[lbo-talk] White Leftists, Go Suburban!

[Yoshie Furuhashi]

On 10/18/06, chuck at mutualaid.org <chuck at mutualaid.org> wrote:
> In my last e-mail I was harsh about suburbia, but that's my gut, political
> take on the suburbs. But being a middle age anarchist who has returned to
> the burbs where I grew up, I've come to understand that the situation here
> isn't all black and white. The suburbs really do encourage conservatism,
> at least when it comes to protecting home values, raising children and
> other stuff that  aren't really tired to a political party. At the same
> time, there is more diversity here than 20 years ago. Political viewpoints
> are more diverse. Republicans here kvetch about the liberal Republicans
> who represent JOCO. I can find radical books at the corporate bookstores
> and organic food at numerous grocery stores. The burbs also have their
> share of grassroots activism--I know of three grassroots campaigns that
> are happening right now in southern KC.
>
> But there is so much to criticize about suburbia. I've done plenty of that
> over the years, so I want to point out here that my recent experiences
> with the burbs have given me more to think about.
>
> I think that we radicals are too often stuck in outmoded thinking about
> social issues. Most people want to have their own home and most Americans
> associate that with a single-family house. Why would you want to live in a
> cramped apartment if a house was cheaper? Even in urban Kansas City, you
> can find decent houses that are pretty cheap compared to living in
> apartments.
>
> What is the radical alternative to this?

FACTS

A large majority of self-conscious anarchists, socialists, and other
leftists to the Left of liberals in the USA are white.

A large majority of self-conscious white leftists live in cities.

A large majority of Blacks in cities are already on the Left on key
issues, who do not need any political education from self-conscious
white leftists.  Besides, when it comes down to it, Blacks and
self-conscious white leftists don't socialize with each other even if
they live in the same cities.

A large majority of self-conscious white leftists do not speak any of
the languages of new immigrants well enough to be of assistance to
them.

A large majority of white folks in suburbs are politically clueless.

CONCLUSION

White leftists, go suburban!  That's where you are needed.
-- 
Yoshie
<http://montages.blogspot.com/>
<http://mrzine.org>
<http://monthlyreview.org/>