Question concerning race and class

[Alex Lantsberg]

I too am an eastern immigrant of left leaning variety.  It seems that as
long as we consider others to be racist, while we claim immunity from the
dirtiness of that way of thought, we are shutting ourselves off from the
reality of our own racism.

I work in a community in SF that is more than 90% people of color, and
although I have to give myself some credit for unlearning and moving past
some of the things that have been drilled into my head since the first day
that I came to this country, I also have to admit that American racism is
firmly embedded in my mind.  Imagine the damage it inflicts upon those born
and raised here, whether they are white or people of color.

Our first matter of course is to not think of racism as something that
happens in the South or in some backward community, but something that
occurs on a daily basis everywhere in this country.  Land use decisions that
place toxics in low-income neighborhoods are racist in nature, our
sketchiness when we see a group of young Black men is racism, and our
insistence on incarceration instead of education is racist.

Lets be frank with ourselves, whether we are left, right or center.

-----Original Message-----
From:	owner-lbo-talk at lists.panix.com [mailto:owner-lbo-talk at lists.panix.com]
On Behalf Of Wojtek Sokolowski
Sent:	Wednesday, July 01, 1998 7:44 AM
To:	lbo-talk at lists.panix.com
Subject:	Question concerning race and class

I've been watching the debate about racism/nationalism silently, mainly
because I have little to add to what Max Sawicky and Jim heartfield have
already said on the subject.  I have, however, one question.

The proposition "End capitalist oppression!" entails a set of programs
that, if implemented, are likely to achieve an empirically observable set
of objectives stipulated by that proposition.  Those programs may or may
not get support of various interests groups, and thus may or may not be
attainable under particular political-historical circumstances.  But there
is little doubt that the implementation of a program that, say, curtails
private property rights  will reduce the capacity of the "haves" to
economically exploit the "have-nots," and will produce a more equitable
distribution of economic resources.

When it comes to the proposition "End racism," however, I am at utter loss.
 What the f**k are we supposed to do (individually or collectively) to
achieve that end?

I hope nobody on this list seriously believes that schmoozing, throwing
epithets at real or perceived enemies, "town meetings," street rallies or
supporting a political campaign will have any measurable effect on "race
relations" other than propelling a few entrepreneuring individulas to
leadership positions.

So what a person like myself (an Eastern European immigrant of leftist
persuasion) is supposed to do to 'end racism?'  And while we are at that,
can anyone describe to me how exactly the 'end of racism' looks like, so I
can tell (instead of being told!) whether we have one or not?

Best regards,

Wojtek Sokolowski