A new book, Anti-Racism as Communism, written by Paul Gomberg, is thought-provoking and insightful in its argument that only communism can abolish racism. He takes us through the history of racism in the U.S., and the central role it plays in capitalism’s development. He posits a definition of racism that focuses on social inequality, not just prejudice or bigotry, and emphasizes the uniqueness and viciousness of anti-Black racism.

The book carefully develops a summary of the historical events and the relationship to profit that led to the invention of racism. In the early 1600’s and beyond, class solidarity was embedded in Black/poor white relations. In this period, indentured servants from Europe and enslaved people from Africa were friends, lovers, partners, and companions. As the 1700s brought new racist laws required to be read in church twice a year, and punishments meted out for disobeying those laws, racism began to develop.

Examples of Black and white worker unity against racism

Racism was integral to the founding of the U.S.—all of the “founding fathers” were racists. Most were enslavers who got rich off racism, including the leading racist theoretician, Thomas Jefferson. Class solidarity was also a factor of black/poor white relations in this time. “The capitalist system drove down the enslaved and the poor white farmers, but differently.” (p. 43)

Of course, racism did not end after the Civil War. The purpose of Jim Crow was to separate Black and white and prevent anti-racist class unity.

“The tragedy was the failure of white labor to understand that the racist oppression of black labor was their own oppression, that the working class as a whole needed to fight racist oppression. Instead, many white workers participated in the oppression of their black fellow workers, undermining them all.” (p. 57)

There were, of course, exceptions. In the 1880s and 90s there were integrated fights of coal miners. In some places, white miners realized that if Black workers were paid less, white miners were more likely to lose their jobs. Rendville, Ohio, for example, with a majority white population, had racially integrated schools and elected a Black mayor in 1887. Still, because the bosses hold state power, gains for some workers mean losses for others. “Only the seizure of power makes a truly human society for workers possible.” (p. 74)

Paul details the many anti-racist fights organized by the Communist Party, particularly in the 1930s - 1950s. The fact that these struggles brought Black and white together was a powerful blow to Jim Crow. Black-white worker unity was prominent in struggles of Memphis maritime workers, Ford Rouge workers, Waterloo meatpackers, the Chicago Packinghouse Workers, and Louisville farm equipment workers, to name some examples. The Communist Party was instrumental in helping to develop racial unity in these struggles.   

When Nazis came to power in Germany, the Soviets and communists elsewhere allied with liberals against fascism instead of organizing for communist revolution to smash fascism. Later, in 1947, the Taft-Hartley Act was passed by Congress in an effort—which ended up being successful— to destroy communist-led unions. Party members were caught off guard because they did not fully understand how incompatible capitalism is with workers’ needs. We must learn from both the successes and mistakes of the Communist Party, as we continue to fight for an egalitarian world.

The Civil Rights movement ended many forms of discrimination, but Black workers were still relegated to lower-paid jobs, their children went to segregated schools and they lived in segregated neighborhoods. “The civil rights movement… did not place racism in the context of exploitation of workers and benefits to capital of a divided working class.” (p. 126) Furthermore, Black workers are still prominent in low-wage work, are often “last hired, first fired”, and have considerably less inherited wealth mostly due to past and present racist policies and practices regarding home ownership.

From his own experience as a teacher at the predominantly Black Chicago State University, Gomberg presents the idea that racism can be committed by Black people against other Black people. In one example, a student is unjustly beaten and arrested by a cop, who is supported by administrators and never disciplined for his actions. Everyone in this example is Black.

Racism also is harmful to white and other non-Black working-class people. Racism has divided the working class, weakened unions, and encouraged a culture of individualism. It has driven down conditions for Black and other non-white people, but also, to a lesser extent, white people. The capitalists increase their share of wealth, while poverty creates stress for the working class. The only way to end racism is to end capitalism.

Only communism can end racism

Gomberg argues that an important aspect of ending racism is to “alienate race”. This is not a process that ignores the existence of racism. Rather, it is the process of thinking of yourself and others in terms other than the racial identities that the capitalists have created. He does not posit that this is an easy process or even one that can be completed under capitalism. He does argue that alienating race is an essential part of the elimination of racism. It is a process that can begin when we are still under the yoke of capitalism, even though it can only be fully realized under communism.

