sinceitisherethattheinterestsofeveryoneconverge,UnderCapitalismwea
llhavetosellourlabortosurviveandtofeedourfamiliesandourselves.ButafteranAnarchistsocialrevolution,thewagesystemandtheinstitutionofprivateandstatepropertywillbeabolishedandreplacedwiththeproductionanddistributionofgoodsaccordingtothecommunistprincipleof:“Fromeachaccordingtoability,toeachaccordingtoneed.”Voluntaryassociationsofproducersandconsumerswilltakecommonpossessionofthemeansofproductionandallowthefreeuseofallresourcestoanyvoluntarygroup,providedthatsuchusedoesnotdepriveothersordoesnotentailtheuseofwagelabor.Theseassociationscouldbefoodandhousingcooperatives,cooperativefactories,community-runschools,hospitals,recreationfacilities,andotherimportantsocialservices.These
8/2/2019 Anarchism and the Black Revolution
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/anarchism-and-the-black-revolution 41/60
associationswillfederatewitheachothertofacilitatetheircommongoalsonbothaterritorialandfunctionalbasis.
Thisfederalismasaconceptisaformofsocialorganizationinwhichself-determininggroupsfreelyagreetocoordinatetheiractivities.Theonlysocialsystemthatcanpossiblymeetthediverseneedsofsociety,whilestillpromotingsolidarityonthewidestscale,isonethatallowspeopletofreelyassociateonthebasisofcommonneedsandinterests.Federalismemphasizesautonomyanddecentralization,fosterssolidarityandcomplementsgroups’effortstobeasself-sufficientaspossible.Groupscanthenbeexpectedtocooperateaslongastheyderivemutualbenefit.ContrarytotheCapitalistlegalsystemanditscontracts,ifsuchbenefitsarenotfelttobemutualinanAnarchistsociety,anygroupwillhavethefreedomtodissociate.Inthismanneraflexibleandself-regulatingsocialorganismwillbecreated,alwaysreadytomeetnewneedsbyneworganizationsandadjustments.FederalismisnotatypeofAnarchism,butitisanessentialpartofAnarchism.Itisthejoiningofgroupsandpeoplesforpoliticalandeconomicsurvivalandlivelihood.
Anarchistshaveanenormousjobaheadofthem,andtheymustbeabletoworktogetherforthebenefitoftheideaTheItalianAnarchistErricoMalatestasaiditbestwhenhewrote:
“Ourtaskisthatofpushingthe“people”todemandandtoseizeallthefreedomtheycantomakethemselvesresponsiblefortheirownneedswithoutwaitingforo
rdersfromanykindofauthority.Outtaskisthatofdemonstratingtheuselessnessandharmfulnessofthegovernment,orprovokingandencouragingbypropagandaandactionallkindsofindividualandcollectiveinitiatives.”…“Aftertherevolution,Anarchistswillhaveaspecialmissionofbeingthevigilantcustodiansoffreedom,againsttheaspirantstopowerandpossibletyrannyofthemajority…”
QuotedinMalatesta:HisLifeandTimes,ed.byVernonRichards
So,thisisthejobofthefederation,butitdoesnotendwiththesuccessoftherevolution.Thereismuchreconstructionworktobedone,andtherevolutionmustbedefendedtofulfillourtasks,Anarchistsmusthavetheirownorganizations.Theymustorganizethepast-revolutionarysociety,andthisiswhyAnarchistsfederatethemselves.
Inamodernindependentsociety,theprocessoffederationmustbeextendedtoallhumanity.Thenetworkofvoluntaryassociations—theCommune—willknownoborders.Itcouldbethesizeofthecity,state,ornationorasocietymuchlargerthanthenation-stateunderCapitalism.Itcouldbeamasscommunethatwouldencompassalltheworld’speoplesinanumberofcontinentalAnarchistfederations,sayNorthAmerica,Africa,ortheCaribbean.Trulythiswouldbeanewworld!NotaUnitedNationsor“OneWorldgovernment,”butaunitedhumanity.
Butouroppositionisformidable—eachofushasbeentaughttobelieveintheneedforgovernment,intheabsolutenecessityofexperts,intakingorders,inauthority—forsomeofusitisallnew.Butwhenwebelieveinourselvesanddecidewecanmakeasocietybasedonfree,caringindividuals,thattendencywithin
uswillbecometheconsciouschoiceoffreedom-lovingpeople.Anarchistsseetheirjobasstrengtheningthattendency,andshowthatthereisnodemocracyorfreedomundergovernment—whetherintheUnitedStates,ChinaorRussia.Anarchistsbelieveindirectdemocracybythepeopleastheonlykindoffreedomandself-rule.TypesofAnarchists
ButAnarchistscan’tbeexpectedtoagreeoneverything.HistoricallythesedifferenceshaveledtodistincttendenciesinAnarchisttheoryandpractice.
8/2/2019 Anarchism and the Black Revolution
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/anarchism-and-the-black-revolution 42/60
IndividualistAnarchistshopeforafuturesocietyinwhichfreeindividualsdotheirdutyandshareresources“accordingtothedictatesofabstractjustice.”Generallyspeaking,Individualistsaremerephilosophersratherthanrevolutionaryactivists.Theyarecivillibertarianswhowanttoreformthesystemtomakeitwork`fairly.”Theywereprevalentinthepastcentury,butarestillseenin“counter-cultural”Anarchistformations,middleclassphilosophers,orright-wingLibertarians.
MutualistsareAnarchistsassociatedwiththeideasof19thcenturyAnarchistphilosopher,Pierre-JosephProudhon,whobasedhisfutureeconomyon“…apatternofindividualsandsmallgroupspossessing(butnotawning)theirmeansofproduction,andboundbycontractsofmutualexchangeandmutualcredit(insteadofmoney)whichwouldinsuretoeachindividualtheproductofhisownlabor.ThistypeofAnarchismappearswhenIndividualistsbeingtoputtheirideasinpractice,andmerelywishtoreformCapitalismandmakeit“cooperative.”ThisisalsowheretherightwingLibertariansandadvocatesofaminimizedroleforthestategettheideas.MarxattackedProudhonasan“idealist”and“utopianphilosopher”fortheAnarcistconceptofMutualAid.
CollectivistsareAnarchistsbaseddirectlyontheideasofMichaelBakunin,theRussianAnarchist,thebest-knownadvocatetothegeneralpublicofAnarchisttheory.Bakunin’scollectivistformofAnarchismreplacedProudhon’sinsistenceonindividualpossessionwiththeideaofSocialistpossessionbyvoluntaryinstitutions,andtherighttotheenjoymentoftheindividualproductofhis/herlaboro
ritsequivalentstillassuredtotheindividualworker.ThistypeofAnarchisminvolvesadirectthreattotheclasssystemandtheCapitaliststate,andistheviewthatsocietycanonlybereconstructedwhentheworkingclassseizescontroloftheeconomybyasocialrevolution,destroystheStateapparatus,andreorganizesproductiononthebasisofcommonownershipandcontrolbyassociationsofworkingpeople.ThisfarmofAnarchismisideologicallythebasisofAnarchist-Syndicalism,orrevolutionarylaborunionism.
Anarcho-SyndicalistsareAnarchistswhoareactiveinthelaborandworkingclassmovements.Anarchist-SyndicalismisafarmofAnarchismforclass-consciousworkersandpeasants,formilitantsandactivistsinthelabormovement,forlibertarianSocialistswhowantequalityaswellasliberty.Aspointedout,thisphilosophyisbasedheavilyantheideasofBakunin,thoughitsorganizingtechniqu
esstemfromtheFrenchandSpanishCNTtradeunionmovements(called“Syndicates”),whereAnarchistswereheavilyinvolved.ThisisthetypeofAnarchismthatinfluencedtheIWWinNorthAmericaandwhichexpressestheviewthattheCapitaliststatemustbetoppledbyarevolutionaryformofeconomicwarfarecalledtheGeneralStrike,andthattheeconomymustbereorganizedandbasedonindustrialunions,whichwouldbeunderthecounseloftheworkingclass.AllpoliticalmatterswouldbehandledbyeitheranIndustrialUnionCongress,whileworkplacematterswouldgotoafactorycommittee,electedbytheworkersthemselvesandundertheirdirectcontrol.ThistypeofAnarchismhasgreatpotentialfarorganizinganAnarchistworkingclassmovementinNorthAmerica,ifitraisescontemporaryissuesliketheshortenedworkweek,factorycouncils,thecurrentdepressionandafightbackagainstthebosses’offensiveofthelast20yearsagainsttheworkingclassworldwide.
Anarchist-CommunistsarerevolutionaryAnarchistswhobelieveinthephilosophyofclassstruggle,anendtoCapitalism,andallfarmsofoppression.ContrarytoAnarchist-Syndicalismitdoesnotlimititselftoworkplaceorganizing.ThephilosophyisbasedonthetheoriesofPeterKropotkin,anotherRussianAnarchist.KropotkinandhisfellowAnarchist-Communistsnotonlyenvisagedthecommuneandworkers’councilsasthe,properguardiansofproduction;theyalsoattackedthewagesysteminallitsforms,andrevivedtheideasofLibertariancommunism.ThistypeofAnarchismisknownasLibertarianSocialismalso,andincludesMastSocialistswhoarealsoopposedtotheState,dictatorship,andpartyrule,thou
8/2/2019 Anarchism and the Black Revolution
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/anarchism-and-the-black-revolution 43/60
ghtheyarenotAnarchists.
Sincethe1870stheprinciplesofAnarchist-CommunismhavebeenacceptedbymostAnarchistorganizationsfavoringrevolution.ThisAnarchistorLibertarianCommunismmust,ofcourse,notbeconfusedwithmuchbetterknowncommunismoftheMarxist-Leninists,thecommunismwhichisbasedonstateownershipoftheeconomyandcontrolofthebothproductionanddistribution,andalsoonpartydictatorship.Thatformofauthoritariancommunistsocietyisbasedonoppressionandslaverytothestate,whilewefavorafree,voluntarycommunismofsharedresources.LibertarianCommunismisnotBolshevismandhasnoconnectionwithorsupportforLenin,Stalin,TrotskyorMaoTseTung.Itisnotstateorprivatecontrolovertheessentialsoflifeweseek,andweopposeallformsofdictatorship.Anarchistcommunistsseektofosterthegrowthofanewsocietyinwhichfreedomtodevelopasoneseetisintegratedtothefullestextentwithsocialresponsibilitytoothers.
