Date: Sun, 16 Apr 1995 21:28:20 -0500 From: marquit-AT-physics.spa.umn.edu Subject: Re: CPUSA A comment on Kenny Mostern's assertion that CPUSA routinely denied the subjective factor in racism. The CPUSA from the 1920 on continually attached importance to both the objective and subjective elements of racism. The economic benefits reaped by the bourgeoisie and the Southern landowners from the superexploitation of African American labor had a clearly objective character and the class nature of the struggle against it took on both object and subjective forms. The struggles against racism and its material and nonmaterial consequences necessarily involve both subjective and objective elements. The organized struggle against racist ideology needs material resources and material organizational forms, but the contents of ideological struggle are in the subjective sphere. Recognition of the central importance of ideological struggle against racism as a necessary condition for social progress in the United States both in regard to improving material conditions of life under capitalism as a well as preparing for an advance to socialism again is in the subjective sphere. The historical record of the CPUSA in coupling the subjective and objective aspects of this struggle is unmatched by any multiracial organization. This does mean that the CPUSA did not at times make incorrect assessments with negative subjective and objective consequences. Although instances of individual members displaying patronizing attitudes can no doubt be found, I do not think it fair to characterize the CPUSA's participation in antiracist struggles as organizationally patronizing. An argument can be made that arrogance in the conception of its vanguard role that occasionally expressed itself, for example, in referring to everyone to its left as the "phony left" also could lead to patronizing attitudes in regard to African American organizations. Discussions on this latter matter, however, are best discussed more concretely, so that errors can be acknowledged and lessons drawn in a meaningful way. In my view, the "vanguard" concept is still a valid one and involves recognition of the need for a party rooted in the working class to give theoretical and organizational leadership against all forms of oppression. But the fulfillment of its vanguard role cannot rest on an organization stating that it is playing a vanguard role and demanding that it be recognized as such. It must be recognized as such by still larger numbers of others outside of its membership. In any case, in its history of struggle against racism, the CPUSA has built up a record of accomplishments that by far outweighed such expressions of arrogance. Erwin Marquit marquit-AT-physics.spa.umn.edu --- from list marxism-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu --- ------------------
Display software: ArchTracker © Malgosia Askanas, 2000-2005