Additionally, Paul discusses the importance of what he calls “race-centered Marxism”. In other words, while it is true that there are many groups of people who are discriminated against by the capitalist class, racism is historically and currently their primary weapon to divide the working class. 
The book ends on a hopeful note. It briefly analyzes the strengths and weaknesses within the Chinese Communist Party. We have much to learn from both. While encouraged by their success, we must also learn from their mistakes, which led to their current capitalist state. Combining our practice in militant class struggle with dialectical materialist understandings of history like that in Antiracism as Communism will guide us to construct a new communist society that’s stronger than ever. 

(Note: Antiracism as Communism currently is only sold in hardcover form, for over $100. CHALLENGE suggests that readers ask their local libraries purchase for circulation).

Correction:

In our July 17th issue, we published a speech on page 5 entitled Graduation Speech: Students, you are the fire of the world. We made a regrettable technical error that resulted in us cutting a significant section of the speech, specifically about how a PL’er is building ties with students and parents. We sincerely apologize. The entire speech can be found on www.plp.org

Strikers expose NEA’s racist hypocrisy

The leadership of my union, the National Education Association (NEA), the largest teachers union in the U.S., demonstrates how union bosses are complicit in oppressing workers in every industry under capitalism and throughout the world. The NEA claims to be a ‘social justice union’ but they have played a deadly game by pretending to support a ceasefire in Palestine while interfering with their members’efforts to educate and organize against genocide, all at the behest of U.S. imperialists and Zionists. At the same time, they lie (just like capitalists!) about their contract bargaining with the union of workers they employ, the National Education Association Staff Organization (NEASO), failing to deal honestly with the needs of these workers. They stand exposed siding with war-mongering, profit-stealing capitalists every time. They are only for ‘justice’ when their positions and pockets aren’t threatened! The President and Vice President of NEA each clear about $400,000 and their employees at NEASO are poorly paid union employees. NEASO members are furious that the NEA is outsourcing millions of dollars of employee work to contractors in a union busting move, undercutting their bargaining power. NEASO workers also exposed the corruption of Becky Pringle, union president, for using $8,500 of union funds for three days of hairstyling. Glad you look good, Becky – not!

In Maryland, the local union chair used deceptive means to squash any discussion of the war on Palestinians and Israel’s land grab at the same meeting where she hypocritically recognized our modern-day occupation of stolen indigenous lands in the U.S. Nationally, the union leaders are no better, dodging a serious approach to the Gaza/Palestine issue and lying about the working conditions and pay of their own employees. NEASO workers rightly decided to strike during the teachers annual meeting, forcing it to close. Progressive Labor Party teachers rallied with other teachers for Palestinian rights before the shutdown, exposing the NEA’s failure to oppose genocide. If it wasn’t clear before, it should be clear now that only a multi-racial, communist struggle will get workers what we need. Adelante! 
*****

What’s nationalism?

The Progressive Labor Movement (PLM) and the Progressive Labor Party (PLP) were formed in 1961 and 1965, respectively, when nationalism was in the news media to a much greater degree than it is today in 2024.  As a result,  labeling a person or organization as nationalist (such as the National Liberation Front in Vietnam) conveyed a much clearer image of what it or they supported: a supposed revolutionary outlook hiding an actual capitalist economic-political vision of working-class exploitation by local capitalists instead of foreign ones.

Many people,  including the PLM and the early PLP,  were and still are fooled by the pseudo-revolutionary slogans of nationalists and their groupings.  However,  based on a dialectical-materialist analysis of the actions of various nationalists,  the PLP realized that so-called “revolutionary” nationalism was the opposite of what it claimed to be.  Unfortunately,  despite a full explanation of the counter-revolutionary nature of nationalism in the August, 1969 issue of PL Magazine,  no other organization accepted the PLP’s point of view.  The accuracy of the analysis in 1969 continues to be valid.  For example,  today Vietnam is a country filled with low-wage sweat shops run by both local and foreign capitalists.
Right now,  there are several individuals and organizations who are classic nationalists masquerading as “revolutionaries” behind phony sloganeering and outright anti-worker activities.  The most important of these groups are Hamas,  the Houthis in the Middle East,  and Iran.  ALL of the politicians in every country are also nationalist fakers.  Nationalists are dangerous because their rhetoric sounds pro-working class but when you examine what nationalists actually do,  it is clearly thoroughly in favor of the capitalist ruling class and against the interests of workers.

