[lbo-talk] at least he's black!

[Miles Jackson]

Julio Huato wrote:
> Doug wrote:
>
>   
>> There's just a 10% remnant:
>>     
>
> But sure, that remaining 10% is still uphill and full of dangers.
> There's still much to do.  But we should pay homage to those who
> struggled before us, leading to the abolition of slavery and the
> recognition of civil rights, already a long part of the way.
> Approximately, like 89.99999999%, which we can safely round up to 90%.
>
> C'mon, it's a rhetorical figure.  Not a claimed made in a scientific paper.
> ___________________________________
>   
That's exactly why this 10% claim is so dubious.  As rhetoric, it 
effectively conceals the fact that racism is a integral element of all 
social institutions in the U. S. (e.g., religion, education, politics, 
economy, family).  Given the impact of racism as a wedge that divides 
the working class, I'd go as far as to say that racism is one of the 
lynchpins of capitalist social relations in our society.  --And all of 
this is just as true today as it was 50 years ago!  I understand why 
Obama would say "we're 90% there"; it's inspiring, it's motivating, it's 
upbeat.  But it's also bullshit.

Miles