MIM(Prisons) is a cell of revolutionaries serving the oppressed masses inside U.$. prisons, guided by the communist ideology of Marxism-Leninism-Maoism.
Under Lock & Key is a news service written by and for prisoners with a focus on what is going on behind bars throughout the United States. Under Lock & Key is available to U.S. prisoners for free through MIM(Prisons)'s Free Political Literature to Prisoners Program, by writing:
MIM(Prisons) PO Box 40799 San Francisco, CA 94140.
On the subject of non-designated yards, the fact that the state’s
actors have sanctioned this social experiment where the labels that the
state themselves created are now being altered by their creators means
that the G.P./SNY dual system has run its course and failed
miserably.
It also means that prisoners have to be re-educated on the history of
prison labels in California, understanding that at one time all
prisoners went to any yard where there was space and they fit the
classification points criteria. The only prisoners who got sent to
special yards at that time were the wealthy, the law enforcement
convicted prisoners, and those media vilified infamous. These yards held
low numbers of prisoners and weren’t easy to get to, or gain reliable
information about. However, once the state actors came up with 50/50
yards, SNY yard, it created new problems that would not only affect
prisoner sub-culture in prison but an even huger problem on the streets
due to the criminals’ new option not to play by the old rules of the
GAME that is not a game.
It’s not a one-size-fits-all on the who’s who level, on the G.P. nor
SNY lines – there are snitches on both sides, rapists on both sides,
hustlers on both sides, politicians on both sides, killers on both
sides, thinkers on both sides, lumpen orgs on both sides. What needs to
be analyzed is why are we still judging one another based solely on
convictions when we have seen 13, White Like Me, we’ve
read The New Jim Crow, Blacked Out Through White Wash,
The Black Panthers Speak, Locked Up But Not Locked
Down, A Taste of Power, and Dark Alliance,
etc.
WE know that all the courts care about is convictions and not truth
or facts. We know that many people who go to trial get railroaded and
made an example of. We know that many of us were forced to make deals
based on the public defender’s inability to provide adequate defense and
we know many prisoners are wrongfully convicted and sentenced to decades
behind these walls. Yet we keep judging our fellow prisoners based upon
convictions from a corrupt system that works to justify its high
percentage of convictions and deals, plea bargains, bails, etc. As one
of the GODS that’s locked inside of this INJUSTICE system I refuse to
take our open enemy’s word about another oppressed prisoner, nor will I
act on behalf of the STATE and harm another prisoner based on what
happened as a result of the United Snakes Criminal Injustice system.
Where I judge is based on the individual’s personal conduct and
willingness to act when the time demands action or when I see them deal
with difficult situations – if they’re rational, measured, and are they
using reason-based decision making or not.
Comrades, we’ve got to think about what unity would bring us that is
impossible if we continue being separated based upon STATE TITLE and
LABELS. The question to all you self-styled revolutionaries is: can
people change? Does experience and education reform an otherwise broken
individual? Can we inspire the Blind, Deaf and Dumb to wake the fuck up
and unite on some active social dynamics that is mutually beneficial to
all commonly oppressed prisoners? Will we educate the next Revolutionary
that will make change a reality? Or are we just pen and paper
revolutionaries?
They tried to brainwash a younging
I was thugging trying to make no-thing into something
After seeing those who had it all while us who was out there
struggling
Thinking that there has to be another way for all of us to get fair
play
But these x-men made crooked scales so they can capitalize
As long as their bellies are overfulled it doesn’t matter if I get
killed
Slaving for minimum wages so my family may have food and supplies
Then to have obstacles laid in front of me after I open my all seeing
eye
That the only way is the natural way & that is to communize
No big you’s & no little I’s
But that has no money coming out of it
So that’s why the 10 has to lie
They don’t want to share the pie
So sad that they’re gone fry
How can I be true to self, when I don’t even
know myself?
I have all this knowledge, but it’s collecting dust on the shelf.
Man, I need some help,
But what’s the point when I have a teacher and I don’t value his
wealth?
Am I conscience that I am in the belly of the beast?
Or did the imperialist induce me dumb and asleep?
Am I so far gone that I cannot be reached?
Is my third eye too calcified that I can not seek?
That New Afrikans can have better opportunities to increase?
And free all political prisoners plus the great sheiks?
Even if it cost me, my family to not deal with me when I am
released?