The PLP opposes all forms of nationalism.  We no longer make a distinction between so-called “revolutionary” nationalism and reactionary nationalism.  Nationalism sells-out the working class to the highest capitalist bidder.  We do support working inside nationalist organizations to expose their nefarious intentions and to win honest workers away from them.
*****

U.N. office denounces Israeli attacks on civilians

Al Jazeera, 7/13–The OHCHR has said it condemns the continued Israeli military use of weapons “with area effects in populated areas of Gaza, including in areas which [the military] has itself designated as humanitarian zones, killing many civilians”... the Israeli military reportedly “fired several Air Dropped Munitions in al-Mawasi area of Khan Younis, next to a makeshift camp hosting around several hundreds of people”...Israeli military quadcopters also reportedly targeted emergency rescue workers, killing at least one Civil Defence worker and injuring several others. 
On the same day, the Israeli military struck a makeshift mosque inside Shati refugee camp, west of Gaza City. Reports indicate that because it “struck shortly after the noon prayer, many people were still inside or near the mosque, resulting in the death of at least 17 male Palestinians.” The Office said that the use of “weapons with wide area effect in densely populated areas” has led to “disproportionate harm to civilians and damage to civilian infrastructure”, suggesting a “pattern of willful violation of the disregard of International Humanitarian Law principles of distinction, proportionality and precaution”.

Exploitation of migrants is built into U.S. law

Wall Street Journal, 7/13–A growing number of undocumented immigrants are hitting retirement age without savings or the cushion of Social Security or Medicare…Many opt to continue working until they are physically unable, while others rely on help from younger family members…“I laugh when people ask me at what age I’m going to retire,” said Marta Salazar, 66 years old…“I know I have to work until my body gives out.” 
The population of immigrants in the U.S. without legal status stood at about 10.5 million in 2021, according to a Pew Research Center report last year. While many work under the table, some find jobs in the formal sector, often using fake documents or borrowed identities. Those who do generally pay Social Security and Medicare taxes…migrants made a net contribution of about $12 billion to the Social Security system in 2010, the most recent year in which such an analysis was conducted…But they are barred by law from receiving benefits from the program. 

Israeli fascists drive Lebanese toward Hezbollah fascists

Foreign Affairs, 7/12–Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently declared that as his country’s military operations in Gaza wind down, Israel will turn its attention to its foe to the north: the Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah. The two parties have a long history of conflict rooted in Israel’s invasion of Lebanon in 1982, its occupation of the southern portion of the country from 1985 to 2000, and a full-scale war the two sides fought in 2006…In recent weeks, concerns have grown that another major war between the two parties could break out.
Within Lebanon… [Hezbollah] operates as a legal political party and as a security force: the group effectively governs much of the country, particularly in the south and east. Hezbollah also provides basic services to those living in the areas it controls…In effect, the group operates as a state within a state. 

Hezbollah does not command widespread support across the country. And yet many Lebanese favor some of Hezbollah’s basic positions. Lebanese overwhelmingly support the rights of Palestinians and condemn Israel for its actions in Gaza…And if Israel invades Lebanon to attack Hezbollah, support for the organization would likely rise further.

Taliban fascists terrorize Afghani women

DW, 7/10–The Taliban government in Afghanistan is carrying out stricter enforcement of religious law in Afghanistan through the deployment of "morality police," according to a UN report published Tuesday. The UN report said the Taliban has created a "climate of fear" since the Islamist militant group regained power in August 2021 and set up the so-called "Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice"...Since taking power, the Taliban have also barred girls and young women from receiving an education, while keeping women out of public jobs. Morality police squads have the power to scold, arrest, and punish citizens who participate in activities considered to be "un-Islamic," including wearing "Western" hairstyles and listening to banned music.

On June 23, rebel forces in Myanmar seized control of Thandwe Airport in western Rakhine State, a logistics hub for the ruling military junta and the gateway to prized coastal resorts. It’s just the latest win for the surging anti-junta forces, now estimated to control more than half the largest Southeast Asian country in land mass (The Irrawaddy, 6/25).

While the world watches in horror at the unending, racist U.S.-backed slaughter in Palestine, civil war rages in Myanmar. Well into its third year, the conflict has killed tens of thousands of workers and children, displaced millions more, and made life practically unbearable. Inflation has spiraled out of control. Millions of jobs have been lost since the military takeover, and nearly half the population lives below the poverty line (East Asia Forum, 2/27). With workers denied legitimate opportunities, the cultivation of opium has skyrocketed (NBC News, 5/30).

On the surface, the Myanmar civil war is a battle between a well-armed, brutal military junta and a growing coalition of ethnic-based militias. But closer examination reveals the devastating impact of inter-imperialist competition, with the U.S., Russia, and China vying for influence by funding and arming different warring factions—and spilling the blood of our class every step of the way.