AutonomistsareanewtendencyintheAnarchistmovementThistendencyaroseinthemid1980sinGermanyandlaterspreadtoothercountriesinEuropeandNorthAmerica.Students,intellectuals,anddisaffectedworkersmadeupthistendencyoriginally,butthereamalsoAnarchistswhocallthemselvesAutonomiststoimplytheyarenotlinkedwithafederation,orarenotdoctrinaireorapurist.LikeLiberatingSocialism,theyseemtodrawtheirideologyfrombothMarxismandsometenetsofAnarchistphilosophylikeAnarchistCommunism,buttheytendtobemoreindependentandverymeticulousaboutexplainingtheirdifferentidentity
.
Inconclusion,thisisonewaytolistthedifferenttendenciesinAnarchistthoughtandpractice.Themmaybemanyotherwaystodoitanddescribethehistoricaldevelopmentofeachtendency.ThatmaybebeyondthescopeofthispamphletButmostAnarchistswouldagreeonthesegeneralstatements:Anarchistshopefar,constructtheoriesabout,andacttopromotetheabolitionofgovernment,theState,andtheprincipleofauthoritythatiscentraltocontemporarysocialforms,andtoreplacethemwithasocialorganizationbasedonvoluntarycooperationbetweenfreeindividuals.AllAnarchisttendencies,excepttheIndividualists(andtosomeextent,theMutualists),seethisfuturesocietybasedanorganicnetworkofmutualaidassociations,workers’andconsumerscollectives,communes,andothervoluntaryalliances,organizedintoregionalunitsandothernon-author
itarianfederationsfarthepurposeofsharingideas,informationtechnicalskillsandlargescaletechnological,culturalandrecreationalresources.AllAnarchistsbelieveinfreedomfromhungerandwantandareagainstallformsofclass,sexualandracialoppression,aswellasallpoliticalmanipulationbytheState.
Thephilosophyisanevolvingidealinwhichmanyindividualsandsocialmovementshaveinfluence.Feminism,BlackLiberation,Gayrights,theecologymovementandothers,arealladditionstotheawarenessofthephilosophyofAnarchism,andthisinfluencehashelpedintheadvancementoftheidealofAnarchismasasocialforceinmodernsociety.TheseinfluencesensurethattheSocialrevolutionweallanticipatewillbeasallencompassinganddemocraticasall,andthatallwillbefullyliberated,notjustaffluentstraight,whitemales.
AnarchistVersusMarxist-LeninistThoughtonOrganizationofSociety
Historically,therehavebeenthreemajorformsofsocialism:LibertarianSocialism(Anarchism),AuthoritarianSocialism(MarxistCommunism),andDemocraticSocialism(electoralsocialdemocracy).Thenon-Anarchistlefthasechoedthebourgeoisie’sportrayalofAnarchismasanideologyofchaosandlunacy.ButAnarchismandespeciallyAnarchist-Communismhasnothingincommonwiththisimage.Itisfalseandmadeupbyitsideologicalopponents,theMarxist-Leninists.
ItisverydifficultfortheMarxist-Leniniststomakeanobjectivecriticismof
8/2/2019 Anarchism and the Black Revolution
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/anarchism-and-the-black-revolution 44/60
Anarchismassuch,becausebyitsnatureitunderminesallthesuppositionsbasictoMarxism.IfMarxismandLeninism,itsvariantwhichemergedduringtheRussianrevolution,isheldouttobetheworkingclassphilosophyandtheproletariatcannotoweitsemancipationtoanyonebutitself,itishardtogobackonitandsaythattheworkingclassisnotyetreadytodispensewithauthorityoverit.LenincameupwiththeideaofatransitionalState,whichwould“witheraway”overtime,togoalongwithMarx’s“dictatorshipoftheproletariat.”TheAnarchistsexposethislineascounter-revolutionaryandsheerpowergrabbing.Over75yearsofMarxist-Leninistpracticehasprovenusright.Theseso-called“SocialistStates”producedbyMarxist-LeninistdoctrinehaveonlyproducedStalinistpolicestateswhereworkershavenorights,anewrulingclassoftechnocratsandpartypoliticianshaveemerged,andtheclassdifferentialbetweenthosethestatefavoredoverthoseitdidn’tcreatedwidespreaddeprivationamongthemassesandanotherclassstruggle.Butinsteadofmeetingsuchcriticismsheadan,theyhaveconcentratedtheirattacksnotonthedoctrineofAnarchism,butonparticularAnarchisthistoricalfigures,especiallyBakunin,anideologicalopponentofMarxintheFirstInternationalofSocialistmovementsinthelastcentury.
Anarchistsaresocialrevolutionaries,whoseekastateless,classless,voluntary,cooperativefederationofdecentralizedcommunes-baseduponsocialownership,individuallibertyandautonomousself-managementofsocialandeconomiclife.
TheAnarchistsdifferwiththeMarxists-Leninistsinmanyareas,butespeciallyinorganizationbuilding.Theydifferfromtheauthoritariansocialistsinprima
rilythreeways:theyrejecttheMarxist-Leninistnotionsofthe“vanguardparty,”“democraticcentralism,”andthe“dictatorshipoftheproletariat,”andAnarchistshavealternativestoeachofthem.Theproblemisthatalmosttheentireleft,includingsameAnarchists,iscompletelyunawareofAnarchism’stangiblestructuralalternativesoftheCatalyst,Group,AnarchistConsensus,andtheMassCommune.
TheAnarchistalternativetothevanguardpartyisthecatalystgroup.ThecatalystgroupismerelyanAnarchist-Communistfederationofaffinitygroupsinaction.ThisCatalystgrouporrevolutionaryanarchistfederationwouldmeetonaregularbasisoronlywhentherewasanecessity,dependingonthewishesofthemembershipandtheurgencyofsocialconditions.Itwouldbemadeupofrepresentativesfromortheaffinitygroupitself,withfullvotingrights,privileges,andresponsibilities.Itwouldsetbothpoliciesandfutureactionstobeperform
ed.ItwillproducebothAnarchist-Communisttheoryandsocialpractice.ItbelievesintheclassstruggleandthenecessitytooverthrowCapitalistrule.Itorganizesinthecommunitiesandworkplaces.Itisdemocraticandhasnoauthorityfigureslikeapartybossorcentralcommittee.
Inordertomakearevolutionlarge-scale,coordinatedmovementsarenecessary,andtheirformationisinnowaycountertoAnarchismWhatAnarchistsareopposedtoishierarchical,power-trippingleadershipwhichsuppressesthecreativeurgeofthebulkofthoseinvolved,andforcesanagendadowntheirthroats,Membersofsuchgroupsaremereservantsandworshippersofthepartyleadership.ButalthoughAnarchistsrejectthistypeofdomineeringleadership,theydorecognizethatsomepeoplearemoreexperiencedarticulate,orskilledthanothers,andthesepeoplewillplayleadershipactionroles.Thesepersonsarenotauthority
figures,andcanberemovedatthewillofthebody.Thereisalsoaconsciousattempttoroutinelyrotatethisresponsibilityandtopassontheseskillstoeachother,especiallytowomenandpeopleofcolor,whowouldordinarilynotgetthechance.Theexperiencesofthesepersons,whoareusuallyveteranactivistsorbetterqualifiedthanmostatthemomentcanhelpformanddriveforwardmovements,andevenhelpcrystallizethepotentialforrevolutionarychangeinthepopularmovement.Whattheycannotdoistakeovertheinitiativeofthemovementitself.Themembersofthesegroupsrejecthierarchicalpositions—anybodyhavingmore`official”authoritythanothers—andunliketheM-Lvanguardparties,theAnarchistgroupswon’tbeallowedtoperpetuatetheirleadershipthroughadictato
8/2/2019 Anarchism and the Black Revolution
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/anarchism-and-the-black-revolution 45/60
rshipaftertherevolution.Instead,thecatalystgroupitselfwillbedissolvedanditsmembers,whentheyareready,willbeabsorbedintothenewsociety’scollectivedecision-makingprocessThereforetheseAnarchistsarenotleaders,butmerelyadvisorsandorganizersforamassmovement.
Whatwedon’twantorneedisagroupofauthoritariansleadingtheworkingclass,andthenestablishingthemselvesasacentralizeddecision-makingcommand,insteadof“witheringaway”;Marxist-Leniniststateshaveperpetuatedauthoritarianinstitutions(thesecretpolice,laborbosses,andthecommunistparty)tomaintaintheirpower.Theapparenteffectivenessofsuchorganizations(we`rejustasefficientastheCapitalists)masksthewaythat“revolutionaries”whopatternthemselvesafterCapitalistinstitutionsbecomeabsorbedbybourgeoisvalues,andcompletelyisolatedfromtherealneedsanddesiresofordinarypeople.
ThereluctanceofMarxist-Leniniststoaccepttoacceptrevolutionarysocialchangeis,however,aboveallseeninLenin’sconceptionoftheparty.ItisaprescriptiontojustnakedlyseizepowerandputitinthehandsoftheCommunistParty.ThepartythatLeninistscreatetoday,theybelieve,shouldbecomethe(only)“PartyoftheProletariat”inwhichthatclasscouldorganizeandseizepower.Inpractice,however,thismeantpersonalandpartydictatorship,whichtheyfeltgavethemtherightanddutytowipeoutallotherpartiesandpoliticalideologies.BothLeninandStalinkilledmillionsorworkersandpeasants,theirleft-wingideologicalopponents,andevenmembersoftheBolshevikparty.ThisbloodyandtreacheroushistoryiswhythemissomuchrivalryandhostilitybetweenMarxi
st-LeninistandTrotskyitepartiestoday,anditiswhythe“workers’states,”whetherinCuba,China,Vietnam,orKoreaaresuchoppressivebureaucraciesovertheirpeople.ItisalsowhymostoftheEastEuropeanStalinistcountrieshadtheirgovernmentoverthrownbythepettybourgeoisandordinarycitizensinthe1980s.MaybewearewitnessingtheeclipseofStatecommunismentirely,sincetheyhavenothingnewtosayandwillnevergetthosegovernments-backagain.
WhileAnarchistgroupsreachdecisionsthroughAnarchistconsensus,theMarxist-Leninistsorganizethroughso-calleddemocraticcentralism.Democraticcentralismposesasaformofinnerpartydemocracy,butisreallyjustahierarchybywhicheachmemberofaparty—ultimatelyofasociety—issubordinatetoa“higher”memeruntilonereachestheall-powerfulpartycentralcommitteeanditsChairman.Thisisatotallyundemocraticprocedure,whichputstheleadershipabovecritic
ism,evenifitistabovereproach.Itisabankrupt,corruptmethodofinternaloperationsforapoliticalorganization.Youhavenovoiceinsuchaparty,andmustbeafraidtosayanyunflatteringcommentstoorabouttheleaders.
