"new left politics" and the communist left

I am in a some sort of marxist political/activist/reading circile and we have quite a few "new left" type of kids, i.e. put strong emphasis on LGBT liberation, black opression etc.

I have never seen left communist organizations write anything about gay rights, black opression etc. So I think it is a good idea to discuss that here.

Personally, I think identity politics by themselves are silly and liberal, but I have no problem with people reaching to certain sectors while holding solid class struggle politics. I know quite a few LGBT liberation guys that self-identify as revolutionary socialists. I also know quite a few communists that put emphasis on black liberation, etc.

As a communist, with strong leanings on left communist politics, is a difficult idea to wrestle with: there is a thin line between acknowledging that there is still structural racism and therefore there is nothing wrong with some communists specializing in that area, and becoming a black nationalist and saying all white people are racist etc.

I don't think homophobia and racism are intimately linked to capitalism. The industralized world is increasingly becoming more "gay tolerant" and I am sure that it could also become less racist etc. Furthermore, puritan morality is more of a left over of feudalism that a characteristic of capital. However, I always thought that communist politics, in essence, is a polity of human emancipation, not just reductionist workerism. The working class is the revolutionary class, due to its economic and historical position, but communist politics aren't just about the emancipation of the working class, nor are they just about the opposition of capital. Therefore, I think that communists approaching "new left" politics while still holding solid class struggle ideas are not doing anything wrong.

Furthermore, communists have never concealed the fact that they wish nothing less but the destruction of present civilization--and with it its morality, family structures, traditions, and national borders. We assault society from all sides because we wish the complete, erotic liberation of all human faculties; not just the destruction of capital. I think Vaneigem was right when calling the communist project "the project for the creation of the complete man".

As for identity politics I with Eugene Debs (not a Left-Communist) on this issue.
http://www.marxists.org/history/usa/...classstrug.pdf

However, we don't know how the revolution will flow through our world.
What will the shape of things to come be in the ghettos, indian reservations, gay towns, gypsy blocks, china towns, and dirt poor rural areas, ect? Under Imperialism, wealth at one pole neccesitates poverty at the other-- so different areas have different amounts of wealth. In areas where wealth is less than others, they are forced to learn how to do without. Under our system everything is "according to their need", and with Left-Communist idea every worker decides how much they will produce, and what they need-- personally. This is a problem that during a transitory period such communities of poverty and alienation exist, because the worker of the slums might not know the same living conditions of the white male worker living in the suburbs; they may be used to living without.

But all workers have similar interests, to be able to pay their bills, to live pretty comfortably -- instead of what's adequate, to have a great amount of time to enjoy life, to know as much as they can about whatever they wish, to have control over their own lives.

Then again, what's adequate for me, might be comfortable for the gypsy, and what's adequate to them, might be really subhumanizing for me. What's comfortable to me, might be luxurious to them.

When discussing with the New Left about race, we need to remember that racisim and sexism are tools of the ruling-class to divide and conquer us. And that there are issues which Imperialism will not solve, it will keep the ghettos, it will keep the female discriminated against "she thinks like that cos she a women"--"women should buy this", it will keep LGBT seperate-- when they are not giving some straight people the schieves, they are on TV, because Lesbians are sexy or make great characters for murder movies, drag queens can entertain, gay guys know fashion and the latest buzz, they are like this, cos they are queer.

I don't know if you should really get caught up in these issues, as they are part of the culture of Imperialism, which benefits from it all. Will you just end up bleeding your heart over a systems inherent illness, a system which you want to abolish anyhow?

Economic equality is the most important think, and that is acknowledged by any one calling himself a communist.

However, it is also silly to just get caught in a "base-superstructure" vulgar argument. The working class is made of human beings that have more than economic aspirations. A social message is nothing without an economic message, but at the same time, the working class is made of human beings that have different perspectives and experiences. A white well off worker, living in the suburbs, doesn't needs to be approached in the same way a black worker living in the ghetto does.Regardless of the huge failure the New Left was, they at least acknowledged that very important fact.

I am really interested on what Devrim and Leo think, because they are members of a left communist organization!

The working class is made of human beings that have more than economic aspirations. A social message is nothing without an economic message, but at the same time, the working class is made of human beings that have different perspectives and experiences.

I like this statement very much! In my opinion, you have the point! I think that it's an important thing to deal with the social problems of different subgroubs, because we have to accept the personal needs beside the economics even if these economic issues should be the most important issues to reach for communists.

I am really interested on what Devrim and Leo think, because they are members of a left communist organization!

This needs a good reply. Unfortunately we are busy at the moment. By Tuesday, I promise.

Devrim

Just for the record, its a myth that most of the new left kids were petty bourgeois. My group is mostly made of workers, the "black power" type of kids came from the ghetto, etc. I think "black power" is mostly a negative influence, but the idea of communists specializing in those areas is not. I am really excited about this group because I can put forward left communist documents to discuss too.

However, it is also silly to just get caught in a "base-superstructure" vulgar argument.

True, however not every worker can have the same access to resources under today's society, distribution has to be unequal to neccessitate profit and surplus.

The working class is made of human beings that have more than economic aspirations. A social message is nothing without an economic message, but at the same time, the working class is made of human beings that have different perspectives and experiences.

Its hard to create such a message without being cheesey, or not ernest.
Like the whole mentality of "Were going to support them, in hopes they'll support us later".

For me anyhow, what it all boils down to is prejudice works as a way of keeping the working-class divided. Institutions use prejuduce in their policies, as they have to distribute things unevenly, this unfair distribution within the working-class takes eyes away from the ruling-class.

A white well off worker, living in the suburbs, doesn't needs to be approached in the same way a black worker living in the ghetto does.

Approachment? I don't understand what you mean.

One more thing, with socialism workers of all types have control over what they produce, yes, different areas have different needs. Collectively all the resources will be at everyones disposal, and everyone will have control over their lives. So the prejudiced minorit, if it still exists, will be holding onto an ideology that has no basis, as everyone has equal access and decides how to run society. You're not going to rid the world of prejudice through campaigns like Fire Safety, prejudice has to be rendered useless.

Just for the record, its a myth that most of the new left kids were petty bourgeois. My group is mostly made of workers, the "black power" type of kids came from the ghetto, etc. I think "black power" is mostly a negative influence, but the idea of communists specializing in those areas is not. I am really excited about this group because I can put forward left communist documents to discuss too.

How is black power a negative influence? What is your definition of black power and do you know its historical relevance?

How is black power a negative influence? What is your definition of black power and do you know its historical relevance?

i think i should have said "black nationalism", but historically, except maybe the black panthers in its later stages, black power movements tended to see the question a question of race, that the white race is plundering them, etc. its an understandable reaction, but it is far from being the class concept communists have

This needs a good reply. Unfortunately we are busy at the moment. By Tuesday, I promise.

Devrim

you lied =)

Yes, I am shockingly busy. I am really sorry.
Devrim