The Problem with the Political Spectrum Horseshoe
Ignoring racism is not the path to multicultural organizing
There has been a great deal of conversation regarding the political spectrum horseshoe. This is the idea that the far right and the far left are closer to each other than either are to the political center. The presumption of this narrative is that each side has more in common with each other than assumed. It has become a point of contention amongst organizers on the left. Some have indicated a willingness to work with those on the right side of the spectrum, as others maintain the commonalities are not enough to outweigh the differences.
Chairman Fred Hampton of the Illinois Chapter of the Black Panther Party is often referenced during these discussions because of the success of the Rainbow Coalition. Founded in April of 1969, this multicultural coalition sought to push for socialist change for the poor working families of Chicago. Fred Hampton’s vision, unexpected in one of the most segregated cities in America, led him to facilitate meetings with groups like the Young Lords and the Young Patriots Organization. There are some who point to the picture below, of Black Panthers with Young Patriots, as evidence of an alignment between the Panthers and white supremacists. It is a mischaracterization of the reality of the alliance.
A dynamic speaker and leader, Chairman Fred Hampton carefully planned each movement toward the Rainbow Coalition. The selection of Panthers who participated in meetings, issues and topics that were discussed, and the timing of encounters was all intentional. Every decision leading up to the unlikely pairing, is what enabled it to occur.
There were two concepts at the forefront of the alliance that are rarely acknowledged. They are mutual respect and self-determination. Understanding these concepts is key to understanding the success of the Rainbow Coalition. Self-determination requires those who are most affected by the potential results of the action, to guide the direction of the movement. Too often organizations are misdirected by those who claim to be helping the cause, but in reality are focused on what they “believe” should be the mission. This co-opting leads to agendas that do not meet the needs of those most affected.
Mutual respect is a foundational principle which allows all members of a coalition to recognize that each participant holds equal worth and value. This recognition serves to protect members from the harm caused when they are deemed as less than by others, for any reason. It feeds self-determination by allowing organizers the ability to have equal voice and weight with the direction of actions and decisions.
Mutual respect is what allowed the Young Patriots to let go of their confederate flags and racist beliefs. It was that choice that allowed them to be a part of the Rainbow Coalition. The shared focus of improving the overall condition for everyone was guided by self-determination and strengthened by mutual respect. The Rainbow Coalition, led by Chairman Fred Hampton was not an example of Black people agreeing to work with racists. It was an example of people letting go of their racism and prejudice in an effort to work toward a common goal.
It is imperative that people not misunderstand the reality of this coalition. It did not work despite the allowance of racism. It worked because racism was not allowed. Those whose racist ideology would previously have caused them to work against their self-interest, instead did the exact opposite.
Fast forward to conversations regarding these types of allegiances in current times. There are many who believe any organizing effort to change the condition of the majority must include any and all persons from within the working class. The assertion is that no one be left out of the conversation or the organization of the working class, despite personal beliefs.
However, this plan would require those who are typically oppressed to work alongside their oppressors, thus exposing them to possible harm. Changing the condition of the majority requires that everyone work toward the same goal. If participants of the action believe people of certain groups are undeserving of equal access, civil rights and fundamental freedoms, their goals are inherently different.
If organizers are not deemed as equal, they cannot be deemed as worthy of the advancement that comes with a change in the condition. This means within the organization, there are persons working toward different goals. There would exist organizers seeking to change the condition only for those they believe are worthy. The oppressed would then be working for everyone, while the oppressors are working for themselves. The inevitable resulting conflict will always put the oppressed at a disadvantage.
Those who believe the majority can work together while ignoring the “isms” intentionally created by the ruling minority are, simply put, misguided. The “isms” are divisive constructs manufactured by those with power in order to prevent the majority from working together. The characteristics of race, gender and sexual identity, as well as class were all designed in order to separate.
The bourgeoisie chose those who most reflect their own characteristics to have an elevated status. They further supported this division by reconstructing religious beings to reflect those characteristics; rewriting history to ensure the educational system reinforced their status; and instituting oppressive systems that would sustain their status.
The intended side effect is privilege and an inherent belief that one is better, based upon these created constructs. This privilege is revered by those who reap the benefits from it, as such, they have no desire to lose it. Their goal is to retain their privilege, therefore they cannot be working toward a goal of improving the overall conditions for the majority.
The unwillingness of the oppressed to work with those who chose to maintain their privilege is not the problem. Convincing those with privilege to invalidate those constructs is the problem. A real multicultural coalition will not work unless those holding on to privilege and perceived hierarchy let it go.
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