I have had a number of conversations with friends about Castro and Cuba as a model for social justice. I always give credit to the regime for its health care and education systems, but am not as enthusiastic about Cuba as a model as other progressives, leftists, or revolutionaries seem to be.
- I argue that the people's power for self determination is undermined by a life long leader, but my sparring partners rationalize the need for a strong leader as the only way to fight US imperialism.
- I say that their isolation could have been used to demonstrate complete self sustainability (agriculture for example) and there would be no need to be a part of the "world market" but Cuba supporters think that is impossible for Cuba to be completely self sustaining...not sure why however...
- I argue that a true socialist country despite its history would not show the same racialized poverty (and racism in general) that permeates the rest of the world, but they say history takes time to correct.
I offer this to say, I am not a Castro supporter or hater. In theory, I believe his ideology is correct. In practice, it loses its credibility (as long as Cuba is a class and race based non-democratic society...which it is).
But I completely agree with Castro's latest analysis of Obama's challenges. With the racist white supremacist unable to accept Obama as president, he is being attacked fiercely. Instead of recognizing this and its repercussions on the future, many on the left are caught up in petty politics and also blaming Obama for not being all they want him to be. In getting caught in that trap, I see an opportunity for real democracy slipping quickly.
If action trumps criticism, progressives can have all they want with an Obama administration...but if we continue to let white nationalist fascists frame the mainstream dialogue, an opportunity is wasted for radical change. Read this analysis from Castro carefully...and if you want social justice for all people...take heed.
Lessons to learn from a Bi-Racial World Leader and a Post-Racial World Icon
Michael Jackson’s death was a shock. The racial dialogues that followed were not. Obama’s landslide election was surprising. The racial undertones of his presidency are not. Both men are seen as transcending figures, breaking barriers and bridging divides. Obama will forever be known as the first African American president of the United States. Michael Jackson will forever be known as the most popular global figure of the past century (but discussions about him will be about his image “transformation” over time as much as it will be about his music). The paradox of being defined fundamentally by race while being seen as a transcending figure reveals the pitfalls and possibilities that surround our racial reality.
Race: the Power of an Illusion is a PBS documentary I recommend all view, particularly part 3. It explains race as a social construction (no “real” thing as race). It describes how we all believe we “see” race (in physical characteristics) when what we really “see” are social and political categories that we have created that have real consequences in people’s lives. There is no need to “transcend” race because it is something we have created for social and political purposes. What we must transcend are the social and political advantages/disadvantages we have attached to “race”. How we do that is through social justice and the only path to social justice is to embrace the humanity in us all. Short of that acceptance, we will never solve the problem of the color line.
I have heard there are many stages of grief; denial is the first, followed by anger, bargaining, depression and finally acceptance. The problem of the color line will never completely be addressed until we grieve properly for a nation that never was the United States of America.
Race has haunted this nation from its founding and to its foundation. Many want to believe that our racial nightmare is a thing of history books, but current events suggest otherwise. For a nation supposedly post-racial, it seems I can’t escape stories with racial frames every time I turn on the news or surf the web. If you've been reading this blog, you know I said a violent backlash to an Obama victory was more likely than if he lost. Well the evidence is clear that assessment was correct. Hate crimes are rising. Racial tensions in some towns are exploding. Assassination threats against the president are at highest level. Reading comments on YouTube serves as a reminder that racial hatred is very much alive and well…so much for post-racial.
It is ironic that something that is not even real holds so many imprisoned.
Some are imprisoned by denial.They deny a legacy of white supremacy and white privilege. They deny contemporary institutional racism. They deny the past and the present, and in doing so, affect future possibilities.
Some are imprisoned by anger. Blinded by rage for the wrongs committed against them that they are unable to recognize the gifts bestowed in life’s journey of trials and triumphs. They are unable to forgive, and because of that, they are not able to live, love, and grow.
Others are imprisoned by rationalizations and qualifications. Knowing the truth about race in their conscious, but unwilling to accept it. So they bargain to keep the world they know instead of having the world that should be. They choose the devil they know (status quo order) over the unknown, a world where all people are valued.
Some give up on humanity completely. They have been hurt one too many times, and no longer trust anyone, including themselves. Instead of living, they exist. But life is not meant to be lived this way, so depression takes root and motivation to change this existence becomes a heavy burden.
But there are those that accept the humanity in all, regardless of race, class, religion, or ideology. Obama’s ability to be open to all points of view make him a political frustration for ideologues on the right and left, but it helped him organize a grassroots campaign that shocked the world. Michael Jackson provided the soundtrack of humanity and love, and for his gift of this music, he became one of the most beloved human beings the global community has ever known. Social and political solutions may yield some progress, but pitfalls and setbacks will no doubt remain. We will never be able to “transcend” our history, physical differences, or experiences that shape our lived realities. But we can accept the humanity in us all, and if we can do that…accept without categories, accept the past, and accept the truth, the possibilities are endless.
