African American leftism
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
African Americans have had a tremendous impact on left-wing politics in the United States. From liberalism to progressivism, from communism to socialism, to anarchism, African Americans have been a major part of leftist struggles throughout U.S. history.
Like most leftists, the majority of the African Americans are in favor of workers rights, pacifism, equality, equal distribution of wealth, and a color-blind society. Far-left groups would include organizations such as the Black Panther Party.
The perspectives held by many Black leftists are typically in contrast with some of the key points in the common social, economic, and political positions that Black conservatives are against, particularly in regards to reparations for slavery and affirmative action.
Contents |
[edit] Overview
The perspective held by Black liberals is typically in conflict with some of the key points in the common social, economic, and political positions that Black conservatives are against, particularly in regards to reparations for slavery, affirmative action and Black nationalism. While most African Americans have a neutral stance on Black nationalism and integration (as long as there is an even playing field), Black conservatives are clearly in favor of African American integration with mainstream America.
For many Black leftists, in their own point of view, the key mission is to bring equality (balance) to the African American community as compared to the success and achievements of white Americans and other minority groups. A common misconception is that the African American left are seeking hand-outs, a frequent “foul call” made by Black conservatives, however statistics and various studies show the GDP of African Americans are significantly less than their counterparts of other ethnic groups; this revelation is even more damning when they (Blacks and their counterparts) are in the same career field, at the same skill level and production capacity.[citation needed] This also brings into play the issue of affirmative action where conservatives feel this is reverse racism, as an individual “is” being hired to a job, or accepted to college on the basis of his color, and not his work ethic and experience; to date this continues to be a major issue. African American leftists also feel that reparations for slavery are relevant, as centuries of free labor (slavery), as well as millions of lost lives, were the foundation and building blocks of the United States.
Black politicians, for the most part, are against GOP economic policies (i.e., globalization, free-trade agreements, tax cuts), militarism, regional interventions, or other agendas that the vast majority of Blacks are in opposition of. Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney was the first, if not only politician (not just African American) to question what exactly the Bush Administration had knowledge of in regards to 9/11, she is also thoroughly against the War in Iraq and the Global War on Terror:[1]
We know there were numerous warnings of the events to come on September 11... Those engaged in unusual stock trades immediately before September 11 knew enough to make millions of dollars from United and American airlines, certain insurance and brokerage firms' stocks. What did the Administration know, and when did it know it about the events of September 11? Who else knew and why did they not warn the innocent people of New York who were needlessly murdered?
– "Flashpoints" with Dennis Bernstein, KFPA Pacifica Radio, March 25, 2002
Opponents have labeled her conspiracy theorist as well as other smear tactics. However, on the other side of the scale, some on the African American left do support the current state of world affairs and play both sides of the political fence, appealing to the political majority while also appealing to the African American communities interests, to a degree. Polls taken in the Black community as to “in favor of” or “against” the last 3 armed conflicts (Iraq, War on Terror, and Kosovo), a majority are against.[1]
The African American left also tend to be culturally liberal in accordance with liberal views of other ethnic groups, with the only sticking point being perhaps abortion.
[edit] Criticisms Of The African American Left
Common criticisms of the African American Left include:
1. African Americans are afforded rights and opportunities that are unavailable to them, and others, elsewhere. Instead of "wasting" time and resources agitating for social changes, African Americans should "take what they have and run with it."
2. Black leadership and organizations fail to adequately address and tackle real or perceived "internal" issues in the African American community, such as HIV/AIDS, the lack of suitable education, high crime rates within the inner city, economic disadvantages, and the degradation of the black family unit.
3. The playing field is much more level today than at any time in the past, such that any talented African American is afforded the same opportunity to compete, and be successful, in education and the workplace as white counterparts.
4. African American political elite complain about the present effects of past discrimination (such as gaps in education and employment) without offering any feasible solutions to confront them.
5. Instead of attempting to assimilate into the broader "American" society, African American leftists continue to harp on racial issues in political discourse. This hinders the noble goal of achieving a truly color-blind society.
6. African American leftists promote the Democratic party in national elections, while simultaneously ignore the potential benefits to joining the Republican party. This might be true despite many (but not all) Christian African American's views that, among other things, abortion is akin to murder and homosexuality is a socially-repugnant sin. By supporting liberal Democrats and social moderates of either major party, religious blacks allow legislatures and judiciaries to propogate social views which are inconsistent to their own views.
It is to be noted, however, that these criticisms and many others are subject to scrutiny themselves. For example, some of these criticisms presuppose that black leftists all share common political aims or social views. Other criticisms begin with the assumption that the opportunities for black and white Americans are, at present, symmetrical. Of course, both of these premises are subject to reasonable disagreement.
