Mumia: Is Obama’s Victory Ours?
Posted by Mike E on June 14, 2008
Political prisoner Mumia Abu-Jamal examines the Obama candidacy from a Black nationalist perspective. (the “ours” in his title refers to African American people. Posting a point of view does not imply Kasama’s endorsement of those views. (Thanks to Iris for suggesting this post.)
by Mumia Abu-Jamal
With the attainment of the required delegates to claim the Democratic Party’s nomination for U.S. president, Sen. Barack H. Obama (D. ILL.) has written a new page in American history. For by so doing he succeeds where Channing Phillips, Shirley Chisholm, Jesse Jackson, Sr., and Al Sharpton could not – by gaining the necessary delegates to demand nomination. Of course, there have been numerous Black candidates for president, but these have been third party efforts designed more to raise issues, to organize or protest than to actually win elections. Some of the best known have been Eldridge Cleaver (former Black Panther Minister of Information), Dick Gregory, Dr. Lenora Fulani, and the former congresswoman, Cynthia McKinney.
But this is a different kettle of fish, for Obama’s candidacy is the closest to make it to the winner’s circle. What also distinguishes Obama from his predecessors is he doesn’t come from civil rights, Black liberation, socialist or anti war movements. (He often remarks at speeches, “I’m not against all wars, I’m just against dumb wars.”)
Indeed, although his detractors may try to paint him as a leftist liberal this is hardly true.
On issues both foreign and domestic he would’ve been more at home in the Republican Party of his senatorial forebear, Edward Brooke of Massachusetts. For though he is Black by dint of his African father, he has studiously avoided Black political groups in his long, harrowing climb to the rim of the White House. He has studiously avoided the very real and long standing grievances of Black America. In fact, he tried to run a ‘post-racial’ campaign until Sen. Hillary R. Clinton (D.N.Y.) (and her rambunctious husband, former Pres. Bill), brought race front and center during the Super Tuesday February primaries, by trying to pigeonhole him as ‘the Black candidate’. This primary wounded Obama, and as he won in the delegate count, he also lost a number of primary states, such as Ohio and Pennsylvania, which are necessary for a win in November.
Politics is the art of making people believe that they are in power when in fact, they have none. It is a measure of how dire is the hour that they’ve passed the keys to the kingdom to a Black man. As in many American cities, Black Mayors were let in when the treasuries were almost barren, and tax bases were almost at rock-bottom. With the nation’s manufacturing base also a thing of history, amidst the socioeconomic wreckage of globalization, with foreign affairs in shambles, the rulers reach for a pretty, brown face to front for the Empire. ‘Real change that you could believe in’ would be an end to Empire, and an end to wars for corporate greed, not just a change of the shade of the political managers. That change, I’m afraid, is still to come.
JJM+ said
Very interesting, indeed. I always think Mumia has good things to say even in such stressful conditions as he is in.
So many people are drawn into Obama’s campaign with fired up hopes and aspirations, and we yet do not know or understand how to engage with the millions that do so.
That change is also, still to come.
Stanley W. Rogouski said
Not necessarily a criticism of Mumia but has anybody noticed that the same white people who say “oh my God. I wish Nixon were back. He was more liberal than Clinton” are the same white people who say “damn that Obama. He’s just like Edward Brooks.”
For the most part, I think Mumia’s statement is a bit general and the points have been made by a lot of other people but this is insightful.
It is a measure of how dire is the hour that they’ve passed the keys to the kingdom to a Black man. As in many American cities, Black Mayors were let in when the treasuries were almost barren, and tax bases were almost at rock-bottom.
Yes, the White House is not a city government and still has a lot of power Newark and Detroit never had so I think Mumia is wrong.
BUT, he does get at how the federal government is in the process of being deligitimized, how everything is being outsourced to private industry.
War Inc (which was a terrible movie but still makes some obvious points) is a look at the future.
But does that then mean that once the federal government had been privatized that the White House then truly becomes the “peoples’ house,” however denuded of power it is?
Could we see a President Kucinich (uh Allende)in a few years?
Arel said
Stan,
I think you missed the essence of Mumia’s point.
