[Marxism] Black Nationalism / BPP / etc.

[David Walters <dwalters@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Adam demands:
"Fundamentally the question boils down to, who the hell are we,
relatively priveledged white Marxists, to say whether or not Blacks
constitute a nation?"

Because we're discussing it, someone asked a question, it's our jobs as
scientists to give an answer. A answer such as "Well, Blacks thing they
are a nation" doesn't answer anything. It's only one part of the
answer. The "privileged" Marxists of the early Comintern spent two
decades trying to answer this question. The CP did the same thing. We
live in this country and just as the early Russian social-democracy had
to ask and answer the *exact* same question, so do we.

Adam again:
"It seems to me that if we really NEED an answer on the subject, we need
only ask our Black Marxist comrades what THEY think. It seems to
me--correct me if I'm wrong--they're pretty unified in that department."

Really? So, the *largest* left group in the US with the *highest
number* of Blacks, the CPUSA, doesn't agree with you Adam. Also, how do
a few hundred or a thousand "Black Marxists" have a trump on this
question? An interesting political perspective. "Unified"? Have you
read the old list-serve discussions of the BRC???

Adam concludes:
"I'm sorry, Mark, I really don't mean to be flippant. But the point of
my post is, while you can make an argument for/against nationhood,
holding to an either/or position is mistaken. And in reality, this is
NOT a question among Black comrades. They *know* Blacks constitute a
nation. And to me, respecting that call is the very definition of
self-determination."

And you *know* this exactly how? I know *most* Jews think they are a
nation...guess that makes them so? Certainly most Israeli's do...
virtually no dissent on this question among Jewish Israelis. Perhaps
only Jewish Israeli Marxists have the monopoly on truth here?

I really enjoyed Fred's contemporary application of Marxism-Leninism to
his discussion. I think it's a highly appropriate *starting point* to
re-discuss this issue in a serious, Marxist, manner. Or... maybe until
we get the OK from Adam first. How about it Adam? Can you go and ask
some Black Marxists if this is OK?

David Walters


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