InAnarchistgroups,proposalsaretalkedoutbymembers(noneofwhamhasauthorityoveranother),dissentingminoritiesarerespected,andeachindividual’sparticipationisvoluntary.Everyonehastherighttoagreeordisagreeoverpolicyandactions,andeveryone’sideasaregivenequalweightandconsideration.Nodecisionmaybemadeuntileachindividualmemberoraffiliatedgroupthatwillbeaffectedbythatdecisionhashadachancetoexpresstheiropinionontheissue.Individualmembersandaffiliatedgroupsshallretaintheoptiontorefusesupporttospecificfederationactivities,butmaynotactivelyobstructsuchactivities.Intruedemocraticfashion,decisionsforthefederationasawholemust
bemadebyamajorityofitsmembers.
Inmostcases,thereisnorealneedforformalmeetingsforthemakingofdecisions,whatisneedediscoordinationoftheactionsofthegroup.Ofcourse,therearetimeswhenadecisionhastobemade,andsometimesveryquickly.Thiswillberare,butsometimesitisunavoidable.Theconsensus,inthatcase,wouldthenhavetobeamongamuchsmallercirclethanthegeneralmembershipofhundredsorthousands.Butordinarilyallthatisneededisanexchangeofinformationandtrustamongparties,andadecisionreaffirmingtheoriginaldecisionwillbereached,ifanemergencydecisionhadtobemade.Ofcourse,duringthedisc
8/2/2019 Anarchism and the Black Revolution
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/anarchism-and-the-black-revolution 46/60
ussion,therewillbeanendeavortoclarifyanymajordifferencesandexplorealternativecoursesofaction.AndtherewillbeanattempttoarriveatamutuallyagreeduponconsensusbetweenconflictingviewsAsalways,ifthereshouldbeanimpasseordissatisfactionwiththeconsensus,avotewouldbetakenandwitha2/3majority,thematterwouldbeaccepted,rejectedorrescinded.
ThisisalltotallycontrarytothepracticeofMarxist-LeninistpartieswheretheCentralCommitteeunilaterallysetspolicyfortheentireorganization,andarbitraryauthorityreigns.AnarchistsrejectcentralizationofauthorityandtheconceptofaCentralCommittee.Allgroupsarefreeassociationsformedoutofcommitteesnotrevolutionariesdisciplinedbyfearofauthority.Whenthesizeofthework-groups(whichcouldbefannedaroundLabor,fundraising,anti-racism,women’srights,foodandhousing,et.)becomescumbersome,theorganizationscanbedecentralizedintotwoorseveralmoreautonomousorganizations,stillunitedinonelargefederation.Thisenablesthegrouptoexpandlimitlesslywhilemaintainingitsanarchicformofdecentralizedself-management.Itissortoflikethescientifictheoryofabiologicalcell,dividingandredividing,butinapoliticalsense.
However,Anarchistgroupsaren’tevennecessarilyorganizedloosely;Anarchismisflexibleandstructurecanbepracticallynonexistentorverytight,dependinguponthetypeoforganizationdemandedbythesocialconditionsbeingfaced.Forinstance,organizationwouldtightenduringmilitaryoperationsorheightenedpoliticalrepression.
Anarchist-CommunistsrejecttheMarxist-Leninistconceptofthe“dictatorshipoftheproletariat”andaso-called“workers’state,”infavorofthemasscommune.UnlikeembersofLeninistparties,whosedailylivesaregenerallysimilartopresentbourgeoislifestyles,Anarchistorganizationalstructuresandlifestyles,throughcommunallivingarrangements,urbantribes,affinitygroups,squatting,etc.,attempttoreflecttheLiberatedsocietyofthefuture.AnarchistsbuiltallkindsofcommunesandcollectiveduringtheSpanishRevolutionofthe1930s,butwerecrushedbythefascistsandtheCommunists.SincetheMarxist-Leninistsdon’tbuildcooperativestructures,thenucleusofthenewsociety,theycanonlyseetheworldinbourgeoispoliticalterms.TheywanttojustseizeStatepowerandinstitutetheirowndictatorshipoverthepeopleandtheworkers,insteadofcrushingStatepowerandreplacingitwithafree,cooperativesociety.
Ofcourse,theparty,theyinsist,representstheproletariat,andthereisnoneedforthemtoorganizethemselvesoutsideoftheparty.YetevenintheformerSovietUniontheCommunistPartymembershiponlyrepresentedfivepercentofthepopulation.ThisiselitismoftheworstsortandevenmakestheCapitalistpartieslookdemocraticbycomparison.WhattheCommunistPartywasintendedtorepresentintermsofworkerspowerisnevermadeclear,butintrue1984“doublethink”fashion,theresultsare75yearsofpoliticalrepressionandStateslavery,insteadofaneraof“gloriousCommunistrule.”Theymustbeheldaccountablepoliticallyforthesecrimesagainstthepeople,andrevolutionarypoliticaltheoryandpractice.TheyhaveslanderedthenamesofSocialismandCommunism.
Werejectthedictatorshipoftheproletariat.Itisunbridledoppression,andt
heMarxist-LeninistsandStalinistsmustbemadetoanswerforitMillionshavebeenmurderedbyStalininthenameoffightinganinternalclasswar,andmillionsmoreweremurderedinChinaPoland,AfghanistanCambodia,andothercountriesbyCommunistmovementswhichfollowedStalin’sprescriptionforrevolutionaryterror.WerejectStatecommunismastheworstaberrationandtyranny.Wecandobetterthanthiswiththemasscommune.
TheAnarchistmasscommune(sometimesalsocalledaWorkersCouncil,althoughtherearesomedifferences)isanationalcontinentalortransnationalfederationofeconomicandpoliticalcooperativesandregionalcommunalformations.Anarchi
8/2/2019 Anarchism and the Black Revolution
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/anarchism-and-the-black-revolution 47/60
stslooktoaworldandasocietyinwhichrealdecision-makinginvolveseveryonewholivesinit—amasscommune—notafewdisciplinefreakspullingthestringsinaso-called“proletariandictatorship.”Anyandalldictatorshipisbad,ithasnodeemingsocialfeatures,yetthatiswhattheLeniniststelluswillprotectusfromcounterrevolution.WhileMarxist-LeninistsclaimthatthisdictatorshipisnecessaryinordertocrushanybourgeoiscounterrevolutionsledbytheCapitalistclassorright-wingreactionaries,AnarchistsfeelthatthisisitselfpartoftheStalinistschooloffalsification.Acentralizedapparatus,suchasastate,isamucheasiertargetforopponentsoftherevolutionthanisanarrayofdecentralizedcommunes.Andthesecommuneswouldremainarmedandpreparedtodefendtherevolutionagainstanyonewhomilitarilymovesagainstit.Thekeyistomobilizethepeopleintodefenseguards,militiasandothermilitarypreparednessunits.
ThispositionbytheLeninistsofthenecessityforadictatorshiptoprotecttherevolutionwasnotprovenintheCivilWarwhichfollowedtheRussianrevolution;infactwithoutsupportoftheAnarchistsandotherleft-wingforces,alongwiththeRussianpeople,theBolshevikgovernmentwouldhavebeendefeatedAndthentruetoanydictatorship,itturnedaroundandwipedouttheRussianandUkrainianAnarchistmovements,alongwiththeirleft-wingopponentsliketheMensheviksandSocialrevolutionaries.EvenideologicalopponentsintheBolshevikpartywereimprisonedandputtodeath.LeninandTrotskykilledmillionsofRussiancitizensrightaftertheCivilWar,whentheywereconsolidatingStatepower,whichprecededStalin’sbloodyrule.Thelessonisthatweshouldnotbetrickedi
ntosurrenderingthegrassrootspeople’spowertodictatorswhoposeasourfriendsorleaders.
Wedon’tneedtheMarxist-Leninists’solutions,theyartdangerousanddeluding.Thereisanotherway,but,toomuchoftheleftandtomanyordinarypeople,thechoicehasappearedtobeAnarchic“chaos”ortheMaoist“Communist”parties,howeverdogaticanddictatorial.Thisisprimarilytheresultofmisunderstandingandpropaganda.ButAnarchismasanideologyprovidesfeasibleorganizationalstructures,aswellasvalidalternativerevolutionarytheory,which,ifutilizedcouldbethebasisfororganizationjustassolidastheMarxist-Leninists(orevenmoreso).Onlytheseorganizationswillbeegalitarianandreallyforthebenefitofpeople,ratherthanfortheCommunistleaders.
Anarchismisnotconfinedtotheideasofasingletheoretician,anditallowsindividualcreativitytodevelopincollectivegroupings,insteadofthecharacteristicdogmatismoftheMarxist-Leninists.Therefore,notbeingcultist,itencouragesagreatdealofinnovationandexperimentation,promptingitsadherentstorespondrealisticallytocontemporaryconditions.Itistheconceptofmakingideologyfitthedemandsoflife,ratherthantryingtomakelifefitthedemandsofideology.
ThereforeAnarchistsbuildorganizationsinordertobuildanewworld,nottoperpetuateourdominationoverthemassesofpeople.Wemildbuildanorganized,coordinatedinternationalmovementaimedattransformingtheglobeintoamasscommune.Suchwouldreallybeagreatoverleapinhumanevolutionandagiganticrevolutionarystride.Itwouldchangetheworldasweknowitandendthespecia
lproblemslongplaguinghumankind.Itwouldbeaneweraoffreedomandfulfillment.Letsgetonwithit,we’vegotaworldtowin!GeneralPrinciplesofAnarchist-Communism
SinceAnarchist-CommunismiscurrentlystillthemostimportantandwidelyacceptedformofAnarchismmoteneedstobesaidaboutthisdynamicrevolutionarydoctrine.
Anarchist-Communismisbasedonaconceptionofsocietythatharmoniouslyunitesindividualself-interestandsocialwell-being.AlthoughAnarchist-Communistsa
8/2/2019 Anarchism and the Black Revolution
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/anarchism-and-the-black-revolution 48/60
greewithMarxandmanyMarxist-LeniniststhatCapitalismmustbeabolishedbecauseofitscrisis-riddennature(herewerejectthefalseterm“anarchyofproduction”)anditsexploitationoftheworkingclass,theydonotbelieveCapitalismisanindispensable,progressivepreconditionforthetransitiontoasociallybeneficialeconomy.NordotheybelievethatthecentralizedeconomicplanningofStateSocialismcanprovideforthewidediversityofneedsordesires.TheyrejecttheveryideaoftheneedforaStateorthatitwilljust“witheraway”ofitsownaccord;orapartyto“bossover”theworkersor“stagemanage”therevolution.Insort,whileacceptingtenetsofhiseconomiccritiqueofCapitalism,theydonotworshipKarlMarxasaninfallibleleaderwhoseideascanneverbecritiquedorrevised,astheMarxist-Leninistsdo;andAnarchist-CommunismisnotbasedonMarxisttheory.
