From: nattyreb@ix.netcom.com
Date: Fri, 07 May 1999 18:09:26
Subject: !*CLASS vs. RACE

FORWARDED ARTICLE
=====================

From: Waridiatu@aol.com
Date: Sun, 2 May 1999 11:02:35 EDT

                                                  CLASS vs. RACE

Greetins', i have been doing a lot of thinking about this issue.  i must
say, 
i have always  had problems with the struggle for the liberation of Afrikan 
People and other oppressed people of kolor bein' re-classified & dubbed a 
CLASS struggle only.  This has never set right for me, and really could not 
articulate why it never felt right.  However, once you live, learn and grow 
in the struggle, alot of things are made clear to you.  i believe our 
struggle in this kountry & around the world is about RACE, has always been 
and will continue to be about RACE.  If you look up the word Capitalism, in 
order for it to exist, there must ALWAYS be a CLASS of people that will be 
disfranchised, this must exist in order for capaitalism to exist.  

Here is where CLASS play a part in substaining Capitalism, the CLASS of the 
workin' poor. The workin' poor are those of us who sell our labor in order
to 
maintain a roof over our heads, food on our tables, educate our children & 
clothes on our backs. This class of people consist of all races: Black, 
Brown, Red, Yellow & White, yet this Class of people do not relate to one 
another because of RACE.  Even though White-Amerikans are members of this 
Class of workin' poor, this society reinforces to them, they are still above 
the Black, Brown, Red & Yellow peoples.

Lookin' at Class vs. Race in this kountry, we must keep it in its'
historical 
context.  The kidnapping & enslaving Afrikans for life simply because they 
were/are looked upon as bein' less than hue-mon.  White slaves that worked 
side by side Afrikan slaves, were free within five(5) to seven(7)years, is 
that Class or Race?  The lynching that took place throughout Amerika, why 
wasn't White Men choosen for lynching parties, is that Class or Race?  The 
"Tuskeegee Experiment" from 1932-1972 where some 600 Afrikan Men were used
as 
hue-mon guinea pigs to study the effects of Syphilis, why wasn't White Men 
choosen, is that Class or Race?

When Amerika wants to start wars & bomb kountries, why White populated 
kountries are never bombed with the quickness(Kosovo vs. Iraq), is that
Class 
or Race?  Given the Killer Kop Epidemic across this kountry, which affects 
majority Afrikans & Latinos, is that Class or Race?  My point is, everything 
on the planet is predicated on RACE first.  i could continue with more 
examples, but i think you get the picture.  There are no decision(s) made by 
the White Power Structure, where RACE is not considered.  

If RACE was not considered, all ethnic groups would have an equal
opportunity 
of their share on institutionalized terrorism.  i also believe the Class 
Struggle issue is no more than a red herring to keep from dealing with 
Ameirkas greatest problem facing the 21st Century, its' "RACE PROBLEM".  We 
have had many of our scholars like W.E.B. Du Bois, Carter G. Woodson, Dr. 
Clark & Malcolm X speak about Amerikas Race Problem.  Even Bill "Slick Wee 
Wee" Clinton convened a panel on "Race Relations" in Amerika.

The challenge to White-Amerika is to began to search your hearts & souls
and  
come to grips with Racism.  Racism is about Power & Control, the dominent 
group impossing its will on those who have no power.  Many White-Amerikans 
believe because you don't call Black people "niggas" & you can talk to us, 
you're not a racist.  i maintain "ALL" white people are racist, you're not 
born racist, you're taught to be racist.  You are born to racist parents, 
live in a racist sociey, go to racist schools, look at racist TV & it's as 
natural as breathing & this society helps to reinforce this.

i'm not saying "ALL" white people owned slaves, what i am sayin' is that 
"ALL" white people benefited from slavery then & you benefit from it today.  
The Prison Industrial Complex(PIC)is slavery 21st Century style, where these 
kamps are built in rural depressed areas to boost the economy at the expense 
of Afrikans & other people of kolor.  White-Amerika must rise about your 
racism & challenge the contradictions of your dear kountry & stop getting 
your bowels in an uproar because someone calls you a racist.  Until the 
Afrikan Holocaust that took place on these shores(which is one of the 
greatest crimes against hue-manity), are dealt with, there can NEVER be a 
healing  in Amerika between the RACES.  Our children deserve a better planet 
to live, love & grow & this will only happen when you & i come together in 
unity.

In Struggle,
sista shiriki
May 1,1999