From Myanmar to Sudan to Palestine/Israel, the working class must take up arms to smash our capitalist oppressors. But we must refuse to fight and die for the capitalist bosses’ rotten nationalism and liberal democracy. As communist revolutionaries, we emphatically state that the only just war is a class war that overthrows the capitalist exploiters and their whole damn racist system. Workers now fighting in Myanmar must be won to wage a communist revolution led by a mass, international Progressive Labor Party.

Strategic battleground in deadly inter-imperialist rivalry

A former colony of the racist British Empire, sharing a border with capitalist powers China and India, Myanmar (formerly Burma) has long been a point of geopolitical significance. In early 2021, a shaky power-sharing agreement between the civilian government and the powerful military, the Tatmadaw, broke down. The Tatmadaw seized control through a coup d’etat and formed a governing junta. 

In the years leading up to the coup, the U.S. imperialists had cozied up to popular misleader Aung San Suu Kyi, the face of the ousted liberal democracy government. The U.S. was looking for a friendly politician to steer the country out of its orbit around China, with whom Myanmar has significant trade and military relations.

But the rising Chinese imperialists weren’t so easily pushed out. Determined to solve their “Malacca Dilemma,” they’ve invested tens of billions in Myanmar for roads and gas and oil pipelines. By shipping their Middle East oil imports through Myanmar, China could avoid the Malacca Strait, a chokepoint between Malaysia and Indonesia that might be threatened by the U.S. Navy (China Research Center, 2020). 

While China has thrown its formal support behind the ruling generals, it now seems to be hedging its bets. Enter imperialist Russia, a more reliable junta ally. As Myanmar’s generals back Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Russian arms companies have made a literal killing by selling weapons to Myanmar, including fighter jets the junta has used to bomb civilian targets (Fulcrum, 11/30/23). 

Meanwhile, the declining U.S. bosses have seen their influence wane. U.S. sanctions against Myanmar’s oil and gas bosses have minimal impact when the junta can readily tap China and Russia to make up lost revenues (CSIS, 2/6/23).

Capitalist war drives racist refugee crisis

Although Suu Kyi remains under house arrest after the junta removed her from power, the U.S. stands behind the former Nobel Peace Prize winner as a once-and-future foil to the junta and their Chinese and Russian backers. But given Suu Kyi’s past complicity in the military’s genocide of the Rohingya Muslim minority in Rakhine State, the U.S. condemnation of the junta’s human rights abuses falls flat (CFR, 1/31/22).
The plight of Rohingya refugees is one of the most appalling human disasters in recent memory. Over a million people have been forced out of their homes to eke out a wretched existence in concentration camps in neighboring Bangladesh and other countries (Guardian, 2/29). 

More than half a million Rohingya remain in Myanmar, caught in the crossfire between the junta and the rebel armies. It is no coincidence that the worst anti-Rohingya attacks have occurred in the unstable Rakhine State, home to deepwater ports financed by China (FirstPost, 1/8). In a perverse twist, the junta is trying to fill their hollowed ranks by forcibly recruiting young Rohingya men, the same workers they’ve ruthlessly targeted for death and ethnic cleansing (Economist, 6/6). Meanwhile, the racist rebel groups persecute the Rohingya as Muslim workers in a predominantly Buddhist country.

Nationalism: a dead end for the working class

A complex alliance of ethnically based militias has coalesced around the goal of overthrowing the junta and restoring the emerging pre-coup “democracy”. To that end, the National Unity government-in-exile (including members of the monstrous Suu Kyi’s party) and its military wing, the People’s Defense Forces, have recruited many young workers to fight, including some from outside the country (Al Jazeera, 5/17).  Spurred by cash incentives, thousands of junta soldiers and police have defected to the other side (BBC, 5/30/23).

But as history repeatedly shows, armed struggles without the explicit goal of communist revolution and workers’ power are bound to betray workers’ interests. The anti-junta leaders are competing for their own piece of the capitalist pie—in this case, Myanmar’s natural abundance of metal ores, precious stones, fossil fuels, and forests. Without antiracist politics leading the way, there will be more waves of violence based on religious and ethnic differences. Only communist leadership, the goal of a classless workers’ society, and constant ideological struggle can overcome these capitalist divisions.

One world, one class, one party

Despite their contradictions and the liberal bosses’ misleadership, many workers and soldiers have shown great resolve and courage in fighting the junta. Forces. Young workers and students are leaving the cities to join the battles raging in the countryside (NYT, 6/24). Their selfless commitment deserves a better future than any capitalist government can ever offer. They deserve communism! Build Progressive Labor Party and the fight for worker power!