TheseAnarchistsbelievethe“personalispolitical,andthepoliticalispersonal,”meaningthatonecannotdivorceone’spoliticallifefromone’spersonallife.Wedonotplaybureaucraticpoliticalroles,andthenhaveaseparatelifeasanothersocialbeingentirely.Anarchist-Communistsrecognizethatpeopleartcapableofdeterminingtheirownneedsandofmakingthenecessaryarrangementstosatisfythoseneeds,providedthattheyhavefreeaccesstosocialresources.Itisalwaysapoliticaldecisionwhetherthoseresourcesaretobefreelyprovidedtoall,soAnarchist-Communistsbelieveinthecredoof“fromeachaccordingto(their)means,toeachaccordingtotheirneeds.”Thisassuresthatallwillbefed,clothed,andhousedasnormalsocialpractice,notasdemeaningwelfareorthatcertainclasseswillbebetterprovidedforthanothers.
Whennotdeformedbycorruptsocialinstitutionsandpractices,theinterdependenceandsolidarityofhumanbeingsresultsinindividualswhoareresponsiblebothforthemselvesandtothesocietythatmakestheirwellbeingandculturaldevelopmentpossible.Therefore,weseektoreplacetheStateandCapitalismwithanetworkofvoluntaryalliancesembracingaofsociallife-production,consumption,health,culture,recreation,andotherareasInthiswayallgroupsandassociationsreapthebenefitsofunitywhileexpandingtherangeoftheirfreedomAnarchistsbelieveinfreeassociationandfederatinggroupsofcollectives,workers’councils,foodandhousingcooperatives,politicalcollectives,withothersofalltypes.
Asapracticalmatter,Anarchist-Communistsbelievethatweshouldstarttobuil
dthenewsocietynow,aswellasfighttocrushtheoldCapitalistam.Theywishtocreatenon-authoritarianmutualaidorganizations(forfood,clothing,housing,fundingforcommunityprojectsandothers),neighborhoodassembliesandcooperativesnotaffiliatedwitheithergovernmentorbusinesscorporations,andnotrunfarprofit,butforsocialneedSuchorganizations,ifbuiltnow,willprovidetheirmemberswithapracticalexperienceinself-managementandself-sufficiency,andwilldecreasethedependencyofpeopleonwelfareagenciesandemployers.Inshort,wecanbeginnowtobuildtheinfrastructurefarthecommunalsocietysothatpeoplecanseewhattheyarefightingfor,notjusttheideasinsomeone’shead.Thatistherealwaytofreedom.Capitalism,theStateandPrivateProperty
TheexistenceoftheStateandCapitalismarationalizedbytheirapologistsas
beinga“necessaryevil”duetotheallegedinabilityofthegreaterpartofthepopulationtoruntheirownaffairsandthoseofsociety,aswellasbeingtheirprotectionagainstcrimeandviolence.Anarchistsrealizethatquitetothecontrary,theprincipalbarrierstoafreesocietyareStateandtheinstitutionofprivateproperty.ItistheStatewhichcauseswar,policerepression,andotherformsofviolence,anditisprivateproperty—thelackofequaldistributionofmajorsocialwealth—whichcausescrimeanddeprivation.
ButwhatistheState?TheStateisapoliticalabstraction,ahierarchicalinstitutionbywhichaprivilegedelitestrivestodominatethevastmajorityofpeo
8/2/2019 Anarchism and the Black Revolution
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/anarchism-and-the-black-revolution 49/60
ple.TheState’smechanismsincludeagroupofinstitutionscontaininglegislativeassemblies,thecivilservicebureaucracy,themilitaryandpoliceforces,thejudiciaryandprisons,andthesubcentralStateapparatus.ThegovernmentistheadministrativevehicletoruntheState.(Thepurposeofthisspecificsetofinstitutionswhicharetheexpressionsofauthorityincapitalistsocieties(andso-called“Socialiststates”),isthemaintenanceandextensionofdominationoverthecommonpeoplebyaprivilegedclass,therichinCapitalistsocieties,theso-calledCommunistpartyinStateSocialistorCommunistsocietiesliketheformerUnionofSovietSocialistRepublics.
However,theStateitselfisalwaysanelitistpositionstructurebetweentherulesandtheruledorder-giversandorder-takers,andeconomichavesandhave-nets.TheState’seliteisnotjusttherichandthesuper-rich,butalsothosepersonswhoassumeStatepositionsofauthority—politiciansandjuridicalofficials.ThustheStatebureaucracyitself,intermsofitsrelationtoideologicalproperty,canbecomeaneliteclassinitsownright.ThisadministrativeeliteclassoftheStateisdevelopednotjustthethroughdispensingofprivilegesbytheeconomicelite,butaswellbytheseparationofprivateandpubliclife—thefamilyunitandcivilsocietyrespectively—andbytheoppositionbetweenanindividualfamilyandthelargersociety.Itissheeropportunism,broughtonbyCapitalistcompetitionandalienation.ItisabreedinggroundforagentsoftheState.
TheexistenceoftheStateandarulingclasses,basedontheexploitationando
ppressionoftheworkingclassaminseparable.Dominationandexploitationgohand-in-handandinfactthisoppressionisnotpossiblewithoutforceandviolentauthority.ThisiswhyAnarchist-CommunistsarguethatanyattempttouseStatepowerasameansofestablishingafree,egalitariansocietycanonlybeself-defeating,becausethehabitsofcommandingandexploitingbecomeendsinthemselves.ThiswasprovenwiththeBolshevikintheRussianRevolution(1917-1921).Thefactisthatofficialsofthe“Communist”StateaccumulatepoliticalpowermuchastheCapitalistclassaccumulateseconomicwealth.Thosewhogovernformadistinctgroupwhoseonlyinterestistheretentionofpoliticalcontrolbyanymeansattheirdisposal.ButtheinstitutionofCapitalistproperty,moreover,permitsaminorityofthepopulationtocontrolandtoregulateaccessto,andtheuseofallsociallyproducedwealthandnaturalresources.Youhavetopayfortheland,water,andthefreshairtosomegiantutilitycompanyorrealestatefir
m.
ThiscontrollinggroupmaybeaseparateeconomicclassortheStateitself,butineithercasetheinstitutionofpropertyleadstoasetofsocialandeconomicrelations,Capitalism,inwhichasmallsectorofsocietyreapsenormousbenefitsandprivilegesattheexpenseofthelaboringminority.TheCapitalisteconomyisbased,notuponfulfillingtheneedsofeveryone,butonamassingprofitforafew,BothCapitalismandtheStatemustbeattackedandoverthrown,notoneortheother,oronethentheother,becausethefallofeitherwillnotensurethefallofboth.DownwithCapitalismandtheState!
Nodoubt,someworkerswillmistakewhatIamspeakingofasathreattotheirpersonalaccumulatedproperty.No,Anarchistsrecognizethedistinctionbetweenp
ersonalpossessionsandmajorCapitalisticproperty.CapitalisticPropertyisthatwhichhasasitsbasiccharacteristicandpurposethecommandofotherpeople’slaborpowerbecameofitsexchangevalue.Theinstitutionofpropertyconditionsthedevelopmentofasetofsocialandeconomicrelations,whichhasestablishedCapitalism,andthissituationallowsasmallminoritywithinsocietytoreapenormousbenefitsandprivilegesattheexpenseofthelaboringminority.ThisistheclassicscenarioofCapitalexploitinglabor.
Wherethereisahighsocialdivisionoflaborandcomplexindustrialorganization,moneyisnecessarytoperformtransactions.Itisnotsimplythatthismoney
8/2/2019 Anarchism and the Black Revolution
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/anarchism-and-the-black-revolution 50/60
islegaltender,anditisusedinplaceofdirectbarterofgoods.Thatisnotwhatweartlimitedtohere:Capitalismoney,butmoneyasaprocess,whichreproducesandincreasesitsvalue.Capitalarisesonlywhentheownerofthemeansofproductionfindsworkersonthemarketassellersoftheirownlaborpower.Capitalismdevelopedastheformofprivatepropertythatshiftedfromtheruralagriculturalstyletotheurban,factorystyleoflabor.Capitalismcentralizestheinstrumentsofproductionandbringsindividualscloselyalongsideofothersinadisciplinedworkforce.Capitalismisindustrializedcommodityproduction,whichmakesgoodsforprofit,notforsocialneeds.Thisisaspecialdistinctionofcapitalandcapitalalone.
WemayunderstandCapitalismandthebasisofourobservations,asCapitalendowedwithwillandconsciousness.Thatis,asthosepeoplewhoacquirecapital,andfunctionasanelite,moneyedclasswithenoughnationalandpoliticalpowertorulesociety.Further,thataccumulatedcapitalismoney,andwithmoneytheycontrolthemeansofproductionthatisdefinedasthemills,mines,factories,land,water,energyandothernaturalresources,andtherichknowthatthisistheirproperty.Theydon’tneedideologicalpretensions,andareundernoillusionsabout“publicproperty”.
Aneconomy,suchastheonewehavebrieflysketched,isnotbasedonfulfillingtheneedsofeveryoneinsociety,butinsteadisbasedontheaccumulationofprofitsforthefew,wholiveinpalatialluxuryasaleisureclass,whiletheworkersliveineitherpovertyoroneortwopaychecksremoved.Yousee,therefore
,thatdoingawaywithgovernmentalsosignifiestheabolitionofmonopolyandpersonalownershipofthemeansofproductionanddistribution.Anarchism,ViolenceandAuthority
OneofthebiggestliesaboutAnarchistsisthattheyaremindlessbombthrowers,cutthroats,andassassins.Peoplespreadtheseliesfortheirownreasons:governments,becausetheyamafraidofbeingoverthrownbySocialrevolution;Marxist-Leninists,becauseitisacompetingideologywithatotallydifferentconceptofsocialorganizationandrevolutionarystruggle;andtheChurch,becauseAnarchismdoesnotbelieveindeitiesanditsrationalismmightswayworkersawayfromsuperstition.Itistruethattheseliesandpropagandaareabletoswaymanypeopleprimarilybecausetheyneverheartheotherside.Anarchistsreceivebadpressandsufferascapegoatofeverypolitician,rightorleftwing.