These are the questions I ask myself to see if I’m still mentally
deceased, and if I am; may the Allah in me drown me in the knowledge of
self so I can be a valuable piece.
To aid & assist all my brothers and sisters in this beautiful
struggle for New Afrikan peace.
I hope these words surmount the many communicational barriers that have
been put in place to suppress my voice. I’m currently being held at
North Carolina’s supermax facility. I came across issue 66 of ULK
and I read where the
prisoners
of Pender razor-wire plantation are being exploited and seeking
guidance and assistance in redressing this issue.(1)
North Carolina is home to 32 Correctional Enterprise plantations that
exploit prisoners for their labor in the name of rehabilitation. As the
komrade mentioned, these plantations are profitable enterprises that
range from producing janitorial products to a metal plant in Polkton,
North Carolina that makes industrial sinks for schools and contraband
lockers for the police. Each of these 32 plantations produces goods to
be sold to tax-supported entities such as municipal and county
governments. So yes it’s a fact that prisoners are being exploited and
you seek guidance on how you and others can organize to redress this
issue.
First and foremost, you must purge the fear you admitted to having,
komrade. As the beloved komrade George Jackson stated, “Don’t fear the
specter of repression, for we are already repressed.” The fear of
reprisals is what keeps us in bondage. Yes we’re held captive by
concrete and razor-wire barriers, but it isn’t the physical chains that
keep us oppressed and exploited. It is the mental chains of ignorance
and fear that impede us from liberating ourselves from under the rule of
the enemy. Fear is our greatest hindrance. We have been conditioned to
believe that the enemy’s retaliation will be so brutal that any thoughts
of standing up are neutralized by this fear. Nelson Mandela said it
best: “In prison, no improvement happens without a reason.”
However, you are correct that you must have assistance. You cannot fight
this Hydra alone. North Carolina isn’t known for its progressive
political activity within these razor-wire plantations, nor are there
any notable revolutionaries or political prisoners. Being the deputy
minister of defense for the White Panther organization, which is an arm
of the New Afrikan Black Panther Party - Prison Chapter, under the
umbrella of the United Panther Movement, we have been on the front lines
and working diligently to transform these slave pens of oppression into
schools of liberation.
There are outside supporters here that are very loyal to the prisoners
of North Carolina. They provide us with a local newsletter,
FloodGates, to serve as a platform for us to network with others
and express ourselves. They also organize outside protests and mass
call-ins. As of now, we are focused on redressing the new JPay
restrictions. You can receive the FloodGates newsletter by
writing:
FloodGates Publishing PO Box 15401 Durham, NC 27704
MIM(Prisons) responds: In ULK 66 we asked for input from
other folks in response to the writer from North Carolina who asked what
they can do to fight back against the extortion of money, both through
their labor and petty fees. This writer offers some good thoughts about
building a network both behind bars and on the streets. We work for
Under Lock & Key to also serve as a resource to help with
this organizing.
As we’ve discussed in our recent updated
“Survey of U.S Prisoners on Prison Labor” in ULK 62,
prisoners are mostly working for the state.(2) The examples given by
this writer confirm that this is the case in North Carolina as well.
This labor is subsidizing the state budget, but it falls far short of
covering the cost of imprisonment. So we don’t describe prison labor
with the term “exploitation” which, in Marxism, means transforming labor
power into goods to be sold for a profit. The goods being produced are
for state institutions, and just offset the costs to run these
institutions. There’s no profit involved.
Instead, we say the prisons are extorting this labor. Basically the
prisons are stealing it from prisoners, not giving them a choice about
work, and paying only a pittance. Still, there’s no profit.
Prisons are about social control and national oppression, not profits.
The prison movement needs to focus on the anti-colonial battle, and the
struggle against prison labor can be a part of this. We support the
struggles many of our comrades are fighting against prison labor,
because we are against extortion and imprisonment of the lumpen class
and oppressed-nation peoples. This is one of many ways to weaken the
criminal injustice system.
By Rassafidz of NCICO United Front & 5% N.G.E. Community Corcoron
Copied by Narobi Antori
It has been a hot few months for the prisoners of Corcoran Substance
Abuse Treatment Facility (SATF) California Department of Corrections
& Rehabilitations. After struggling against administrative
corruptions, to no avail, in local courts, over toxic prison conditions
that involve prison populations. Being forced to eat in dining hall
spaces that are infested with fungus/mold, in both serving and dining
areas. Prisoners still suffer in the environment that over looks the
presence of maggot containing prisoners food; However, a group of New
Afrikans, who organize under the flag of Natural Islam, Nation of Gods
& Earths, were able to come together to celebrate the birthdate of a
principle party of the New Afrikan liberation movement.
