2003-08-24
Class, Race, and Community
Ian over at Panchromatica writes:
I still have problems with the idea of black (or white) culture however - West African, Barbadian, English, Indian I can understand since these are based on physical community. The idea of a black culture is somehow different - it exists, but has been created as Gary Younge said as a defensive measure. Black or asian people should not be made to live in introverted communities - that would clearly be racist - but why should they want to - at least to the extent to which it is happening in Handsworth and Southall?
I'm in memphis, tn which is roughly 50/50 white and black with a very quickly growing hispanic community. Also a growing indian community, ethiopian... the list goes on. My community ranges from the radical left (anarchists, punk rock, artists) to left liberals/progressives. the kind of crowd that want to confront racism, class, war... but it is almost completely white. Why? I don't know. It's been the subject of conversation many times.
I will say this though. one recent development we've had is the shared space operation of a historically white food co-op and a historically black natural foods deli. The two started sharing a space in February 2003 and it's been interesting to see the two different communities meet-up and begin to mingle. Who knows where it will lead. I think what's important is that there are shared political and health interests... a common ground which are shared within this new public space... an opportunity for us to crossover boundries. We'll see what happens.
Coming from the radical left and an anarchist perspective I tend to believe that our problems arise from socially archaic hierarchies. For thousands of years we've created societies which are hierarchical. Man over woman, parent over child, human over non-human, one race over another... the list goes on. We've created a humanity based upon command and obedience. History is the constant development of these hierarchies which are most manifested today in transnational capitalism and the nation state. Humanity has divided itself for the worse.
It's a process with so many cultural and historical variables that is difficult to understand. I think ultimately humans will only survive on this planet if we confront the many hierarchies, the forms of domination which inhibit true liberation and thus require systems of coercion. We have to confront each and every mode of social organization which relies upon coercion.
Liberation must be our goal. We must go beyond piecemeal reforms that allow us to continue living with the lesser evil. In my opinion it's all or nothing. It's been a long time since I've heard the people around me talking about liberation and freedom. What stands in our way?