Re: AUT: Black Like Who? - Why African Americans Arn't Supporting Mumia

[Alvaro Reyes <areyes@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Jamal,

	Of course not many African Americans support Mumia, not many
people in general support any radical causes! Or are you about to tell me
how non-marxists-leninist causes (i.e. anarchism) really has the backing
of a large segment of the American public? But this alone tells us
nothing of the merits or mistakes of the anarchists movement.

	Second, to compare the plight of a taxi driver and former black panther to
that of a media superstar like O.J. Simpson seems a bit
ridiculous. Of course people supported O.J.,he was on everyones
T.V. set every day! What he symbolized for the African American
Community was concretized an circulated constantly (just a reminder that
the support shown to O.J. was never organized beyond opinion polls) In
contrast, Mumia's
case has gotten very sparse and inconsistent media attention. So, it is
not that most African Americans don't support MUMIA, the larger problem
is that most African Americans have never heard his name. A funny thing
is happenning here in Philly, the more negative press that MUMIA gets, the
stronger the support is from the African American community (notice the
black power contingent present at the last large philly rally). Of course
this support has not translated in to what it could be, but you have to
remember that the activist communities within the African American
community were the hardest hit during the 1980's and 90's, it is going
to take some time before they obtain some resources to regroup and do
full time organizing around an issue.

	From my stand point here in Philadelphia your comments seem out of touch. Although many of the organizations that have picked up
Mumia's case are Marxist-Lenninist organizations this is not because of
any desire to let these groups dominate the movement, it is because these
organizations are the only ones large and organized enough to offer a
support system that can be counted on in any consistent fashion. But need I
remind you that since the late 1970's MOVE has always had a closer
relationship (i.e.they see more eye to eye) with the Anarchist community
than
any other groups here in Philly.  In fact, it was a small group of 2 or 3
anarchists here in conjunction with MOVE that got going what today is known
as the MUMIA
movement. When these three or four people would meet and organize they
did so with no money and little support-Mumia is not a celebrity cause, it
has come to the eyes of various celebrities because of the success of
grassroots organizing efforts done by very marginalized groups.

	To sum up, African Americans are not "alienated" by the MUMIA
movements' Marxist-Leninist tendencies, you have to be aware of the
movement first to feel "alienated" from it.
Second, of course most large communities in 1999 are not going to
support radical causes but I still don't understand what this has to do
with anything. If this were our measure the anarchism you defend and I
find somewhat appealing would be the first out the door.
	Last, I think that we can agree that more organizing has to be
done on the ground and in terms agreeable to larger segments of the
African American and Latino community.  This is the only way we can
garauntee that this movement will be grass roots and
non-sectarian. But I have to tell you that from counting up the three or
four
people of color (me included) that have attended the anarchists conferences
that I have been to I am not sure the anarchist movement offers an
alternative that will not be viewed as equally alienating by those
communities you want to include.

Thanks,
Alvaro


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