Why 90s were Great for Progressive Electoral Efforts

[Max Sawicky]

> . . .  By contrast,
> it seems clear that the present course of
> de facto separation isn't getting them anywhere.
> _________
> 
> I would say the last sentence
> above a little differently, because
> the separation and segregation
> that exists now is due to whites
> moving away from Blacks in white
> flight and resistence to integration.
> Black people en masse have not
> had a policy of separation from 
> whites. Blacks have not been
> trying "to get somewhere" through
> de jure separation. When they seek to live
> in the same neighborhoods, go
> to the same schools, have the
> same jobs. whites have not
> permitted it.  Given this experience
> Black people had to develop
> self-reliant Black institutions.

I don't disagree at all.  I didn't mean separation
in the sense you took it.  I was referring to the
anomalous situation today where the Democratic
Party has a logically inconsistent mixture of
purported support for black interests (which
are mostly working-class ones), and adherence
to elitist, reactionary economics.  This fosters
a political separation of black and white
workers.  White workers don't perceive a class
orientation among Democrats, accurately enough,
and in frustration tolerate Republicans to some
extent because they address some of their social
concerns.  In turn, this encourages blacks to
fortify or build black institutions.  Clearly
enough, these are not sufficient to satisfy
their needs, though they are of some help.

MBS