As he so eloquently states:
Politics is the art of making people believe that they are in power when in fact, they have none. It is a measure of how dire is the hour that they’ve passed the keys to the kingdom to a Black man…the rulers reach for a pretty, brown face to front for the Empire. ‘Real change that you could believe in’ would be an end to Empire, and an end to wars for corporate greed, not just a change of the shade of the political managers.
It’s not a matter of “deligitimizing” or “outsourcing government to private industry.” It’s a question of who really controls and rules society, and who really decides who gets to be the “front for the Empire.”
JJM+, using Mumia’s statement above is a good place to start to “engage with those millions.”
Stanley W. Rogouski said
It’s not a matter of “deligitimizing” or “outsourcing government to private industry.” It’s a question of who really controls and rules society, and who really decides who gets to be the “front for the Empire.”
Of course it is. That’s the problem with a lot of people on the “left”.
They have some abstract notion that some far off “they” controls everything but they’ve never been in any real position of power and they don’t know that with government comes perks, contracts, money, influence, access.
There are various levels working here.
You think controlling city government is meaningless?
Then why were there 1,000,000 people in the streets in London on 2/15/2003 and why did New York shut down the demonstration completely. Why are there no British troops in Basra anymore?
You think voter suppression, negative campaigning designed to induce a feeling of cynicism, the theft of government revenues, the pilfering of National Guard units for Iraq when they could have been servig in New Orleans during Katrina, the lack of new infrastructure projects don’t affect people?
Well, if you do, that’s exactly what “they” want you to believe. Yes, “they” set the rules in the end, and one of the ways they do this is by delegitimizing anything that could put a check on private business.
Stanley W. Rogouski said
Then why were there 1,000,000 people in the streets in London on 2/15/2003 and why did New York shut down the demonstration completely.
To expand upon this a bit, a lot of anti-war and Marxist groups which declare that any form of parliamentary or straight bourgeoisie politics are meaningless, what do they do?
They negotiate with the police for permits. They hire lawyers. They raise money and pay their taxes.
It almost gets to the point where the “revolutionary” rhetoric is for newspaper hawking, sign holding rank and file and the serious organization is done along “serious” bourgeoisie lines but a “steering committee” or paid staff or organizers.
So when does the reality match the rhetoric?
Why does Mumia have lawyers instead of just calling for mass insurrections against the prisons and in the prisons?
Five Ridges said
Mumia hit the nail on the head.
Ali La Pointe said
Stanley,
I’m a bit confused as to what you are getting at. Are you suggesting that Britain is not as involved in Iraq as the U.S because of the anti war demo’s in London. I think that’s a stretch, and there is a lot more at play there.
Also I think Mumia’s piece is avery short but extremely poignant criticism of Obama, and observation on who ‘the system’ allows to be at the head of the capitalist dictatorship. I think you missed the point about handing the keys to Obama during the crisis. I don’t think he is comparing the power of the White House and its military to the Black Mayors of Detroit and Newark, the point is rather; there is a reason why Obama and Hillary are being allowed to audition for the seat typically reserved for white males.
pipila said
Has anyone stopped to think that perhaps capitalism at the highest levels has advanced or is advancing to a point where discrimination is purely on the basis of ideology, not mainly on the basis of race or gender?
Ali La Pointe said
Also, Mumia is a revolutionary who does support insurrection against the government. The Panthers led some of the largest prison rebellions in the history of the U.S. George Jackson was assassinated in one of these uprisings. I think to compare reformist socialist groups working amongst the bourgeoisie, to Mumia’s legal defense is not a correct analogy.
Mumia is supportive of insurrection and would unite with any attempt at rebellion against the state or the prison industrial complex.
The reformist “communist parties” you reference are generally not supportive of rebellion and on many occasions have worked to undermine rebellions and popular insurrections.
James said
Aw c’mon Stan, aren’t you going to call Mumia a “racist”?
Stanley W. Rogouski said
My fanclub seems to have followed me here.
Kool.
Here’s what James is referring to.
http://www.rogouski.com/blog/2008/07/arthur-silbers-rough-beast.html
And no. My criticisms of Silber and Mumia are totally different. Silber could learn a lot from Mumia as far as editing goes, to start off.
Stanley W. Rogouski said
there is a reason why Obama and Hillary are being allowed to audition for the seat typically reserved for white males.
Agreed. But there was a reason Andrew Jackson and JFK were allowed to audition for the keys to the White House too.
