The Despicable Way White Leftists Separate Socialism From Justice

Someone claiming to be a socialist with the American flag as a backdrop would be similar to a roach claiming freedom with Raid as a backdrop

I thought of this while witnessing multiple Europeans (white people) condemn white supremacy/fascism in one breath while gushing about being able to celebrate the Fourth of July this week in the next breath.  I wonder how its possible that these people, who consider themselves denizens of worldwide justice, could miss such an obvious contradiction.  By denouncing white supremacy all day everyday, and proudly advancing the white adventure activity of "punching nazis" these people still continue, like clock work, to celebrate "Thanksgiving" and the "Fourth of the July" and other manifestations of imperialism and injustice.  Its like the people who rant against people eating chickens, cows, etc, while those same people wouldn't hesitate to kill a mouse, roach, or spider they catch in their residences.

As I thought about those contradictions, it occurred to me that the reason they can so easily function is because they are embedded within the fabric of the liberal and so-called revolutionary white left.  That element of society has effectively convinced themselves that its possible to proclaim a commitment to socialist ideals while at the same time ignoring the stark reality that socialism is the transition to worldwide communism.  As a result, socialism must come hand in hand with the destruction of capitalism and its appendages; white supremacy, patriarchy, homophobia, etc.  In other words, there is absolutely no way to uphold socialist principles while also upholding the existence of a capitalist dominated society like the current version of the U.S.  

The above statement is ill-refutable, yet there are entire movements being formed - the Democratic Socialists of America, Socialist Alternative, the radical element of the Green Party come to mind - who actually speak of socialist principles when it comes to issues like healthcare while being opposed to the socialist redistribution of colonized land to its rightful owners.  For those of us who are committed to socialist revolution, this paradox could seem impossible were we not well versed in history.

Within this history, its important that we understand that often, what Europeans and colonized people mean by socialism is entirely different.  Colonized people understand that capitalism is maintained based on exploiting our land and resources so for us, we cannot see socialism developing without destroying capitalism completely.  For many white socialists, they actually have a vision of some sort of bourgeoisie socialism where the capitalist system basically remains intact.  That's why they can consider people like Bernie Sanders a socialist while nothing about his policies requires the systemic elimination of capitalism.  In fact, most of his positions e.g. support for the systems of fascist police and mass incarceration, continued support for zionist Israel, and the continued maintenance of capitalist supporting institutions like Afrocom, etc., are no different than any other capitalist politician.  

These are the contradictions with the white left and they have long standing roots.  George Padmore wrote an entire book about this in the 40s entitled "Pan-Africanism or Communism" where he explains why he resigned as Joseph Stalin's political secretary.  Padmore ended up becoming an adviser to Kwame Nkrumah in Ghana before physically transitioning in 1959.    

What all of this should tell us is even in 2019, despite whatever they say, most so-called white leftists are really just seeking some sort of reform of the capitalist system.  In essence, they still support capitalism.  They just believe some changes within the system can fix the problems the system generates.  Any true student of history knows that analysis can never be true.  The capitalist system was built on exploiting Africa and other colonized territories on the planet and today that system sustains itself by continuing to exploit the majority of humanity, especially brown humanity.  

This is one of the social reasons why all African organization is absolutely necessary (and we believe the same for all other colonized movements for justice, but that is for them to decide for themselves).  There are always Europeans who have made concrete contributions to our struggles, but for the most part, their presence has been counter productive.  The reason this is true is because they refuse to learn and accept that in order to be true warriors for justice, it is absolutely required that they abandon their emotional connection to the capitalist empire.  We have said this many, many times.  We cannot understand why this is so difficult.  Its every easy for Europeans to be fully functioning human beings without being supportive of the capitalist empire.  At this stage, the only reason they are not getting this point is because they don't want or have to.  We must always be very aware of this.  The history of people like Tom Watson is instructive on this question.  Watson was a European within the U.S. around the turn of the 19th century who was a populist anti-government leader.  He advocated for all races to come together to form a massive working class movement against injustice.  As contradictions after reconstruction continued to intensify, Watson eventually landed as a member of the Ku Klux Klan.  The point to that history is there is very little separation between a white leftist who today is calling for nazis to be punched while maintaining their emotionally fueled nationalist connection to the capitalist empire and far right fascists who see white supremacy as the saving grace for humanity.