Furthermore, any discussion of politics - maybe anywhere in the democratized, liberalized world - as well as any discussion of racial or other group difference carries inherent emotional baggage. It is, therefore, very difficult for critics of African American leftism to assert their positions without due dissension.
[edit] Notable African American leftists
Not all African American "leftist" are necessarily political but have leftist ideals. It should be also be noted that not all African American policitians are "pure" leftists, as some have various right-wing opinions.
[edit] Politicians
- Mary McLeod Bethune - first black woman to serve as head of a federal agency.
- Corrine Brown - Congresswoman from Florida
- Elaine Brown - activist, former chairman of the Black Panther Party.
- Shirley Chisholm - first African American woman elected to Congress.
- John Conyers - Congressman from Michigan.
- Chaka Fattah - United States House of Representatives from Philadelphia.
- Barbara Lee - Congresswoman from California representing California's 9th congressional district
- Cynthia McKinney - Former Congresswoman from Georgia, one of the first (if not the only) politicians to question the Bush administration's foreknowledge of 9-11. Has been a target of smear campaigns since then.
- Thurgood Marshall - first African American to serve on the United States Supreme Court.
- Ray Nagin - Mayor of New Orleans.
- Barack Obama - U.S. Senator from Illinois (though Obama is a Democrat, some liberals regard some of his views as more centrist) [2]
- Al Sharpton - political activist and Reverend.
- John F. Street - Mayor of Philadelphia
- Sundiata Xian Tellem - political leader of Green Party National Black Caucus and author.
- Maxine Waters - Congresswoman from California representing California's 35th congressional district
- Coleman Young - former mayor of Detroit.
[edit] Civil Rights activists
- Angela Davis - Black Panther, ran for Vice President on the Communist Party USA nomination several times.
- George Jackson - Panther prison activist
- Frederick Douglass - abolitionist
- Amiri Baraka - poet and communist
- W.E.B. DuBois - civil rights activist, sociologist, historian, writer, editor, poet, freemason, and scholar.
- Harry Haywood - Communist Party leader and Marxist theorist.
- Paul Robeson - actor, singer, athlete, and communist
- Langston Hughes - poet and communist
- Mumia Abu-Jamal - former Black Panther member, and convicted for allegedly murdering a Philadelphia police officer.
- Jesse Jackson - civil rights activist, head of the Rainbow Coalition.
- Martin Luther King - Famous Nobel Prize winning civil-rights activist.
- Malcolm X - former spokesman for the Nation of Islam.
- Kweisi Mfume - former President/CEO of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP),
- Huey P. Newton - co-founder of the Black Panthers.
- Elaine Brown - Black Panther Party chair while Newton was in exile.
- Fred Hampton - Panther leader in Chicago
- Fred Hampton, Jr. - founer of the National People's Democratic Uhuru Movement
- Rosa Parks - activist well known for not surrendering her bus seat to a white male.
- A. Philip Randolph - was a Socialist who was active in the labor movement and the US civil rights movement.
- Bobby Seale - co-founder of the Black Panthers.
- Assata Shakur - former Black Panther, convicted for allegedly murdering a New Jersey state trooper. Currently under political asylum in Cuba.
- Cornel West - prominent scholar and public intellectual, Democratic Socialist
[edit] Media
- Gia'na Garell - Air America radio commentator.
- Tom Joyner - radio show host
- Margaret Kimberly - political writer.
[edit] Entertainers
Though some African American entertainers have not expressed affiliation with a political party , they have been known to be critical of U.S Government policies.
- Harry Belafonte - Musician
- Jim Brown - Former actor and football running back.
- Dave Chappelle - Comedian
- Chuck D - Rapper
- Dead Prez - Hip hop group
- Laurence Fishburne - Actor
- Marvin Gaye - Soul musician
- Danny Glover - Actor
- Eddie Griffin - Comedian
- Gil Scott-Heron - musician, poet
- Lauryn Hill - Hip hop/R&B musician
- Ice Cube - Hip hop artist, actor
- Ice T - Hip hop artist, actor
- Samuel L. Jackson - Actor
- Spike Lee - Movie producer
- Aaron McGruder - Creator of The Boondocks
- Paul Mooney - Comedian
- Nas - Hip hop artist
- Prince - Musician
- Sidney Poitier - Actor
- Richard Pryor - Comedian
- Chris Rock - Comedian
- Tupac Shakur - Rap artist
- John Singleton - Movie producer
- Wesley Snipes - Actor
- Denzel Washington - Actor[citation needed]
- Kanye West - Rapper
- Stevie Wonder - Soul musician
- Usher - Singer
- Ja Rule - rapper
- Luke - Rapper
- Ludacris - rapper
- DMX - rapper
- Dr. Dre - rapper/producer
- Magic Johnson - former NBA player