BecauseaSocialrevolutionisanAnarchistrevolution,whichnotonlyabolishesoneexploitingclassforanother,butallexploitersandtheinstrumentofexploitation,theState.Becauseitisarevolutionforpeople’spower,insteadofpoliticalpower;becauseitabolishesbothmoneyandwageslavery;becauseAnarchistsamfortotaldemocracyandfreedominsteadofpoliticianstorepresentthemassesinParliament,Congress,ortheCommunistParty;becauseAnarchistsareforworkers’self-managementofindustry,insteadofgovernmentregulation;becauseAnarchistsareforfullsexual,racial,culturalandintellectualdiversity,insteadofsexualchauvinism,culturalrepression,censorship,andracialoppression;lieshavehadtobetoldthattheAnarchistsarekillers,rapists,robbers,madbombers,unsavoryelements,theworstoftheworst.
Butlet’slookattherealworldandsetwhoiscausingallthisviolenceandrepressionofhumanrights.ThewholesalemurderbystandingarmiesinWorldWarsIandII,thepillageandtapeofformercolonialcounties,militaryinvasionsorso-called“policeoperations”inKoreaandVietnam—allofthesehavebeendonebygovernments.Itisgovernmentandstate/classrule,whichisthesourceofallviolence.Thisincludesallgovernments.Theso-called“Communist”worldisnotcommunistandthe“Free”worldisnotfree.EastandWest,Capitalism,privateorstateremainsaninhumantypeofsocietywherethevastmajorityisbossedatwork,athome,andinthecommunity.Propaganda(newsandliterary),policemenandsoldiers,prisonsandschools,traditionalvaluesandmoralityallservetoreinforceth
8/2/2019 Anarchism and the Black Revolution
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/anarchism-and-the-black-revolution 51/60
epowerofthefewandtoconvinceorcorrectthemanyintopassiveacceptanceofabrutaldegradingandirrationalsystem.ThisiswhatAnarchistsmeanbyauthoritybeingoppression,anditisjustsuchauthoritarianrulewhichisatworkintheUnitedStatesofAmerica,aswellasthe“Communist”governmentsofChinaorCuba.
“Whatisthethingwecallgovernment?Isitanythingbutorganizedviolence?Thelawordersyoutoobey,andifyoudon’tobey,itwillcompelyoubyforce—allgovernments,alllawandauthorityfinallyrestenforceandviolence,onpunishmentorfearofpunishment.
—AlexanderBerkman,inABCofAnarchism
Therearerevolutionaries,includingmanyAnarchists,whoadvocatearmedoverthrowofthecapitalistState.Theydonotadvocateorpracticemassmurder,likethegovernmentsofthemodernworldwiththeirstockpilesofnuclearbombs,poisongasandchemicalweapons,hugeairforces,naviesandarmiesandwhoarehostiletooneanother.ItwasnottheAnarchistswhoprovokedtwoWorldWarswhereover100millionpersonswereslaughtered;norwasittheAnarchistswhoinvadedandbutcheredthepeoplesofKorea,Panama,Somalia,Iraq,Indonesia,andothercountrieswhohavesustainedimperialistmilitarysnack.ItwasnottheAnarchistswhosentarmiesofspiesallovertheworldtomurder,corrupt,subvert,overthrowandmeddleintotheinternalaffairsofothercountriesliketheCIA,KGB,MI6orothernationalspyagencies,norusethemassecretpolicetoupholdthe
homegovernmentsinvariouscountries,nomatterhowrepressiveandunpopulartheregime.Further,ifyourgovernmentmakesyouapolicemanorsoldier,youkillandrepresspeopleinthenameof“freedom”or“lawandorder”.
“Youdon’tquestiontherightofthegovernmenttokill,toconfiscateandimprison.Ifaprivatepersonshouldbeguiltyofthethingsthatthegovernmentisdoingallthetime,you’dbrandhimamurderer,thiefandscoundrel.Buraslongastheviolencecommittedis“lawful”youapproveofitandsubmittoit.Soitisnotrealviolencethatyouobjectto,butpeopleusingviolenceunlawfully”—AlexanderBerkman,inABCofAnarchism
Ifwespeakhonestlywemustadmitthateveryonebelievesinviolenceandpracticesit,howevertheymaycondemnitinothers.Eithertheydoitthemselvesort
heyhavethepoliceorarmytodoitontheirbehalfasagentsofthestate.Infact,allofthegovernmentalinstitutionswepresentlysupportandtheentirelifeofpresentsocietyarebasedonviolence.InfactAmericaisthemostviolentcountryonearth,orasoneSNCCcomrade,H.RapBrown,wasquotedassaying:“violenceisasAmericanasapplepie(!)”TheUnitedStatesgoesallovertheworldcommittingviolence,itassassinatesheadsofState,overthrowsgovernments,slaughtersciviliansinthehundredsofthousands,andmakesaprisonoutofcaptivenations,suchasitisdoinginIraqandSomalia,atthepresenttime.Weareexpectedtopassivelysubmittothesecrimesofconquest,thatisthehallmarkofagoodcitizen.
SoAnarchistshavenomonopolyandviolence,andwhenitwasusedinso-called“propagandaofthedeed”attacks,itwasagainsttyrantsanddictators,ratherthana
gainstthecommonpeople.Theseindividualreprisals—bombings,assassinations,sabotage—havebeeneffortsatmakingthoseinpowerpersonallyresponsiblefortheirunjustactsandrepressiveauthority.Butinfact,Anarchists,Socialists,Communistsandotherrevolutionaries,aswellaspatriotsandnationalists,andevenreactionariesandracistsliketheKuKluxKlanorNazishaveallusedviolenceforavarietyofreasons.WhowouldnothaverejoicedifadictatorlikeHitlerhadbeenslainbyassassins,andthussparedtheworldracialgenocideandtheSecondWorldWar?Further,allrevolutionsareviolentbecausetheoppressingclasswillnotgiveuppowerandprivilegeswithoutabloodyfight.Sowehavenochoiceanyway.
8/2/2019 Anarchism and the Black Revolution
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/anarchism-and-the-black-revolution 52/60
Basically,wewouldallchoosetobepacifists.AndlikeDr.MartinLutherKingJr.counseled,wewouldratherresolveourdifferenceswithunderstanding,loveandmoralreasoning.Wewillattemptthesesolutionsfirst,wheneverpossible.Intheinsanitythatreigns,however,outmovementacknowledgetheutilityofpreparedness.Itistoodangerousaworldtobeignorantofthewaystodefendourselvessothatwecancontinueourrevolutionarywork.Bringacquaintedwithaweaponanditsusesdoesnotmeanthatyoumustimmediatelygooutandusethatweapon,butthatifyouneedtouseit,youcanuseitwed.WeartforcedoacknowledgethattheAmericanprogressiveandradicalmovementshavebeentoopacifisttobetrulyeffective.WealsorealizethatopengroupsthatproposedcooperativechangeandwerebasicallynonviolentliketheIWW,werecrushedviolentlybythegovernmentandfinallywehaveunfortunateexampleofDr.King,Jr.himself,whowasassassinatedin1968byaconspiracyofagentsoftheState,mostlikelytheFBI.
Understandthatthemorewesucceedatourwork,themotedangerouswilloursituationbecome,becausewewillthenberecognizedasathreattotheState.And,makenomistake,theinsurrectioniscoming.AnAmericanIntifadathatwilldestabilizethestate.Sowearttalkingaboutaspontaneous,prolonged,risingofthevastmajorityofthepeople,andthenecessitytodefendourSocialrevolution.Althoughwerecognizetheimportanceofdefensiveparamilitaryviolence,andevenurbanguerillaattacks,wedonotdependuponwartoachieveourliberation,forourstrugglecannotbewonbytheforceofarmsalone.No,thepeoplemus
tbearmedbeforehandwithunderstandingandagreementofourobjectives,aswellastrustandloveoftherevolution,andourmilitaryweaponsareonlyanexpressionofourorganicspiritandsolidarity.Perfectloveforthepeople,perfecthatefortheenemy.AstheCubanrevolutionary,CheGuevara,said:“Whenonefalls,anothermusttake(their)place,andtherageofeachdeathrenewsthereasonforthefight”
ThegovernmentsoftheworldcommitmuchoftheirviolenceinrepressinganyattempttooverthrowtheState.Crimesofrepressionagainstthepeoplehaveusuallybenefitedthoseinpower,especiallyifthegovernmentispowerfulLookwhathappenedintheUnitedStateswhentheBlackrevolutionofthe1960swasrepressed.Manyprotestinginjusticewerejailed,murdered,injured,orblacklisted—allofwhichwassetupbytheState’ssecretpoliceagencies.Themovementwasbeaten
downfordecadesasaresult.Sowecannotjustdependonmassmobilizationsalone,orjustengageinundergroundoffensives,ifwewanttodefeatthestateanditsrepression;somemid-placebetweenthetwomustbefound.Forthefuture,ourworkwillincludedevelopmentofcollectivetechniquesofself-defense,aswellasundergroundworkwhileweworktowardssocialrevolution.AnarchistsandRevolutionaryOrganization
AnotherlieaboutAnarchismisthattheyarenihilisticanddon’tbelieveinanyorganizationalstructure.AnarchistsarenotopposedtoorganizationInfact,Anarchismisprimarilyconcernedaboutanalyzingthewayinwhichsocietyispresentlyorganized,i.e.,government.
Anarchismisallaboutorganization,butitisaboutalternativeformsoforgani
zationtowhatnowexists.Anarchism’soppositiontoauthorityleadstotheviewthatorganizationshouldbenon-hierarchicalandthatmembershipwouldbevoluntary.Anarchistrevolutionisaprocessoforganizationbuildingandrebuilding.ThisdoesnotmeanthesamethingastheMarxist-Leninistconceptof“partybuilding,whichisjustaboutstrengtheningtheroleofpartyleadersanddrivingoutthosemembersthosewhohaveanindependentposition.ThesepurgesaremethodsofdominationthattheML’susetobeatalldemocracyoutoftheirmovements,yettheyfacetiouslycallthis“democraticcentralism”.
WhatorganizationmeanswithinAnarchismistoorganizetheneedsofthepeople
8/2/2019 Anarchism and the Black Revolution
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/anarchism-and-the-black-revolution 53/60
intonon-authoritariansocialorganizationssothattheycantakecareoftheirownbusinessonanequalbasis.Italsomeansthecomingtogetheroflike-mindedpeopleforthepurposeofcoordinatingtheworkthatbothgroupsandindividualsfeelnecessaryfortheirsurvival,wellbeing,andlivelihood.SobecauseAnarchisminvolvespeoplewhowouldcometogetheranthebasisofmutualneedsandinterestscooperationisakeyelementAprimaryaimisthattheindividualsshouldspeakforthemselves,andthatallinthegroupbeequallyresponsibleforthegroup’sdecisions;noleadersorbosseshere!