On August 17, 2019 approximately ten members of the N.G.E. community,
with guests, united in assembly to celebrate the life of Honorable
Marcus M. Garvey Sr. Though there be so much hate & false hope being
spread within the imprisoned New Afrikan community, & some of the
most powerful platforms developed to liberate New Afrikans are being
used by members of the amerikan society, who blood suck & exploite
the un-tapped mind resources of New Afrikans, all power to those who
struggle.
The men of CSATF, N.G.E., Carthage Community shared in a lecture
dialogue covering the birth of Marcus Garvey, his organizing of the 11
million Afrikans of the black diaspora into the Universal Negro
Improvement Association & Carribeans League, commonly referred to as
the U.N.I.A. There was live musiq played by one of the Rasta G-O-Ds
& discussions held on the subject of New Afrikan unity both inside
and outside the prisons in the U.S.
As we all suffer from a sort of social un-justice that disconnects
the New Afrikan man, woman, and child from any degree of social
equality, the movement of prison liberalist reform has begun to drown
out the voices of prisoner leadership who held a more un-popular
position as it relates to Justice for more than 2 million plus prisoners
in the custody of the amerikkkan prison system, not to mention all of
those of facilities & mental health hospitals. The G-O-Ds of
Corcoran decided that there was a need to develop a self-determined
event that drew attention to the New Afrikans getting back to the basics
of Nation building by the concept of:
One Love. One Nature. One Way.
There was open discussion on the need of more New Afrikan mentorship
programs led by the strong Brothers & Sisters who have determined
that the only change that should come to New Afrikans imprisoned is the
change WE ourselves cultivate, with or without the help, approval or
permission of the police & when WE say police, we mean the police in
all it’s forms, including the high rolling church peoples who want
nothing to do with US who have been marked with the triple brand of
Satan.
There was a simple meal of chips and burritos offered to all who
attended, the group went un-harassed by facility officers, who have
become accustomed to nicknaming the 57 N.G.E. community as the “Earth
Wind & Fire Group”.
One particular God made knowledge known on the need of New Afrikans
& all asiatics to be wise in the high sodium levels hidden inside
our food as a means to kill off our, “Third eye” capabilities, while
another God from Detroit & organizing a member of the NOI opened a
rap session performing a conscious rap song that he wrote in his early
years in the 90’s.
With all the talk of Juneteenth & Black August within the
California prison system, these New Afrikans did a great job of honoring
the living life objectives of Black Liberation. Concentrating on Peace,
Unity, Growth, Internatonalism & Independence, they used resources
at their disposal for the right reason, & many beautiful plans came
from the build of righteousness & destruction of evilness.
Though the Nation of God & Earth (N.G.E.) community, properly
referred to as the, “N.G.E., Carthage of el’Moraco New Afrika”, has
established much for itself with it’s weekly General Cipher of Saturdays
from 9:30AM-11:45AM, & the N.G.E. civilization class held on
Thursday 2:30PM-4:00PM where these New Afrikan Asiatic Study the Nature
of Moabite Ancestry & Islam as the culture of mathematics with the
guidance of “The Final Testament Quran,” Published by Rashad Khalifa
& the Masjid Tuscon International Community of Submitters. Gods
adopted plans to launch an Egyptian yoga group developing the principles
of the Maat, introduced by Dr. Muata Ashby, while also supporting a
facility gardening project that the youthful G-O-Ds figure that there be
no better way to celebrate the lives of our murdered Freedom Fighters
than to plant love, so G-O-Ds took part in de-weeding a particular patch
of the yard for their own civilization.
In closing, we invite the N.G.E, N.O.I & Moorish communities of
California & the west coast to reach out to our leadership as WE
organize for the Kwanzaa celebration in December with all praises be to
the Originals, Being the change we wish to see.
First and foremost, we would like to thank ULK for being a
platform to spread the message of prisoner united fronts and solidarity
within these dungeons. ULK has been a big part of helping in
reeducation and enlightenment. To us revolutionaries, who are the tip of
the spear here in Colorado, ULK is a great tool. We hope this
brief update gives encouragement to all of us conscious of our battle
against capitalism, its social-control mechanism – mass incarceration –
and use of prisons as modern day slave camps.
