How important is racism? A short query to Kevin LaPalme

[Carrol Cox]

Kevin assumes I show "epistemological arrogance" the emphasis I put on
racism. Perhaps. Let's try clarifying the issue a bit. I have indicated
(perhaps bending the stick, perhaps not) the priority I give to
anti-racism as the core of achieving worker unity, whether it is for a
better grievance procedure, the protection of women being really really
shat upon at Mitsubishi here in Bloomington-Normal, the winning of
representation votes, the mobilizing of strike support, you name it,
small or large, reformist or revolutionary.

How important IS racism within the working class? Kevin, I'm asking what
*you* think on that issue. Is it too trivial to discuss? Does it make a
difference if the AFL-CIO (or anyone organizing for it) believes that
inner city blacks are well fed? Etc. Etc.

What priority (as a working-class militant) do you give to the struggle
against racism? High, but subordinate to -- What? Run-of-the-mill?
Entirely irrelevant to class struggles?

Carrol