ManyAnarchistswouldevenenvisagelargescaleorganizationalneedsintermsofsmalllocalgroupsorganizedintheworkplace,collectives,neighborhoods,andotherareas,whowouldsenddelegatestolargercommitteeswhowouldmakedecisionsonmattersofwiderconcern.Thejobofdelegatewouldnotbefull-time;itwouldberotated.Althoughtheirout-of-pocketexpenseswouldbepaid,thedelegatewouldbeunpaid,recallableandwouldonlyvoicethegroup’sdecisions.ThevariousschoolsofAnarchismdifferinemphasisconcerningorganization.Forexample,Anarcho-Syndicalistsstresstherevolutionarylaborunionandotherworkplaceformationsasthebasicunitoforganization,whiletheAnarchist-Communistsrecognizethecommuneasthehighestformofsocialorganization.Othersmayrecognizeotherformationsasmostimportant,buttheyallrecognizeandsupportfree,independentorganizationsofthepeopleasthewayforward.
ThenucleusofAnarchist-CommunistorganizationistheAffinityGroup.Theaffinitygroupisarevolutionarycircleor“cell”offriendsandcomradeswhoareintun
ewitheachotherbothinideologyandasindividuals.Theaffinitygroupexiststocoordinatetheneedsofthegroup,asexpressedbyindividualsandbythecellasabody.Thegroupbecomesanextendedfamily;thewellbeingofallbecomestheresponsibilityofall.
“Autonomous,communal,anddirectlydemocratic,thegroupcombinesrevolutionarytheorywithrevolutionarylifestyleinitseverydaybehavior.Itcreatesafreespaceinwhichrevolutionariescanremakethemselvesindividually,andalsoassocialbeings.”
—MurrayBookchin,inPostScarcityAnarchism
Wecouldalsorefertotheseaffinityformationsas“groupsforlivingrevolution”b
ecausetheylivetherevolutionnow,eventhoughonlyinseedform.Becausethegroupsaresmall—fromthreetofifteen—theycanstartfromastrongerbasisofsolidaritythanmerepoliticalstrategyalone.Thegroupswouldbethenumberonemeansofpoliticalactivityofeachmember.Therearefourareasofinvolvementwhereaffinitygroupswork:
MutualAid:thismeansgivingsupportandsolidaritybetweenmembers,aswellascollectiveworkandresponsibility.
Education:inadditiontoeducatingthesocietyat-largetoAnarchistideals,thisincludesstudybymemberstoadvancetheideologyofthegroups,aswellastoincreasetheirpolitical,economic,scientificandtechnicalknowledge.
Action:thismeanstheactualorganizing,andpoliticalworkofthegroupoutsidethecollective,whereallmembersartexpectedtocontribute.
Unity:thegroupisaformoffamily,agatheringoffriendsandcomrades,peoplewhocareforthewell-beingofoneanother,wholoveandsupporteachother,whostrivetoliveinthespiritofcooperationandfreedom;voidofdistrust,jealousy,hate,competitionandotherformsofnegativesocialideasandbehavior.Inshort,affinitygroupsallowacollectivetolivearevolutionarylifestyle.
8/2/2019 Anarchism and the Black Revolution
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/anarchism-and-the-black-revolution 54/60
AbigadvantageofaffinitygroupsisthattheyarthighlyresistanttopoliceinfiltrationBecausethegroupmembersaresointimate,thegroupsareverydifficulttoinfiltrateagentsintothem,andevenifagroupispenetrated,thereisno`centraloffice”whichwouldgiveanagentinformationaboutthemovementasawhole.Eachcellhasitsownpolitics,agenda,andobjectives.Thereforehewouldhavetoinfiltratehundreds,maybethousands,ofsimilargroupsFurther,sincethemembersallknoweachother,hecouldnotleaddisruptionswithoutriskofimmediateexposure,whichwouldbluntanoperationliketheCOINTELPROusedbytheFBIagainsttheBlackandprogressivemovementsringthe1960s.Further,becausetherearenoleadersinthemovement,thereisnoonetotargetanddestroythegroup.
Becausetheycangrowasbiologicalcellsgrow,bydivision,theycanproliferaterapidly.Therecouldbehundredsinonelargecityorregion.Theypreparefortheemergenceofamassmovement;theywillorganizelargenumbersofpeopleinordertocoordinateactivitiesastheirneedsbecomeapparentandassocialconditionsdictate.Affinitygroupsfunctionasacatalystwithinthemassmovement,pushingittohigherandhigherlevelsofresistancetotheauthorities.Buttheyareready-madeforundergroundworkintheeventofopenpoliticalrepressionormassinsurrection.
ThisleadsustothenextlevelofAnarchistorganizations,theareaandregionalfederation.Federationsarethenetworksofaffinitygroupswhocometogetheroutofcommonneeds,whichincludemutualaideducation,action,andanyotherw
orkdeemedtobeneededforthetransformationofcurrentsocietyfromtheauthoritarianstatetoAnarchist-CommunismThefollowingisanexampleofhowAnarchist-Communistfederationscouldbestructured.First,thenistheareaorganization,whichcouldcoveralargecityorcounty.Alllike-mindedaffinitygroupsintheareawouldassociatethemselvesinalocalfederation.Agreementsonideology,mutualaid,andactiontobeundertakenwouldbemadeatmeetingsinwhichallcancomeandhaveequalvoice.
Whenthelocalareaorganizationreachesasizewhereitisdeemedtobetoobig,theareafederationwouldinitiateaCoordinatingConsensusCouncil.ThepurposeoftheCouncilistocoordinatetheneedsandactionsdefinedbyallthegroups,includingthepossibilityofsplittingandcreatinganotherfederation.Eachlocalarea’saffinitygroupwouldbeinvitedtosendrepresentativestothecounc
ilwithalltheviewpointsoftheirgroup,andasadelegatetheycouldvoteandjoininmakingpolicyonbehalfofthegroupatthecouncil.
Ournextfederationwouldbeonaregionalbasis,saytheentireSouthorMidwestThisorganizationwouldtakecareofthewholeregionwiththesameprinciplesofconsensusandrepresentation.NextwouldcomeanationalfederationtocovertheU.S.A,andthecontinentalfederation,thelatterofwhichwouldcoverthecontinentofNorthAmerica.Lastwouldbetheglobalorganizations,whichwouldbethenetworkingofallfederationsworldwide.AsforthelatterbecauseAnarchistsdonotrecognizenationalbordersandwishtoreplacethenation-state,theythusfederatewithallotherlike-mindedpeoplewherevertheyarelivingontheplanetearth.
ButforAnarchismtoreallywork,theneedsofthepeoplemustbefulfilled.SothefirstpriorityofAnarchistsisthewellbeingofall;thuswemustorganizethemeanstofullyandequallyfulfilltheneedsofthepeople.First,themeansofproduction,transportation,anddistributionmustbeorganizedintorevolutionaryorganizationsthattheworkersandthecommunityrunandcontrolthemselves.ThesecondpriorityoftheAnarchistsistodealwithcommunityneedorganizations,inadditiontoindustrialorganizing.Whateverthecommunityneedsare,thentheymustbedealtwith.Thismeansorganization.Itincludescooperativegroupstofulfillsuchneedsashealth,energy,jobs,childcare,housing,alternativeschools,food,entertainment,andothersocialareas.Thesecommunitygroup
8/2/2019 Anarchism and the Black Revolution
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/anarchism-and-the-black-revolution 55/60
swouldformacooperativecommunity,whichwouldbeanetworkofcommunityneedsorganizationsandserveasanAnarchisticsociopoliticalinfrastructure.Thesegroupsshouldnetworkwiththoseinotherareasformutualaideducation,andaction,andbecomeafederationonaregionalscale.
Third,Anarchistswouldhavetodealwithsocialillness.Notonlydoweorganizeforthephysicalneedsofthepeople,butmustalsoworkandpropagandizetocuretheillssproutedbytheState,whichhaswarpedthehumanpersonalityunderCapitalism.Forinstance,theoppressionofwomenmustbeaddressed.Noonecanbefreeif51percentofsocietyisoppressed,dominatedandabused.Notonlymustweformanorganizationtodealwiththeharmfuleffectsofsexism,butworktoensurepatriarchyisdeadbyeducatingsocietyaboutitsharmfuleffects.Thesamemustbedonewithracism,butinadditiontoreeducationofsociety,weworktoalleviatethesocialandeconomicoppressionofBlackandothernonwhitepeoples,andempowerthemforself-determinationtoleadfreelives.AnarchistsneedtoformgroupstoexposeandcombatracialprejudiceandCapitalistexploitation,andextendfullsupportandsolidaritytotheBlackliberationmovement.
Finally,Anarchismwoulddealwithanumberofareastoonumeroustomentionhere—science,technology,ecology,disarmament,humanrightsandsoon.Wemustharnessthesocialsciencesandmakethemservethepeople,whilewecoexistwithnature.Authoritariansfoolishlybelievethatitispossibleto“conquer”nature,butthatisnottheissue.Wearejustoneofanumberofspecieswhichinhabitthisplanetevenifwearethemostintelligent.Butthenotherspecieshavenotcr
eatednuclearweapons,startedwarswheremillionshavebeenkilled,orengagedindiscriminationagainsttheracesoftheirsub-species,allofwhichhumankindhasdone.Sowhoistosaywhichoneisthemost“intelligent?”WhyAmIAnAnarchist?
TheAnarchistmovementinNorthAmericaisoverwhelminglywhite,middleclass,andforthemostpart,pacifistsothequestionarises:whyamIapartoftheAnarchistmovement,sinceIamnoneofthosethings?Well,althoughthemovementmaynotnowbewhatIthinkitshouldbeinNorthAmerica,Ivisualizeamassmovementthatwillhavehundredsofthousands,perhapsmillionsofBlack,Hispanicandothernon-whiteworkersinit.ItwillnotbeanAnarchistmovementthatBlackworkersandtheotheroppressedwilljust“join”—itwillbeanindependentmovementwhichhasitsownsocialoutlook,culturalimperative,andpoliticalagenda.
ItwillbeAnarchistatitscare,butitwillalsoextendAnarchismtoadegreenopreviousEuropeansocialorculturalgroupeverhasdone.Iamcertainthatmanyoftheseworkerswillbelieve,asIdo,thatAnarchismisthemostdemocratic,effective,andradicalwaytoobtainourfreedom,butthatwemustbefreetodesignourownmovements,whetheritisunderstoodor“approved”byNorthAmericanAnarchistsornot.Wemustfightforourfreedom,nooneelsecanfreeus,buttheycanhelpus.