Here in Colorado, with hard work and much determination, many different
groups have come to the realization of subversive tactics the state and
badge engage in to divide and conquer. Exploiting gang rivalries,
perpetuating violence by manufactured conflicts through “set-ups” of STG
members, and at times, nation unrest. After years of watching the badge
laugh it up, get pumped off the live action, replaying videos of their
puppet mastery, enjoying their own pithy commentary for amusement,
pursuing judicial redress (criminal convictions) for violence they made
possible and encouraged, freely and gleefully using chemical warfare,
tazers and non-lethal weaponry (for some reason these always seem to be
headshots, although this is strictly against written policy!) – with the
help of many different group leaders, violence between rivals, L.O.s has
stopped, almost state-wide.
For us at the spear’s tip, some critics recriminate and admonish – we’ve
gone down in flames, being removed from population to areas sufficiently
isolated; all our privileges (telephone, canteen, TV, visits, etc.)
removed, subject to out-of-state transfer. The badge resort to textbook
“cointelpro” tactics: spreading misinformation, rumors, delaying or
stopping mail. Worker pigs, “porkers,” trying to revitalize dessicated
STG-conflicts to take the spotlight off of them. Any means necessary to
escape the repercussions. But, out of the ashes has risen a mighty
phoenix, one that has sent a cold chill down our oppressor’s back.
We’ve demonstrated that real leadership is based in action, not
handicapping our people, but rather in providing the knowledge, tools
and freedoms to act. Setting examples of sacrifice, tenacity and hard
work. Understanding that the struggle to change minds is hard even with
the truth staring some in the face; some would rather desperately clutch
at what’s most familiar and be a stubborn hindrance to those of us
conscious and progressing the movement. That is human nature, it will
take patience. No matter how many obstacles, as long as you keep the big
picture in your mind nothing else matters. Those of us answering the
call must cherish that we will never know the comforts of the meek. It
is a long, hard road, but we can be proud we are doing our part and did
not look away. If we are not willing to risk the usual, we will have to
settle for the ordinary. This would very much please capitalists and
their contributors, were we to become subjugated.
Self-determination is our only path. Take up one cause (i.e. removing
capitalism), make that one cause your life, think of it, dream of it,
live on that cause, let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your
body be full of that cause, and just leave every other idea alone. This
is the way to success. Success is walking from failure to failure with
no loss of enthusiasm. One or many defeats in battles do not constitute
loss of the war; remember the big picture. Great minds discuss ideas,
average minds discuss events, small minds discuss people. Of the latter
there are two kinds who will tell you that you can not make a
difference: 1) those who are afraid to try; and 2) those who fear you
will succeed where they can not. (1)
We suggest, start where you are, use what you have, do what you can. It
is not the critic who counts, not the one who points out how the strong
stumble, or where and how a doer of deeds could have done them better.
The credit belongs to the man in the arena, whose face is marked by
dust, sweat, blood; who strives valiantly, who knows the great
enthusiasms, the greater devotions, who spends himself in a worthy
cause, who at best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement,
and who, at worst, if he fails, at least, fails while daring greatly, so
that his place shall never be among those cold, sententious, timid souls
who have never known victory nor defeat.
To those who, like us revolutionaries here in Colorado, understand and
struggle for a united prisoner movement: We tip our hats to you all. The
fight is hard, and well worth the effort, sweat, blood, deprivations and
temporary setbacks. Change is happening, change is coming.(2)
Is it possible to defeat gangster mentality in ourselves? The short
answer is: Yes. There is plenty of solid individuals who have turned
their back on the thug life and criminal thinking. But, is that what is
needed when building a revolutionary cadre organization? Instead,
perhaps we should attempt to harness and direct our vision of
revolutionary social force into a hammer to first shatter the old
imperialist system. And then from the ashes and rubble shape a new and
better society that will serve the masses free of exploitation.
As members of the revolutionary cadre organization, each of us has to be
a leader, a teacher, an activist, a soldier and represent the future by
our conduct. Individual members must take the initiative to bring
together various organizations for a united front. For this to happen
our members have to think beyond their neighborhood, set or clique. All
of us are already soldiers of battles that take place right under the
nose of pigs. The system does not care if we kill each other. Actually
they encourage warfare between lumpen organizations. When we fight each
other we do their job for them.