The only reliable analysis of whether someone white is a true accomplice to colonized people is what that European's position is on anti-colonialism.  If they support land reclamation in Africa e.g. the return of African lands to African peoples.  If they support land reclamation to Indigenous peoples of the Western Hemisphere.  If they support Palestinian self determination and the return of Palestine to the Palestinians, than that is a European we can talk about.  Unfortunately, the reality is that European is few and far in between today.  Instead, what we have are scores of Europeans who hold so-called progressive positions on healthcare for all.  Abortions rights.  Bourgeoisie reforms against capitalist white supremacy, homophobia, and patriarchy, but the basic maintenance of the current system of capitalism that keeps the majority of our people enslaved.  And, no matter how effectively and consistently we point out this contradiction to them, they never evolve and change.  Even so-called revolutionary whites, when pushed on the question of land reclamation, instead of immediately acknowledging the justice of the claim, they want to start talking about if the lands are returned, what will happen to them?  And, these are the same white people who when queer, immediately recognize the fallacy of heterosexual people centering themselves on questions of queer liberation.  These are white women who can detect within the eye of the needle men who center themselves when questions of patriarchy are raised.  For some reason, when it comes to the rights of colonized people, these otherwise astute white activists suddenly lose their ability to be analytical.

So, the message here isn't directed at the white left in general and white people in particular.  Its been made very clear to them what they need to do.  This message is directed at us.  And, there are clues for us everywhere.  Any white people talking about punching nazis and not about organizing white people so that they never become nazis in the first place is telling you they really aren't concerned about creating systems based on justice.  They are primarily concerned about feeding their egotistical need to feel like they are doing something while we continue to suffer.   We need to recognize that when they announce that they want healthcare for all while at the same time ignoring our calls for police eradication and an end to prisons, they are making it plain that they are really just talking about reforms that will improve their white lives while we continue to suffer.  When we talk about U.S. military domination in Africa and they respond by wishing us a Happy Veterans Day, they are telling you in clear language where they stand.  And, whomever wishes you a 'happy fourth" this week is either someone who is completely dim upstairs as it relates to history, or they just don't care, or both.  

On one level, the fact so many of these white left movements are so white you need sunglasses just to be in their presence, is an indication that colonized people understand some of the arguments being made in this piece.  On another level, the fact we still refuse to join and/or support our independent socialist organizations doing their best to fight on our behalf says how much we still don't get it.  Obviously, there's still a lot of ideological work needing to be done.  Let's start by remembering that you can't have socialism while keeping capitalism in tact.  And, anyone claiming to be a socialist who knows nothing about the struggles of colonized people is like someone claiming to be a pharmacist without knowing anything about chemicals and medications.  

We refuse to let these pseudo socialists redefine what being a socialist means.  By socialists we mean revolutionary socialists.  By that we mean socialists who recognize that socialism without anti-colonial struggle is impossible.  We cannot be African socialists calling for socialism within the U.S.  To respect anti-colonial struggle, we must be Pan-Africanists, revolutionary Pan-Africanists, fighting for one unified socialist Africa, wherever we live - inside or outside of Africa.  And anyone who is ignorant about why Pan-Africanism would be a thing in 2019 and beyond is not someone who is genuinely interested in African liberation.  Anyone who doesn't prioritize Indigenous land reclamation in the U.S. is not a socialist.  Its  just that simple, no matter what types of things these people say and no matter how many of them there are, or how fast they are growing.  Based on material reality, today's white left socialists could every easily be tomorrow's Ku Klux Klan members.