Iwrotethepamphletto:
inspireanationalanti-racistandanti-copbrutalityfederation,whichwouldbeAnarchist-initiatedoratleastbeheavilyparticipatedinbyAnarchists;
createacoalitionbetweenAnarchistsandrevolutionaryBlackorganizationssuchasthenewBlackPanthermovementofthe1990s;and
tosparkanewrevolutionaryfermentsadorganizationsintheAfrican-Americanandotheroppressedcommunities,whereAnarchismisacuriosity,ifthat.
Ithoughtthatifaserious,respectedlibertarianrevolutionaryputtheseideasforththeywouldbemorelikelytobeconsideredthanjustbyawhiteAnarchist,nomatterhowwellmotivated.IbelieveIamcorrectaboutthat.SohereiswhyIamanAnarchist.
8/2/2019 Anarchism and the Black Revolution
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/anarchism-and-the-black-revolution 56/60
Inthe1960sIwaspartofanumberofBlackrevolutionarymovements,includingtheBlackPantherParty,whichIfeelpartiallyfailedbecauseoftheauthoritarianleadershipstyleofHueyP.Newton,BobbyScaleandothersontheCentralCommittee.Thisisnotarecriminationagainstthoseindividuals,butmanyerrorsweremadebecausethenationalleadershipwastoodivorcedfromthechaptersincitiesalloverthecountry,andthereforeengagedin“commandism”orforcedworkdictatedbyleaders.ButmanycontradictionswerealsosetupbecauseofthestructureoftheorganizationasaMarxist-Leninistgroup.Therewasnotalotofinner-partydemocracy,andwhencontradictionscameup,itwastheleaderswhodecidedontheirresolution,notthemembers.Purgesbecamecommonplace,andmanygoodpeoplewereexpelledfromthegroupsimplybecausetheydisagreedwiththeleadership.
Becauseoftheover-importanceofcentralleadership,thenationalorganizationwasultimatelyliquidatedentirely,packedupandshippedbacktoOakland,California.Ofcourse,manyerrorsweremadebecausetheBPPwasayoungorganizationandwasunderintenseattackbythestate.IdonotwanttoimplythattheinternalerrorsweretheprimarycontradictionsthatdestroyedtheBPP.Thepoliceattacksonitdidthat,but,ifitwerebetterandmoredemocraticallyorganized,itmayhaveweatheredthestorm.Sothisisnomindlesscriticismorbackstabbingattack.Ilovedtheparty.And,anyway,notmyselforanyoneelsewhocritiquethepartywithhindsight,willevertakeawayfromthetremendoustalcthattheBPPplayedintheBlackLiberationmovementofthe1960s.Butwemustlookat
afullpictureofoutorganizationsfromthatperiod,sothatwedonotrepeatthesameerrors.
IthinkmybriefperiodinthePantherswasveryimportantbecauseittaughtmeaboutthelimitsof—andeventhebankruptcyof—leadershipinarevolutionarymovement.Itwasnotaquestionofapersonalitydefectonbehalfofparticularleader,butratherarealizationthatmanytimesleadershaveoneagenda,followershaveanother.
IalsolearnedthislessonduringmyassociationwiththeAfricanPeople’sSocialistPartyduringthe1980swhenIhadgottenoutofthejointIhadmetOmaliYeshitelawhileIwasconfinedinLeavenworth(KS.)federalpen,whenhewasinvitedtoourannualBlackSolidarityBayfestivitiesin1979.Thisassociationconti
nuedwhentheyformedtheBlackprisoners’organization,theAfricanNationalPrisonOrganizationshortlythereafter.ANPOwasdefinitelyagoodsupportorganization,andalongwithNewsandLettersCommitteestheKentuckybranchoftheNationalAllianceAgainstRacismandPoliticalRepression,andtheSocialrevolutionaryAnarchistFederation(nowdefunct),theywrotelettersandmadephonecallstohavemehospitalizedafterIhadbeeninfectedwithTuberculosis,whichsavedmylife.Butthegroupfoldedwhentheproposedcoalitionoffoundingorganizationscollapsedduetosectarianism.
AfterIgotoutofprison,IlostcontactwiththemastheyhadmovedfromLouisvilletotheWestCoast.Itwasnotuntil1987thatIonceagaincontactedthemwhenwewerehavingamassdemonstrationagainstpolicebrutalityinmyhometown.Theywereinvitedandcametothedemo,alongwithNAPOandseveralleft-wing
forces,andfortwoyearsoffandon,Ihadanassociationwiththem.ButIfeltAPSPpoliticallywasalwaysanauthoritarianorganization,andeventhoughwasneveramember,IbecamemoreandmoreuncomfortablewiththeirorganizationalpoliciesIntheSummerOf1988,IwenttoOakland,Californiatoattendan“organizers’school,”butIalsowantedtosatisfymyselfabouttheinternalworkingsofthegroup.Forsixweeks,Iworkedwiththemoutoftheirnationalheadquartersinthelocalcommunity.Iwasabletodetermineformyselfaboutinternalmattersandalsoabortthepoliticsofthegroupitself.Ifoundoutthataboutawholehistoryofpurges,factionalfights,andthe`oneman”dictatorialleadershipstyleoftheParty.WhileinOakland,IwasaskedtoattendameetinginPhiladelphia
8/2/2019 Anarchism and the Black Revolution
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/anarchism-and-the-black-revolution 57/60
thatFalltoreestablishANPO.
IattendedthePhillymeeting,butwasveryconcernedwhenIwasautomaticallyplacedaspartofa“slate”tobeofficersoftheANPOgroup,withoutanyrealdemocraticdiscussionamongtheproposedmembership,orallowingotherstoputthemselvesforwardaspotentialcandidates.Iwasinfactmadethehighest-rankingofficerinthegroup.AlthoughIstillbelievethatthereshouldbeamasspoliticalprisoners’movementandespeciallyaBlackprisoners’movement,Ibecameconvincedthatthiswasnotit.IbelievethatitwilltakeatruecoalitionofforcesintheBlackandprogressivemovementstobuildamassbaseofsupport.Igottofeelingthatthesefolksjustwantedtopushthepartyanditspolitics,ratherthanfreeprisoners,andsoIjustdroppedoutandhaven’tdealtwiththemsince.IwasverydisillusionedanddepressedwhenIlearnedthetruth.Iwon’tbeusedbyanybody—notforlong.
TheearlystagesoftheStudentNonviolentCoordinatingCommitteewasacontrastinmanywaystoanyBlackfreedomgrouptocomebeforeorafter,PartoftheSNCCactivistsweremiddleclasscollegeintellectuals,withasmallnumberofworkingclassgrassrootsactivists,buttheydevelopedaworkingstylethatwasveryanti-authoritarianandwasuniquetotheCivilrightsmovement.Insteadofbringinginanationalleadertoleadlocalstruggles,likeDr,MartinLutherKingJr.andhisgroup,theSouthernChristianLeadershipCouncil,waswonttodo,SNCCsentinfieldorganizerstoworkwiththelocalpeopleanddevelopindigenousleadershipandhelporganize,butnottakeoverlocalstruggles.Theyplacedth
eirfaithintheabilityofthepeopletodetermineanagendawhichwouldbestservethemandleadthemselvestoobtaintheirgoalsratherthanbeinginspiredortoldwhattodobyaleaderSNCCitselfhadnostrongleaders,eventhoughithadpersonsindecision-makingauthority,buttheywereaccountabletomembershipboardsandthecommunityinawaynoothergroupinthecivilrightsmovementwas.
SNCCwasalsoanon-secularorganization,incontrasttoSCLC,whichwasformedbyBlackpreachersandhadco-optedtheirstyleoforganizingfromtheBlackchurch,withareligiousauthorityfigurewhogaveorderstothetroops.TodaymostpoliticalcommentatorsorhistoriansstilldonotwanttogivefullcredittotheeffectivenessofSNCC,butmanyofthemostpowerfulandsuccessfulstrugglesoftheCivilrightsmovementwereinitiatedandwonbySNCC,includingmostof
thevotingrightsstrugglesandtheMississippiphaseofthefreedommovement.IlearnedalotaboutinternaldemocracybybeingapartofSNCC,howitcouldmakeorbreakanorganization,andhowithadsomuchtodowiththemoraleofthemembersEveryonewasgivenanopportunitytoparticipateindecision-making,andfeltpartofagreathistoricalmission,whichwouldchangetheirlivesforever.Theywereright.EventhoughSNCCgavesomelifelonglessonstoallofusinvolved,evenifitwasdestroyedbytherichandtheirown,whoresortedtoanauthoritarianstyleinlateryears.
IalsobegantohavearethinkingprocessafterIwasforcedtoleavedeU.S.andgotoCuba,Czechoslovakiaandothercountriesinthe“Socialistbloc,”asitwascalledthen.Itwascleatthatthesecountrieswereessentiallypolicestates,eventhoughtheyhadbroughtmanysignificantreformsandmaterialadvancestoth
eirpeoplesoverwhathadexistedbefore.Iobservedalsothatracismexistedinthosecountries,alongwiththedenialofbasicdemocraticrightsandpovertyonascaleIwouldnothavethoughtpossible.IalsosawagreatdealofcorruptionbytheCommunistPartyleadersandStateadministrators,whowerewelloff,whiletheworkersweremerewageslaves.Ithoughttomyself,“therehastobeabetterway!”Thereis.ItisAnarchism,whichIstartedtoreadaboutwhenIwascapturedinEastGermanyandhadheardmoreaboutwhenIwaseventuallythrownintoprisonintheUnitedStates.
Prisonisaplacewhereonecontinuallythinksabouthisotherpastlife,includ
8/2/2019 Anarchism and the Black Revolution
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/anarchism-and-the-black-revolution 58/60
ingtheexaminationofneworcontraryideas,IbegantothinkaboutwhatIhadseenintheBlackmovement,slangwithmymistreatmentinCuba,mycaptureandescapeinCzechoslovakia,andmyfinalcaptureinEastGermany.Ireplayedallthisoverandoverinmyhead.IwasfirstintroducedtoAnarchismin1969,immediatelyafterIwasbroughtbacktotheU.S.andwasplacedinthefederallockupinNewYorkCity,whereImetMartinSostre.Sostretoldmeabouthowtosurviveinprison,theimportanceoffightingforprisoners’democraticrights,andaboutAnarchism.ThisshortcourseinAnarchismdidnotstickhowever,eventhoughIgreatlyrespectedSostrepersonally,becauseIdidnotunderstandthetheoreticalconcepts.
