As we enter the annual month-long celebration of all things black, it’s the perfect time to remember the diversity in black political thought. we have been at odds with each other more than with white people and there are several different ways in which we have understood and fought for liberation.
The politics of black radicalism are misunderstood and misrepresented, often dismissed as anti-white, violent, and led by men trying to dominate women. in this lazy caricature we have dismissed one of the most important political movements, and the goal of my book, back to black, is to bring back black radicalism, which is as vital to this generation as it ever has been.
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malcolm x best articulates black radicalism, which seeks nothing less than a revolution to overthrow the racist social order. he does not appear on the list because there is no single book that captures the breadth and depth of his social theory. By remembering Malcolm, we have enshrined the stereotype of black radicals, while ignoring the political agenda. Malcolm X’s autobiography, written by alex haley, is most guilty of this cultivation of his image, deliberately omitting the account of organizing black unity, the very project malcolm was working on when he died. Later collections of speeches highlight the version of Malcolm that the publisher wanted to portray. To truly appreciate Malcolm X, listen to his speeches. Ten books that provide a good foundation for understanding the politics of black radicalism are:
1. stokely speaks: from black power to pan africanism by kwame ture (1971) this was the first book i read from my parents extensive bookshelves, mainly because of its comic cover featuring stokely carmichael (later kwame ture) wearing sunglasses sol, holding a shotgun above his head. It is no exaggeration to say that this book, more than any other, changed my life. After reading how he connected the plight of African Americans to the global struggle for freedom, nothing was ever the same.
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2. garvey and garveyism by amy jacques garvey (1963)the universal association for the betterment of blacks, founded in 1914, became the largest and most influential black political organization of all time. at its peak it had millions of members in the African diaspora, long before the days of social media or even widespread use of the telephone. Marcus Garvey is credited with starting the organization, but black women were the backbone of the movement, making up more than half of the membership. Amy Jacques Garvey was indispensable to the organization and she preserved the memory of her husband both in her philosophy and views and in Garvey and Garveyism, which also includes her own writing.
3. africa must unite by kwame nkrumah (1963)at the heart of black radicalism is the idea of african revolution, a process that ultimately tears down colonial borders and creates a unified state that can provide for all people on the continent and in the diaspora. nkrumah, the first president of ghana, who had the first successful liberation struggle in what is known as sub-saharan africa, presents the best case and vision of the african revolution.
4. Beyond Containment by Claudia Jones (2010)A collection of speeches and writings by one of the most underappreciated Black radical activists. born in trinidad, jones was deported from the united states because of her communism to britain, where she had an immediate impact. Jones founded the nation’s first black newspaper, the West Indies Gazette, and started what became the Notting Hill Carnival after the 1958 race riots. His work is also a reminder of the role that black activists have played in the development of Marxism.
5. Black Jacobins by CLR James (1938)In 1804, the people of Haiti completed the only successful slave rebellion in history, freeing themselves from the shackles of France. James traces the history of the revolution and all the factors that contributed to its success. in africa, the americas and the caribbean, there was never a passive acceptance of the system, with revolts led by zumbi (brazil), bussa (barbados) and sam sharpe (jamaica).
6. Assata: An Autobiography of Assata Shakur (1987) Shakur’s story has continued to inspire a generation of activists. convicted of killing a state police officer in 1973, a charge she has always denied, after years of abuse and giving birth in prison she managed to escape in 1979. to this day, shakur lives with political asylum in cuba. As well as an inspiration, it’s a reminder that the system she fought against is alive and well.
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7. The Wretched of the Earth by Frantz Fanon (1961)A classic text by an influential liberation theorist. fanon exposes the hypocrisy of the purveyors of horrendous colonial violence, who insist that the oppressed be peaceful in their resistance. The book also presents a forensic analysis of the limits of the national struggle and draws from Black Skin, White Masks fanon, which examined the need for a revolutionary identity to bring about social change.
8. the revolution has come by robyn spencer (2016)the black panther party for self-defense was one of the most important liberation movements of the 20th century, but it also had an intellectual impact. It was almost impossible to choose between Huey P Newton’s revolutionary suicide; bobby seale seizes the time; and elaine brown is a test of power for an account of the panthers themselves. however, spencer’s book provides an excellent overview of the birth of the movement, its impact, and most importantly, the role of women, who made up over 60% of the party’s membership.
9. Revolution in Guinea by Amílcar Cabral (1979)The first task in reviving radical politics is to convince people that revolution is possible. Less than a lifetime ago, it was not clear that capitalism would survive the threat of communism and revolts in developing countries. Revolution in Guinea is a story about the roots and practice of the liberation struggle, which finally triumphed after Cabral’s death in 1973. Although the revolution ultimately failed to transform Guinea, it is important to learn from these experiences of struggle.
10. black feminist thought by patricia hill collins (2000) universities were the sites that produced the very racism we are combating, and maintain white privilege today. hill collins provides a model for bridging the gap between the ivory tower and black communities in the form of black feminist thought. By taking the point of view of the oppressed, even pampered academics can reach beyond our privileged location and engage in liberation struggles outside the hallowed walls of the university.
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