Are you suggesting that Britain is not as involved in Iraq as the U.S because of the anti war demo’s in London.
No. What I’m saying is that who controls the local government also sets the rules for protests and has a HUGE, HUGE effect on the freedom people have to organize.
The fact that the mayor of London was Ken Livingstone and the mayor or NYC was Michael Bloomberg meant that the anti-war movement in London had more freedom to organize than it did in NYC and, consequently, put more people in the streets, and created more ripples through English society.
Don’t scoff at little, reformist goals that give you the freedom to plan for larger, revolutionary goals.
Obama’s not a leftist or even a liberal but his being in the White House will probably open more avenues to organize (even if unintentionally) then McCain’s being in the White House.
Stanley W. Rogouski said
Has anyone stopped to think that perhaps capitalism at the highest levels has advanced or is advancing to a point where discrimination is purely on the basis of ideology, not mainly on the basis of race or gender?
Yes. Dinesh D’Souza, for one.
Dawta Hodesh said
Subject: DR.MARIMBA ANI – BREAKING THE SILENCE ON OBAMA..Date: Sat, 8 Nov 2008 5:03:27 PM Eastern Standard Time
Marimba Ani
BREAKING THE SILENCE: Fulfilling the Promise
Amura Onaa tells us that when our Ancestors were being torn apart from each other, we looked into each other’s eyes and made a solemn promise. We promised to reconnect with each other so that this tearing apart would never happen again. It is the Afrikan belief that we are our Ancestors reborn, and through this spiritual rebirth, we gain eternal life. The promise could only be fulfilled by future generations returning as Afrikans who had made this sacred promise to each other. What our Ancestors suffered over centuries, could only have been survived because they had hope. But what could possibly have given them cause for hope? If they had not survived and bore children who bore children who bore children, we would not be here. It is the Afrikan belief that we choose to be born when we are in the spirit world, and that we make a contract to fulfill a purpose in this life.
All of this can only mean that we have chosen to be born Afrikan and that we are the
hope of our Ancestors. Our purpose on this earth is to avenge our Ancestors and to achieve the victory: Afrikan sovereignty through a Pan-Afrikan world order based on the principles of MAAT. It is our choice to fulfill The Promise to our Ancestors by achieving the victory denied them.
It is now Tuesday, November 4, 2008.
Is this the final act of assimilation, accommodation, and integration? Is this how we are fulfilling our promise to the Ancestors? Has America made restitution for what was done to them, still being done to us? Is the Maafa over or has it merely morphed into another, more insidious form of genocide? Are we now experiencing a life-threatening condition of cultural AIDS in which our immune system has turned on itself? Has the Yurugu virus mutated so that it looks like us? Are we participating in our own self-destruction?
We are witnessing a time of the most blatant acts of genocide such as “Katrina” (Maafa – 2005), in which thousands of our people were slaughtered, left to die, placed in disease-producing holding pens, forcibly relocated, separated from their families and support-systems, and their (our) children “lost”, all this for the purpose of corporate profit and for the illegal misappropriation of land.
In our time, Afrikan mothers are being incarcerated in increasing numbers, so that their presence in the u.s. prison system almost equals that of Afrikan men and fathers, who have, for more than a century, been sacrificed to the prison-industrial complex.
We are living in the time of Blackwater, mercenaries used by government and corporations. We are living in the time of American support of European Hegemony taken to the most extreme levels ever in history. We watch as America’s bank, the so-called “world bank,” sucks the life out of Afrika, Jamaica and other Black nations. We are living in the time of the IMF, the Federal Reserve, the Trilateral Commission, the Council on Foreign Relations, the Bilderbergers and more.
The Patriot Act is an updated McCarran Act of 1950. We are living in a time that can be understood as part of “the process of Fascism”. Fascism creates a demon, sells this demonization to the public, then uses it to control (intimidate, detain, torture, kill) anyone who challenges the state’s abuse of human rights. In the l950’s the demons were the “subversives,” and the “communists” ..throughout the “cold war,” in 1968, following the assassination of Dr. King, the demons were those suspected of being “guerrillas”, and by 2001 the term “terrorists” had been accepted as describing the new “demons.
” Should we allow the original, the real terrorists to define “terrorism” ?