Finallyaround1973,afterIhadbeenlockedupforaboutthreeyears,IstartedreceivingAnarchistliteratureandcorrespondencefromAnarchistswhohadheardaboutmycase.ThisbeganmyslowmetamorphosistoaconfirmedAnarchist,andinfactitwasnotuntilafewyearslaterthatIcameover.Duringthelate1970s,IwasadoptedbyAnarchistBlackCross-EnglandandalsobyaDutchAnarchistgroupcalledHAPOTOC,(HelpAPrisonerOpposeTortureOrganizingCommittee),whichorganizedaninstrumentaldefensecampaign.ThisprovedcrucialinultimatelygettingpeopleallovertheworldtowritetheU.S.governmenttodemandmyrelease.
IwroteasuccessionofarticlesfortheAnarchistpress,andwasamemberoftheSocialrevolutionaryAnarchistFederation,theIWW,andanumberofotherAnarchistgroupsintheU.S.andaroundtheworld.ButIbecamedisheartenedbythe
Anarchistmovement’sfailuretofightwhitesupremacyanditslackofclassstrugglepolitics.So,in1979,IwroteapamphletcalledAnarchismandtheBlackRevolution,toactasaguidetothediscussionofthesemattersbyourmovement.Finally,in1983,Iwasreleasedfromprison,afterhavingservedalmost15years.
Foralltheseyears,thepamphletinfluencedanumberofAnarchistswhowereopposedtoracismandalsowantedamoreclassstruggle-orientedapproachthanthemovementthenafforded.MeanwhileIbadfallenawayfromtheAnarchistmovementindisgust,anditwasnotuntil1992whenIwasworkinginmyhometownofChattanooga,Tennessee,asananti-racistcommunityorganizer,thatIranintoanAnarchistnamedJohnJohnsonandonceagainmadecontact.HegavemeanissueofLoveandRagenewspaper,andasaresult,IcontactedChrisDayofLoveandRage,andcomradesinWSAinNewYork.Therest,astheysay,ishistory.Ihavebeen
backwithavengeanceeversince!
Allofasudden,IseetherearenowothersinthemovementwhounderstandtheworkingsofwhitesupremacyandtheyhaveencouragedmetorewritethispamphletIhavegratefullydoneso.WhyamIanAnarchist?Ihaveanalternativevisionfortherevolutionaryprocess.Thereisabetterway.Letusgetonwithit!WhatIBelieve
Allanarchistsdonotbelieveinthesamethings.Therearedifferencesandthefieldisbroadenoughthatthosedifferencescancoexistandberespected.SoIdon’tknowwhatothersbelieve,IjustknowwhatIbelieveinandIwillspelloutitsimply,butthoroughly.
IbelieveinBlackliberation,soIamaBlackrevolutionary.IbelievethatBlackpeopleareoppressedbothasworkersandadistinctnationality,andwillonlybefreedbyaBlackrevolution,whichisanintrinsicpartofaSocialrevolution.IbelievethatBlacksandotheroppressednationalitiesmusthavetheirownagenda,distinctworld-view,andorganizationsofstruggle,eventhoughtheymaydecidetoworkwithworkers.
IbelieveinthedestructionoftheworldCapitalistSystem,soIamananti-imperialist,AslongasCapitalismisaliveontheplanet,therewillbeexploitation,oppressionandnation-states.Capitalismisresponsibleforthemajorworld
8/2/2019 Anarchism and the Black Revolution
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/anarchism-and-the-black-revolution 59/60
wars,numerousbrushwars,andmillionsofpeoplestarvingfortheprofitmotiveoftherichcountriesintheWest.
Ibelieveinracialjustice,soIamananti-racist,TheCapitalistsystemwasmatedbyandismaintainedbyenslavementandcolonialoppressionoftheAfricanpeople,andbeforetherewillbeasocialrevolutionwhitesupremacymustbedefeated.IalsobelievethatAfricansinAmericaarecolonizedandexistasaninternalcolonialoftheU.S,whitemothercountry.Ibelievethatwhiteworkersmustgiveuptheirprivilegedstatus,their“whiteidentity,”andmustsupportraciallyoppressedworkersintheirfightsforequalityandnationalliberationFreedomcannotbeboughtbyenslavingandexploitingothers.
Ibelieveinsocialjusticeandeconomicequality,soIamaLibertarianSocialist.Ibelievethatsocietyandallpartiesresponsibleforitsproductionshouldsharetheeconomicproductsoflabor.IdonotbelieveinCapitalismorthestate,andbelievetheybothshouldbeoverthrownandabolishedIaccepttheeconomiccritiqueofMarxism,butnotitsmodelforpoliticalorganizing.Iaccepttheanti-authoritariancritiqueofAnarchism,butnotitsrejectionoftheclassstruggle.
Ibelieveinworkerscontrolofsocietyandindustry,soIamanAnarcho-Syndicalist.AnarchistSyndicalismisrevolutionarylaborunionism,wheredirectactiontacticsareusedtofightCapitalismandtakeoverindustryIbelievethatthefactorycommitteesworkers’councilsandotherlabororganizationsshouldbethew
orkplaces,andshouldtakecontrolfromtheCapitalistsafteradirectactioncampaignofsabotage,strikes,sitdowns,factoryoccupationsandotheractions.
Idonotbelieveingovernment,andsoIamanAnarchist.Ibelievethatgovernmentisoneoftheworstformsofmodernoppression,isthesourceofwarandeconomicoppression,andmustbeoverthrown.Anarchismmeansthatwewillhavemoredemocracy,socialequality,andeconomicprosperity.Iopposeallformsofoppressionfoundinmodernsociety:patriarchy,whitesupremacy,Capitalism,StateCommunism,religiousdictates,gaydiscrimination,etc.AppendixAShortBiographyofLorenzoKom’boaErvin
LorenzoKom’boaErvinwasbornandraisedinChattanooga,Tennesseein1947;what
hecallsthe“…segregatedSouth…”wasanenvironmentofviolence,racism,povertyandrjection.Ayouthstreetgangmember,ErvinjoinedtheNAACPyouthgroupwhenhewas12yearsoldandtookpartinthe1960sit-inprotestswhichchangedracialdiscriminationinpublicaccommodationsinthecity.AfterbeingdraftedandafterservingtwoyearsintheU.S.Army,(wherehewasaVietnamanti-warorganizerandwascourt-martialed),hejoinedtheStudentNon-violentCoordinatingCommitteein1967shortlybeforeitmerged(temporarily)withthemoremilitantBlackPantherParty.
InthewakeoftheurbanBlackrebellionsthatrockedtheU.S.aftertheassassinationofDr.MartinLutherKingintheSpringof1968,anattemptwasmadetoframeErvinonweaponschargesandforplanningtokillalocalKlanleader.InordertoescapeprosecutioninthesechargesErvinhijackedaplanetoCubainFe
bruary1969.ItwaswhileinCubaandlaterinthethen-RepublicofCzechoslovakia,thathefirstbecamedisillusionedwithstatesocialism,recognizingitasdictatorshipperiod,notthe“dictatorshipoftheproletariat”asvariousCommunistgovernmentsclaimed.InPrague(theCzechoslovakcapital),ErvinwasbetrayedtoU.S.officialsbypro-CIAelementsleftoverfromtheDubcekregimeshortlyaftertheSovietinvasionofthecountry.BrieflycapturedandheldattheAmericanConsulate,hefledtoEastBerlinwherehewaskidnappedbyaspecialteamofbyAmericanandWestGermanspecialagentssenttorecapturehim.HewasdruggedandtorturedduringinterrogationinthebasementoftheU.S.Consulateforalmostaweek,andafteralmostdyingfromthismistreatment,hewasillegallybrough
8/2/2019 Anarchism and the Black Revolution
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/anarchism-and-the-black-revolution 60/60
tbacktotheUSAwhereitwasfalselyannouncedbytheStatedepartmentandtheFBIinapressconferencethathehad“turnedhimselfin”atJFKairport.
AfterafarceofatrialinasmalltowninGeorgia,wherehefacedthedeathpenaltybeforeanall-whitejudge,jury,prosecutoranddefenseattorneys(appointedbythecourt),hewassentencedtotherestofhislifeinprison.ErvinremainedpoliticallyactiveinprisonwherehewasfirstintroducedtotheidealsofAnarchisminthelate1970s.Hereadmanybooksonthesubjectsentbyprisonbookclubs,andtheAnarchistBlackCross,aninternationalprisonersupportmovement,adoptedhiscase.Alsoinprison,ErvinwroteseveralAnarchistpamphletsthatareprobablythemostwidelyreadwritingsonanarchismandtheBlackliberationmovement.AnarchismandtheBlackRevolutionisstillpopular,andhasgonethroughseveralprintings.
Hewasalsoinvolvedinmanyprisonstruggles,theearly1970sprisonunionorganizingcampaignsandtheBlackprisonermovementorthatperiod.Becauseofyearsofsolitaryconfinementandprisonmailcensorship,hiscasewaskeptinobscurity,anditwasnotuntilhewasoneofthe“MarionBrothels,”agroupofprisonerswhobecamewellknownastheystruggledagainstthefirstControlUnitatMarionFederalPenitentiary,thathiscasebecameapublicconcern.Ervin’sownlegalchallengesandaninternationalcampaigneventuallyledtohisreleasefromprisonafter15yearsofincarceration.
AfterhisreleaseErvinreturnedtoChattanooga,whereforovertenyears,here
mainedactivewiththeConcernedCitizensforJustice,alocalcivilrightsgroup,fightingpolicebrutalityandorganizingagainsttheKuKluxKlan.In1987ErvinhelpedorganizeamajormobilizationagainsttheKlanthatresultedintheKlanbeingrunoutoftown.Alsoin1987,ErvinwasprimarilyresponsibleforthefilingofamajorcivilrightslawsuitthatsuccessfullyforcedthecityofChattanoogatochangeitsstructureofgovernanceonthebasisthatitsystematicallydisempoweredtheBlackcommunity.
Inretaliationforhisactivism,thewhitepowerstructurehassoughttoframeErvinuponanumberofcharges,thelastbeinghisarrestonmisdemeanorchargesinthe“Chattanooga3”case.Inthatcase,ErvinwasarrestedwithseveralotheractivistsintheAdHocCoalitionAgainstRacismandPoliceBrutality(whichsucceededtheConcernedCitizensforJustice)forhisparticipationinademonstratio
nagainstthefailureofagrandjurytobringanycriminalchargesagainstpolicemenwhochokedaBlackmotorist,LarryPowell,todeathinFebruary1993.