Fight the imperialist system by making peace in prison and on the
street. Educate the young, think on an international level, and lead by
example. Evolve from a gangster into a hardcore communist revolutionary.
Consider your time fighting for your neighborhoods as basic training for
the real battle yet to come.
Fifteen years ago she was in a desperate situation and in an unfortunate
set of circumstances. From afar we have watched Comrade Brown show and
prove to the world over that consistency, education, solidarity and a
set of principles not unlike our own can literally tear down the walls
of the oppressive state apparatus.
Most peoples and folks would overlook the struggle of a misled youth in
favor of the more traditional political prisoner, but, when we saw that
our comrade was free we had to inform the masses of eir struggle. #she2
is Legion.
To be Legion you must have been about that life at one point. To
be Legion you must have become the change you wanted to see. You
could be a Freed Cyntoia Brown or a captive ME.
She beat the patriarchal system that told her that she would do 51 years
for killing a trick who tried to rape her while under capitalism. She
was forced into prostitution by a pimp that coerced her into the
underground commercial sex economy without any input from her.
While she sat in prison she didn’t waste time. She got her education,
she got a degree, she advocated for her freedom turning her cell into
her dormitory. She went from the state pen to Penn State.
We hope for the best for Comrade Brown as she begins her life on
release. She too knows the struggle the pain of the road less traveled,
and we humbly salute her with universal greetings of PEACE!
MIM(Prisons) adds: Cyntoia Brown is an inspiration as to what the
oppressed nation lumpen youth can overcome and accomplish. Her case is
one where gender, class and national oppression all came into play
leading Cyntoia to the traumatic experiences of her early life. These
experiences were a consequence of gender oppression on her as not only a
biological female, but also a young persyn. The lack of development of
youth make them more subject to gender oppression in patriarchal
society. Such experiences will often mark and change a persyn’s life.
And we celebrate those like Cyntoia who come out of those experiences as
a strong, educated organizer for the interests of the oppressed.
Unfortunately, we know countless Cyntoia Browns as Legion implies. And
they do not have celebrities working on their freedom campaign. Some of
them will spend the rest of their lives in prison. This is the
difference between the dictatorship of the bourgeoisie, that we live
under now, which keeps the leaders of the oppressed locked up; as
compared to the dictatorship of the proletariat, that we need, which
will recognize those who take up the cause of the oppressed to be
reformed contributors to society.
The risk is cases like Brown’s making it look like the U.$. injustice
system also recognizes such contributors, as if Brown was released
because the government recognized eir value to society, and not simply
because of public pressure. Again, there are many Browns who are still
languishing in prison because they didn’t get the public support,
weren’t “newsy” enough, etc. And there will be many more if we don’t put
an end to the patriarchal society that so often leads youth into
dangerous situations.
We are grateful Comrade Brown is released and still fighting the good
fight, and we have a lot more work to do.
“We find ourselves today forced into a re-examination of the whole
nature of black revolutionary consciousness and its relative standing
within a class society steeped in a form of racism so sensitized that it
extends itself even to the slightest variation in skin tone.” - Comrade
George (B.I.M.E.)
Almost 50 years after the assassinations of our comrades W. L., George,
Khata-Ri, etc, etc. and the enemy has totally disseminated our party and
reinforced their system to potentially negate our future revolutionary
movements! What do we do now?
Our demand for narcotics to temporarily numb the pain of half life in
capitalist U.$. is helping to fuel our distraction. Half of us sell dope
and the other half use it!! Killing our unity and revolutionary
potential! Now here we are, in capitalist U.$. torture chambers! Many of
us are addicts, chasing a high right now! Some of us “claim a set” and
from this identity cannot see being cool with the brotha of another
“set.” Some are lifers, who are weary of sacrificing themselves for the
reactionaries to benefit! Some have already fallen too far (i.e. KKKop
collaborators), and in turn, work covertly to undermine our movement!
Others are poltroons, and out of their fear(s), they knowingly sabotage
our progression as a U.$. disfavored minority. Many of us are “armchair
revolutionaries” in that our practice(s) never match our stated militant
goals. Others see control of the “underground economy” as being
revolutionary. I do not have the answers. I am simply a New Afrikan man
seeking community input as I continue to stride firmly. My questions
are:
How is the “revolutionary consciousness” developed in a time of
reactionary gangsterism?