This brief statement is only meant to point to the reality of the times in which we live, the political legacy that we have inherited as “americans,” and what we need to be aware of at this “historic” moment. In the 1960’s, our people were regarded by the rest of the world as leaders in the struggle for human rights as we fought to expose and confront the genocidal policies perpetrated by the american government towards Afrikan people in the u.s.
We stopped organizing. We stopped confronting “the system.” We became part of “the system.” We sent our sons to fight for u.s. monetary gain. We did not see value in self-determination, self-definition, and self-reliance for our people. Those who were politically conscious read and talked about ancient history. We no longer concerned ourselves with contemporary events, systems, or political realities. Instead of expanding our movement to become a world movement, a truly Pan-Afrikan movement, we were content to become “individuals” in the “greatest” (most materially powerful) country in the world.
So now we are “making history” by being swept up in someone else’s definition of what history is. We are “making history,” by capitulating to integration, accommodation, and assimilation. We have reached the mountain top, for we have been able to vote for a “first to.” The struggle is over. We have won. We can proudly say that one of our people represents the most repressive, destructive, inhumane, anti-Afrikan nation ever to have existed! We are proud to be part of a multinational corporate structure run by sociopathic adolescents who think nothing of stealing from their own people. (Imagine what they will do to us.
)
We say that we vote because our Ancestors died to get the vote. Yes, if you decide to vote, that is your “right.” Do not, however, blame it on “the Ancestors.” That’s like saying Black people died to go to school with white people, so I will make sure that my children go to white schools. I have a personal experience of that Movement. Registering to vote in Mississippi was a means of confronting a system of oppression head on. Today we vote to avoid confrontation with a system that is Fascist. In Mississippi, attempting to register, meant putting your life on the line, if you were Black. This effort became part of a strategy to expose the system of oppression that existed in this country, which continues to exist even though we, Black people, can now “vote” (even in Mississippi). No, that is not what our Ancestors died for. They died to fulfill The Promise. And that is the question that we should raise.
“What are we doing to fulfill The Promise?”
Is this occasion “historic” because it represents the abandonment of our sacred obligation to the Ancestors? Will we go down in “his” story as having finally capitulated and become satisfied with the evil that is represented in contemporary globalization, privatization and international capitalism? Have we aborted our movement for freedom, liberation and sovereignty? Or have we merely redefined that objective in “american” individualistic, “what’s in it for me” terms? Have we now “won”? Or have we simply taken the easier road, finding it more comfortable to be colonized than to fight for liberation? Are we excited about the possibility of being closer to power than we have ever been before, even though that power rests on the exploitation, even murder, of Afrikans and other non-Europeans throughout the world? Have we even dared to ask ourselves “what kind of person would want to be president of the United States of America?”
What is the significance of this moment, Tuesday, November 4, 2008, in “our” story?
Let us make this a time for reassessment of our lives, each of us. Let us reconnect with each other in ways that will help our people to become self-sustaining. Let us read and study and become aware of what this country stands for in the world. Let us teach and learn about the monetary system.
Organize, Organize, Organize!
Food cooperatives,
Investment groups
Independent Afrikan schools
Alternative sustainable energy
Communal and collective social entities
Susus (saving together)
Vehicles for harnessing and sharing our resources
Ways of educating ourselves for optimal healthy living
Methods for alternative social organization
The study of ways in which our Ancestors organized communities, so that we can get ideas for the future (doing Sankofa)
Black political conventions
An independent Afrikan/Black vehicle for political action and race (Kanda) decision-making
A Back-to-Afrika process.
We must read the following:
Blueprint for Black Power (Amos Wilson) (especially chapter 31)
The Choice (Sam Yette)
There is A River (Vincent Harding)
The condition, Elevation, Emigration and Destiny of the Colored People of the United States of America (Martin Delany
The Miseducation of the Negro (Carter G.
Woodson)
The Destruction of Black Civilization (Chancellor Williams)
Two Thousand Seasons (Ayi Kwei Armah)
Wretched of the Earth (Franz Fanon)
By Europeans:
The Shock Doctrine (Naomi Klein)
And watch:
Goodbye Uncle Tom
Zeitgeist
Zeitgeist Addendum
End Games
Loose Change
The Corporation
http://uk. youtube. com/watch?v=k7czQ05DN4U&sdig=1