#Meditations on Frantz Fanon’s Wretched of the Earth: New Afrikan Revolutionary Writings

[physics-dirtbag]

From Meditations on Frantz Fanon’s Wretched of the Earth: New Afrikan Revolutionary Writings by James (Yaki) Sayles

[weil-weil-lautre]

The struggle against 'racism' is, in the spirit of Fanon, one in which We struggle to become 'anti-racist' in both our thought and our practice. It's also an attempt to approximate the communist ideal, transcending the boundaries of racialized discourse and practice that were erected by the oppressive apparatus, and which serve to reproduce, reinforce, and sustain it. [...] All i wanna say here is: No matter how We see the relations between 'racism' and capitalism (e.g., that they arose simultaneously, or that one preceded the other), i think they should always be mentioned together. That is, i believe it's counter-productive to ever talk about 'racism' without immediately and thoroughly linking it to capitalism, so that no one can be unmindful of the need to struggle against capitalism if they claim to be 'anti-racist' or 'against racism.'  'Racism' is used to justify and facilitate the exploitation of peoples, and it's based on the false belief that humanity is divided into a plurality of 'races' that stand in relation to each other as 'inferior' or 'superior' based on physical and/or cultural differences. There are no 'races'--only people(s) and groups of people(s), united and distinguished by common history (social development), habits, interests, etc.--sometimes We call all of this 'nationality' or ideology. To be 'anti-racist' is, first of all, not to hold the false belief in an alleged plurality of 'races'; to be 'against racism' is to combat all beliefs and practices that facilitate the exploitation of peoples, particularly when such exploitation is supported by the social construction of 'race.' Any attempt to destroy 'racism' without an explicit link to the struggle against capitalism ultimately serves only to reinforce 'racist' ideology and to shield capitalism from attack. On the other hand, an attempt to combat capitalism without an explicit link to anti-racist discourse and struggle allows capitalism to use the belief in 'race' held by oppressed peoples, and appeal to the 'racism' of citizens of the oppressive state, thus undermining all revolutionary initiative.

James Yaki Sayles, Meditations on Frantz Fanon’s Wretched of the Earth: New Afrikan Revolutionary Writings, 157-8

[radiumeater]

I've been to a couple sessions of an RGA-inspired "MLM study group" (don't judge me). When discussing national liberation in the US, they mention Puerto Rico and different Indigenous nations (which I get) but also a "Black Nation" that is geographically bounded to the Deep South and "Aztlán"/"Chicano Nation" that is geographically bounded to the Southwest. They say these are the only oppressed nations within the US. I'm quite new to MLM, is this a common MLM viewpoint or is it a RGA thing?

11100111000 said: (follow up to previous ask) I’m not saying I’m against national liberation for Black + Chicano people, I’m just confused by why RGA assigned specific geographical boundaries to those nations when there are people of those groups living across the US, and I’m confused by why other racialized minority groups in the US aren’t considered nations. Not sure if this is just me being confused/local RGA fanboys being bad at explaining this, or if the RGA line is incorrect?

well for one I am absolutely going to judge you for going within a kilometer of RGA fanboys (especially on this question, since the wreckers in austin have a habit of calling parties of oppressed nations [especially those not under RCPUS- I mean RGA leadership] “bundist”) but anyways-It’s not an RGA thing and is a fairly common MLM viewpoint, but it must be noted that the conceptions of New Afrika and Aztlánpredate MLM entirely. The specific geographical boundaries, constitution, structure, etc. of New Afrika was agreed upon by multiple black liberation organizations during the late 1960s, most notably the Malcolm X society, and have been developed on since. The specific conception of Aztlán has similar origins with the Chicano liberation movement, the specific borders somewhat aligning with those ceded to the u$ after the war with Mexico. To say that New Afrika and Aztlán are the only oppressed nations in the u$ is a bit mind boggling though. Have they forgotten the indigenous liberation movement as a whole? Have they forgotten all of the nations which survived the u$ conquest and genocide? Though the narrow field of focus isn’t particularly surprising, as the u$ ML/M movement (especially those of the Red Guards type) have done well to completely alienate themselves from Indigenous liberation organizations and the actual New Afrikan Independence Movement.I’m going to recommend trying to check out three of the best works I’ve read on this overall topic, though I’ve had trouble finding PDFs of any of them online.False Nationalism, False Internationalism: Class Contradictions In The Armed Struggle -Kae Sara & E. TaniMeditations on Frantz Fanon’s Wretched of the Earth: New Afrikan Revolutionary Writings by James Yaki Sayles Stand up Struggle Forward: New Afrikan Revolutionary Writings on Nation, Class and Patriarchy -Sanyika Shakur