At what point does this so called “revolutionary theorist” have
to put his theories into practice?
How can we ever trust a cat who has ever worked as an informant
or jail house rat? By his very obvious individualism he has demonstrated
his priority is ideal of “me first.” Which, to us, says that once the
pressure(s) of isolation, pig abuse(s), additional time, etc. comes into
play, he will tell again. Setting us back even further!
MIM(Prisons) responds: This comrade and eir questions posed was
one of the inspirations for the topic of this issue of ULK. And
we hope we have at least begun to provide some answers and guidance for
those of us struggling with these questions.
This comrade also mentions a serious side-effect of the current gangster
era, which is propped up by the drug economy. This reality serves as a
material incentive in the form of profits for the seller and in the form
of chemical triggers in the brain of the buyer. We addressed this
situation in more depth in ULK 59 where we recognized the
challenges in even questioning the drug economy in today’s prison
environment. It will require progress on other fronts to make a dent on
the struggle against the poisoning of oppressed communities.
So what is to be done today?
Build a Revolutionary Culture on the Streets
USW30: Recently I heard of my older brotha/comrade’s passing and
it has me wondering… how do the brothas/sistas, who’ve embraced
revolutionary consciousness inside, transition to outside struggles?
Taking into consideration that the lumpen are in a state of defeatism
and quite fratricidal!
I personally exited Federal Bureau Of Prisons after 17 calendars. I
jumped right into local progressive politics and organizational
volunteer work, serving the lumpen! Yet, seemingly at every outing one
was forced to repel some form of gang reactionary threat(s). Most of
which, stern chastisements sufficed. However, all B.S. aside, I guess
what I’m saying is, without a “progressive culture” in play within the
“hood” We are at risk of A) being victimized by our misguided lumpen,
conditioned by capitalism to fratricidal violence, B) or we ourselves
react to reactionary threats and in turn reinforce the lumpen’s
perceptions of us, “prison revolutionaries” that return to “gangster”
conduct once out.
In truth, the only communities I saw which had requisite support
systems; minimal threat of intra-national violence, and universal code
of community morality were Islamic. I continually read pieces in
ULK, where cats profess to be “materialist dialecticians” and as
such, against “spirituality.” What I suggest to those living in New
Afrikan areas in particular is to analyze the impact of Islam on it.
Contrast that with that of the so-called revolutionaries. We must figure
out more effective ways to bring unity, as we methodically strive to
bring Babylon down. Rather than spit unproductive rhetoric which
services interests of the pigs by dividing militants from one another.
Those who are truly analyzing the body of facts (i.e. U.$. history)
would have to acknowledge that those of Afrikan ancestry have always
held spiritual connections and/or beliefs in a higher power/creator.
Upwards of 40% of enslaved Afrikans were Muslim. Leading many slave
captors to recommend traffickers firstly “break” them (i.e. torture
Islam out of them) prior to bringing these known rebels to the United
$tates and England. My point being those who truly work to build
revolutionary culture must work with Muslims and in turn find common
ground to then gain traction in revolutionary culture building.
Materialists must dialectically look at U.$. history and correspond
tactics to today’s realities confronting historically oppressed peoples!
Teach Christians examples of Nat Turner, Denmark Vesey, etc. Teach
Muslims about El Hajj Malik Shabazz (Malcolm X), etc. That even though
we may come from varying socio-cultural backgrounds, we have the very
same oppressors and system. That the Muslims, Christians, Buddhists,
Atheists, Communists, etc. who live within U.$. borders all share the
same injustices, inequalities, and pig brutalities on a daily basis. As
such, we must cast side the divisive rhetoric and build class unity or
die. As a Muslim of New Afrika, I am obligated to fight all oppressors.
Personally, I could care less if the askari at my side believes or not.
Long as he/she is committed to struggle…to death or death row. Does it
matter if I must make Salah, before we run towards our oppressors? Well,
that’s my take and regardless, I will continue fighting, organizing, and
striving! Peace.
MIM(Prisons) responds:We agree with this author’s point that
we should be working with the left wing of the Muslim movement, and
other religions. We addressed this question in depth in ULK 48.
As communists we embrace materialism and encourage scientific thinking
about the world. But this does not prevent us from uniting with all who
can be rallied against imperialism. And the rabid anti-Muslim sentiments
coming from the Amerikan imperialists creates fertile breeding ground
for anti-imperialism.
