Re: Redbaiting [targeting Robeson et al.]

[Adam Levenstein <cleon42@xxxxxxxxx>]

--- Hunter Gray <hunterbadbear@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Note by Hunter Gray [Hunterbear]:
>
> The poisonous New Politics article, "Robeson: Flawed Giant", has now
> appeared on Marxism Discussion.

If I may just pop in here and offer my $.02. I undoubtedly will be
flamed mercilessly by both sides, but hey, people on this list are
intelligent enough to know where to stick it without me tellin' 'em.

I think both sides are talking right past each other when it comes to
Robeson. On the one hand, you have people who point out Robeson's
active participation in the Civil Rights movement, his campaigns for
working people, his excellent music--all of which is true--and say he
was a Good Guy. On the other, you have folks who point out his
Stalinist political leanings, his strong (and, IMO, incorrect in the
extreme) denunciation of Trotskyists and his disappointing position on
the Smith Act--all of which are also true--and conclude that Robeson
was a Very Bad Man. Each side accuses the other of being
"anti-communist;" one because the other denounces Robeson, the other
because Robeson denounced the Trotskyists.

I think this kind of "he's good/he's bad" argument does a disservice to
Robeson. He was a complicated guy, and like everyone else he had good
points to him and bad points. I don't think it's a bad thing to
celebrate his contributions to the struggle, nor do I think it's a bad
thing to point out his less-than-admirable aspects. We have much to
learn from people like Robeson, and most of what we have to learn goes
well beyond "loyal communist/vicious Stalinist."

Let's take a look at Pete Seeger for a moment. As far as I know, Pete
is *still* a CPUSA member, and was active in the CPUSA during the same
period as Robeson. I don't know if he has made any public comments
about the SWP. Maybe yes, maybe no. Nevertheless, I'm still a huge
admirer of Pete; he fought face-to-face against McCarthy's witch-hunt,
he fought for the unions, he fought for civil rights, he fought against
the Vietnam War, he fights to free Mumia (in the limited capacity an
80-year-old with a dwindling voice can fight). Do I think he's perfect?
Of course not. He probably has some political views that clash with my
own. Nevertheless, I still think of him every time I pick up my
long-neck banjo and sing "We Shall Not be Moved." I don't know anyone
who denounces Pete the way some denounce Robeson.

My views on Robeson are similar. While his political views and mine are
markedly different, the man was a fighter and I salute him for it.

Adam


=====
Adam Levenstein                          cleon42@xxxxxxxxx
ICQ: 17125158

"Microsoft has a new version out, Windows XP, which according to everybody is 
the 'most reliable Windows ever.' To me, this is like saying that asparagus is 
'the most articulate vegetable ever.' "
                             -- Dave Barry

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