Followers and Leaders

Max Sawicky sawicky at epinet.org
Tue Sep 1 11:05:06 PDT 1998


LP's account of the MYM is a little rose-colored. Louis has said he thinks Khalid Muhammed (KM) is a "demagogue and a fraud" and I take him at his word. He's interested in the evolution of black militance towards socialism, as am I. There is a difference between black militance and KM and company.

He's also noted the usefulness of the Nizkor web site in his battles with Holocaust deniers. It turns out that Nizkor has an extensive web site collection (apparently shared with the Anti- Defamation League) on black holocaust deniers, KM prominent among them, with numerous details about their interpenetration with Nazis and KKK'ers.

Below is an excerpt from Nizkor on KM and the New Black Panther Party.

KM's record of anti-semitism is pretty well established. As far as I know he hasn't changed any of his views.

Clearly the Million Youth March has a right to take place in Harlem or wherever else they choose, no matter what they're about. I happen to agree w/Louis that the demands or program of the march are mostly wholesome, especially by comparison with the Washington event. This would make the MYM a promising development, but the leadership of KM is a dampening factor. The web site for the MYM is below. The only individual whose biography is posted, in glowing terms, is KM. His leading role should not be in doubt.

http://www.millionyouthmarch.com/

Now it is true that even Malcolm X made anti-semitic comments at a certain point, but he was a work in progress and he ended up as a model radical. Second, he was never even close to as extremist, provocative, ignorant, and vicious as KM. For particulars, see:

http://www.nizkor.vex.net/hweb/orgs/american/adl/uncommon-ground/khalids-mes sage.html

KM and the NBPP may deserve some allowance as well, but they have evidently not gotten much benefit from Malcolm X's experience. People have been flayed on this list for much more innocent remarks.

It should also be noted that, regarding the excerpt below, this wouldn't have been the first time black militants met with right-wing fascists and made idiots of themselves. Amiri Baraka did it and later evolved to become a serious M-L.

My main point is this: The prominence in the MYM of KM Al Sharpton, and Malik Shabazz (a local anti-semitic comedian who is running for City Council in D.C.) among others, makes it all the more important to qualify any supportive statements about the MYM. To some extent, the medium is the message.

No doubt somebody at the Forward or Commentary will do a hip-bone/thigh-bone piece linking MYM personnel to the Black African Holocaust Council and give the whole thing a predictable right-wing cast which equates leftism with anti-semitism (not to say sheer stupidity). The left needs to defend itself on this front. Dissing Ghouliani isn't enough.

<<Uncommon Ground:

The Black African Holocaust Council and Other Links Between Black and White Extremists

A Common Agenda

Though little seems to have come out of the relationship reported by the Washington paper, Metzger has continued to promote the idea of Black and white racists joining forces. The July 1993 issue of Metzger's WAR tabloid published a photo of Metzger meeting with Black Panther Militia director and former Milwaukee Alderman Michael McGee; the two had reportedly addressed a rally of 200 members of the New Black Panther Party. . . .

The original plaintext version of this file is available via ftp.

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http://www.nizkor.vex.net/hweb/orgs/american/adl/uncommon-ground/common-agen da.html

MBS

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