Although we cannot find evidence of such a high percentage of Muslims
among enslaved Africans. At the time that slaves were captured from
Africa indigenous religions were the most common practice. But
traffickers (and slave owners) attempted to break slaves of all their
practices that tied them to their homeland, regardless of what religion
or other cultural norms.
While we often talk about the imprisoned lumpen as being one of the most
revolutionary populations in the United $tates, it is also in a
backwards state of affairs. Meanwhile, the last time we saw a strong
revolutionary consciousness penetrate the prison population was when
there were strong vanguard organizations in the oppressed nations on the
streets. We must recognize that part of building a strong revolutionary
movement in prisons is building an even stronger one on the outside.
United Struggle from Within serves as a conduit for connecting the two,
via prisoners who are released. MIM(Prisons)’s Re-Lease on Life Program
attempts to provide support to those who are struggling with these
challenges after release. But we have a lot of work to do to build
strong revolutionary communities for comrades around the United $tates.
Revolutionary Theorists or Revolutionaries
USW30: Within the context of criticism-self-criticism, I am
wondering when we as revolutionary theorists on the inside, shall
righteously analyze the definition(s) of “revolution”/“revolutionary”?
And in turn, be honest with ourselves (within the New Afrikan community)
about if we are truly on that path that Col J (RIP), W.L. (RIP) etc.
strode. I am questioning myself as well?! As the
Kentucky
comrade pointed out on p. 8 of ULK 65.(1)
Many of us claim to be revolutionaries, but have yet to truly embrace
the reality of revolution! Or, shed the ethos of Gangsta. We create
plethora of revolutionary documents in prisons, only to return to
society and criminality. Recently a young New Afrikan referred to a
fellow rad as “homeless dopefiend!” This made me think back.
The economy of capitalism murders millions daily. We have seemingly been
co-opted by enemy cultural tenants! We have comrades embracing drug
dealing as acceptable conduct! Poisoning our communities, profiting off
of the destruction of our underklass citizenry! Then, returning to
prison in turn advocating for addicted rads to be cast aside! We have
rads claiming revolutionary authenticity, that have yet to stand against
the real enemy, yet take pride in shopping blood of their own! The
contradictions are glaring and I believe these are just a few of the
things which have a real progressive and revolutionary movement
stagnating!
Perhaps a retracing of steps is needed? As in… acknowledgement of
enemy’s defeat of the revolutionary movement in the 60s! That the “Black
Power” of the 70s was a reformist attempt(s) to somehow safeguard some
aspect of sociocultural pride, while rejecting the dominant amerikkkan
kapitalist culture! Which in turn, led to the 80s crack epidemic and
subsequent abandonment of all things revolution. For a “piece of the
pie!”
These cats coming into prison today… fratricidal, apolitical, and
addicted! Are the effects of our failures as leaders, in our
communities! How can he claim Col J (RIP), when our day to day conduct
is a reactionary affirmation of “Superfly” and “the Mack?” These youth
see the hypocrisies, and this is why we cannot gain their support! To
speak about revolution and yet not live a revolutionary example is
unacceptable! And fraudulent in the 1st degree! I am no longer going to
refer to myself as a revolutionary until I engage in revolution! Nor
will I reference Col J(RIP) as my “comrade,” until I follow his
examples!
I thank the Kentucky comrade for eir critiques in the last two
paragraphs, as they struck home for me! We must reform the “gangstas”
within our movement… or destroy them! As their overt materialistic
individualisms will destroy us… or, turn the progressives back into
elements of reaction!
MIM(Prisons) responds: There is a bit of an existential crisis
for the revolutionary in non-revolutionary times. We don’t take on the
term “revolutionary” as if we were superheroes, but merely to describe
our political goals and ideology. But, it does bring us back to question
2 above. And we’d say that a revolutionary must always be putting eir
theories into practice. And that includes not waging revolutionary war
in a non-revolutionary situation. That is a basic principle of the
guerilla.
As USW30 says, the youth can detect the phony revolutionaries who just
talk the rhetoric while acting out the negative aspects of the gangster
role. We can act as revolutionaries, as individuals, in our day-to-day
behavior in interacting with, serving, and standing up for the people.
There’s a reason we get letters regularly mentioning the comrades who
died in the struggle 50 years ago. Their legacy lives on because they
stood up as examples. And even if our names don’t become legendary, we
will inspire the youth and the masses around us through our correct
actions.