By illvox.org

How bad must it get?

People the world over live under repressive regimes of varying extremes. In the United States, the war against people of color has been especially oppressive and insidious. From chattel slavery to the denial of voting rights to the rhetorical long knives coming out for a Black candidate, people of color constantly get the message that they are not valued by this white supremacist system, and they will be hatefully resisted in their efforts for freedom and dignity at every turn. A few generations after the Civil Rights Movement, after concessions for education, work and basic human rights were won after hard battles, the status of people of color remains in terrible shape. The colonial cop brigades that have murdered thousands of people of color remain a systemic problem. The election merry-go-round is still trash.

It is not as if no one has made this declaration before. People from Malcolm X among others have implored people of color to end their allegiance to this corrupt, racist government. Militants over the years have struggled over this same question. Certainly socialist and Communist campaigners bring very little that is desirable to the lives of people of color. Anti-authoritarian visions offer a possibility, but it will take more than an article, or a thousand, to get us there.

So why don’t people of color break away from this wretched system?

This writing asks that question of people of color, in hopes of building knowledge among people generally about the challenges to revolutionary struggles, and anti-authoritarian movements particularly. The reasons why people of color won’t make the break are complex, and offer real challenges for movements that are brilliant on the rhetoric front, but must buoy our shared indignation at slavemasters with a broader vision.

Before this discussion goes further, let’s be real. For all intents and purposes, many people of color have already made a break with this white supremacist system. We refuse to vote in their elections. We won’t be hoodwinked into their language and smoke and mirrors games about advancement. We make our way as best we can. We may not show up to the protests and meetings, but we do not agree with the empire’s imperialist ambitions, robber-baron economics and fundamentalist social agenda either. Also, there will always be a sector of middle-class people of color who benefit as loyal or disloyal intermediaries for this white supremacist system — as politicians, managers, academics and others the government points at when its vultures speak of progress.

A viable alternative to this white supremacist system must be one in which people of color don’t fear white racism will overrun the globe. Very often, anarchist solutions focus on everyone having rights and respecting one another. Yet history does not treat well the record of whites’ respect for indigenous masses, internal colonies or Third World people. Whites cheerily recall the history of white identity, advocate bigotry and violence against people of color — from the politician who refers to Barack Obama as “boy” to swastika-tattooed soldiers torturing Third World people to district attorneys who openly threaten to imprison Black children — with no sanction. The government demonstrates the viciousness of this white supremacist system by allowing such racists to rise to power in the first place.

If a system of laws disappeared tomorrow, most people of color fear enduring white racism would be manifested in much worse ways, without recourse or justice. Furthermore, it stands to reason that anarchist concepts of community autonomy, unless more clearly explained, would be hell for people of color who lived in historically white and racist areas. The majority in such an area might not want a Black family in its midst, but does a principle like community autonomy make their bigotry right? Is sufficient agitation among white communities happening to give at least a small assurance that white racism would not result in Black/Brown genocide under anarchy? Anti-authoritarians must have more open discussions about what the world, at a point when race is a major issue, would look like among the races, and how people of color particularly would have hopes for a better future.

A viable alternative to this white supremacist system must be one in which people of color have the expectation of having a better life than this one. Participatory economics is a positive post-capitalist structure; the Industrial Workers of the World, in small and large ways today, organize labor collectively; and, of course, anarchists have a history of leading workplace struggles. Sadly, the masses of people, especially people of color, are miseducated and ignorant about such history. They think the money-grubbing methods and greedy consumerism employed by this American lifestyle are the way to live. A few get into all manner of hustles to gain the “American Dream” and get caught up in a hopelessly racist criminal justice system. However, most people don’t know better because they need to be shown.

Like all people, people of color won’t make a break with this government and way of life unless they have reasonable expectation that their families will have a better future. Most don’t need a doctoral thesis on anarchist revolution, but to understand enough to be down with an idea, and to appreciate the ideals enough to fight. If history has shown us anything, it is that people of color, and indeed anyone, will sacrifice material things for themselves in the short and long term (and live and live for a principle) if they have faith a political movement that can provide better lives, working conditions and livelihoods.

A viable alternative to this white supremacist system must be one in which people of color feel it blends with the best aspects of our communities. As with the previous points, it is essential anarchists of all persuasions be able to relate to people why anti-authoritarianism matters amid the current spirit of popular resistance to this regime. People want a solution that makes a difference for the better. Anarchism is that solution.

Though many of us are in agreement with the principles of social change movement, people of color are tired of the games, the lack of clarity and the power-grabbing that goes on with social movements. Many of us are ready to make the break with this white supremacist system, but need to see our vision. Anarchists and revolutionaries must talk about those solutions and put the vision out there – these times demand it.

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