Los Angeles: Something Is Beginning Here

[redstar2000]

Times change...and "Greg Jackson" now has somewhat different views...

Question: A lot of people still pass around "Mythology of the White-Led 'Vanguard': A Critical Look at the Revolutionary Communist Party, USA," your article and analysis on the RCP. Some people -- mostly whites but even a few people of color -- allege the piece was divisive. But most really feel it and say it's time opportunist elements like the RCP get called out for how they target people of color. How do you respond to the critics of that piece, and what's your take on that piece now?

Answer: To the critics I ask, "If you can't criticize them while they do not hold state power, what happens if or when they do have state power and they are criticized?" This question also applies to any other organization jockeying for a position of leadership in "the movement"; claiming to be a vanguard or whatever. Are the critics saying that the RCP and/or other organizations are above criticism? Are the critics saying that they themselves are above criticism as well?

I agree that criticizing allies or potential allies should be done in a way that is constructive and doesn't purposely hurt them, but at the time this was written the RCP was doing things to directly hurt groups and individuals outside their party, and the movement generally; and either didn't know, or didn't care, or didn't care to know.

I was under the impression that they didn't care, since conversations around various issues (some brought up in the pamphlet, some not) with local RCP members always degenerated into shouting matches, veiled threats from both sides, routine vandalism upon their bookstore and occasional violence.

It was to a point where other organizations were calling for 'party discipline' from the national RCP leadership. Some actually attempted to contact the RCP's central committee with their concerns. I was one of them. At one point (around 1997) some black activists ordered them out of the Central District (a historically Black neighborhood in Seattle) because of how they treated oppressed people.

I don't know about other cities, but the Seattle RCP behaves considerably better now. I believe they have a clearer understanding of their role in local politics and realize that they too cannot afford to be alienated anymore than any of us already is.

In all reality, that piece was written in the spirit of Mao's principles of "unity-criticism-unity" and "let 100 flowers bloom, let 100 schools of thought contend." And this, despite any personality conflicts that activists may have with individual RCP cadre, is precisely what happened.

The October 22nd event locally, which was for years exclusively an RCP event, is now more diverse and powerful. Many activists are still critical of their overall political line, but they do make an effort to involve as many people as they can reach out to. They attend all the major political events out here. They make an effort to encourage people to pack the courtroom for every police shooting inquest and activist trial, and they sent members to both of my trials (criminal and civil) around the events of September 1998.

I have no beef with the RCP or its supporters at this time; they know perfectly well what I think, they know where I stand on important issues, and what I am willing and capable of doing. They may not like me as a person, and this could be said for some of the anarchists out here, but I'm pretty sure they respect me as activist.

Question: Do you think it's still fair to call the RCP, and particularly its portrayal of people of color in its paper and literature, when the organization is white-dominated?

Answer: Although the argument could be made that having images of people of color protesting and speaking out is good, it also comes off as ultra-liberal and even pimping the images and histories of the oppressed, particularly when the RCP is against decolonization and other issues.

There is not one white-led organization out there above criticism for racist practices, no matter how 'revolutionary' they claim to be. This one of many reasons this APOC network exists. Some groups are better than others.

The only way this will change as far as the RCP goes is when the people of color within the party or those who support the party make that change occur. I notice that top-down leadership type organizations tend to improve when the rank and file either leave or force the leadership to leave.

http://www.illegalvoices.org/index.php?opt...d=108&Itemid=32

[Seeker]

Cult of Personality garbage.

If ole' boy were so great he'd be teaching people how to take action without him, not training them into dependance on a different master.

[Blacky]

The RCP sounds alot like the CDSP (California Democratic Socialist Party) a new party that my friends have started in Santa Rosa. Our party is not in full effect yet but we are progressing. Mabye you could help us out on getting our party going. Im sure our leader would respect your kindness.


-Tyler
Honorary Member of the CDSP