As those that have been reading my blog know, I thought that racism would actually be more visible in an Obama-world. Well, that seems to be the case. All sorts of evidence is pointing to that (Obama receiving MANY more death threats than other presidents, hate crimes up, gun sales up, racist cookies and cartoons, more police killings of unarmed young black men, etc., etc.).
Now I also saw it as an opportunity to finally take the scab of our racist history off and start a proper healing. That seems to be a harder task, because while the evidence builds, the denial remains. So where many are outraged over the NY post's racist cartoon this week, many are defending it. While Eric Holder spoke the truth about this country's cowardice about the issue of race, most from the right and LEFT are offended...instead of accepting it as the truth and working on changing it.
While the vast majority of my emails this week have been about the cartoon controversy, I did not really engage...because I felt we were missing the ball again. I finally posted something today on an article a friend posted on his page, and I wanted to share here:
Simulating Murder - Another Look at the NY Post Cartoon Fiasco By Amiri Baraka
As always, I'd like to begin by offering peace and respect to my sisters and brothers all across the globe living their lives the best they can; especially in times that just seem to get harder with each passing day. Right now, my own life is very hectic and trying, but I had to take a moment to write this piece. With this historic election now less than two weeks away, there is one message I feel must be expressed clearly: The result of this one election will not change world dynamics, but it will change our role in future possibilities.
When thinking of the appropriate title for this essay, Black Sheep’s classic record came to mind. And for us, the choice is critical, the choice will have long lasting effects, and the choice is clear:
On November 4th, we either put the first nail in the coffin of white supremacy and white nationalism…or we put the final nail in the coffin of our own relevance in national dynamics.
While the result will also have important effects on the economy, wars, culture issues, and other political issues, this choice will most significantly speak to this broader historical consequence. I’ve written in previous blog entries that this race is all about race. An ever growing list of code words has been developed to "other" Obama (muslim, terrorist, socialist, liberal, leftist, anti-american, inexperienced, elitist). The message is the same = he is not white….despite his white mother (Remember the one drop rule).
For many whites in this country, an Obama presidency is absolutely unacceptable because it undermines the entire reality they have created in their minds. The Emperor has no clothes. We’ve known this truth, but many in this country are still not ready to see it. And many can’t handle the truth. That is why we have the lynch mobs coming out of hiding and back to the forefront of Amerikkka. So while it is true that African Americans and youth are invested in Obama and a loss would be felt deeply by many (see: The Fire This Time), I have argued that the possibility for social upheaval and violence may be more likely with an Obama win than loss.
I teach at a college in South LA (serving cities of Inglewood, Hawthorne, Watts, Compton and South LA). Discussing the election with my classes, I discovered a mixture of those that are following the election and those that are not. Those most excited tend to be older African Americans. Some are even planning block parties to celebrate the historic moment if Obama wins and becomes the first African American president.
Younger students, the hip hop youth, are less passionate about the election. While some are excited about the possibility of a black president, they are also into a lot of other things and not “following” as closely.…Many being realists from low income communities are naturally cynical about the political process and would not be surprised by a stolen election or Obama loss due to racism. Most know their lives won’t be affected directly so they are not as personally invested as older students. So while they are wearing Obama t-shirts and many will vote, if Obama loses, they will go about their business November 5th no differently than they did November 3rd. So I don’t see hip hop (black youth) taking it to the streets if Obama loses, although I know it doesn't take much to start something...I was actually in LA when the Rodney King verdict came down and while the buzz was incredulous that even with "taped evidence we still got got" no one expected what they would see hours later and days after that...fires all around the city...you never know, someone might start something and it won’t take much to escalate, especially given the hard times... but I do believe that there is more chance of a "violent uproar" by white nationalists with an Obama win...some folks are just not ready....
At a sociology conference this summer, many voiced a concern that an Obama win would symbolize the end of racism in many people’s minds (that we had “overcome”), despite the reality of a completely racialized society. What now seems to be more likely is that an Obama win will expose more than anything in recent history how far we have NOT “come”. And for that reason alone, all must understand the real stakes of this election. This truth must be exposed and addressed boldly in order to really progress toward a more just society. If Obama wins, the scab of an American sore that was never treated properly will finally be off and the real healing can begin. This is what is at stake.
If Obama loses, white nationalism, and the political party that is sustained by it, gets a reprieve and will use that power to make sure no such “close call” happens again anytime soon. Think Prison Industrial Complex and disenfranchisement will be taken to another level…anti-immigrant sentiments stoked, Patriot Act expanded…If the masses (of people of all backgrounds) inspired by Obama can even get over such a tough loss, they will be so well controlled, their efforts to challenge the status quo will prove most difficult. An historic opportunity would be lost and irrelevance could be the true result of election night returns. The next two weeks will probably just get uglier with desperation setting in, and white nationalists protecting their interests by any means necessary. Are you (hip hop) ready to do the same?
