Notes on What to Be Done

Some thoughts on the tasks of revolutionary social movements Notes on What is to Be Done

Some thoughts on the tasks of revolutionary social movements
Notes on What is to Be Done


In the recent weeks following the Republican National Convention there has been debate concerning strategy and tactics of the present period. While the mass movement has been able to mobilize millions on the street and influence public opinion, a clear revolutionary movement/organization has yet to be formed.
Among radical/revolutionary circles, there is a debate about where to go from here. There are those anti-authortritian and anarchists who believe that the movement needs to embrace spontaneity, democratic decision making processes(or consensus organizing), while giving voice to particular oppressed communities (i.e.-people of color, qlbt folks,women, etc.)


While these movements and activists have been greater influential in organizing some of the most spectacular actions of the present day (including Seattle, Quebec, Washington and New York), the lack of organizational direction followed by lack of analysis of U.S. society and what society should follow has been a albatross in their growth, both in quantity and quality. For the most part, the mass movements have not reached the most oppressed sectors of society, are still predominately white, and radical/revolutionary analysis is still not been interjected within the discourse of the masses of people.


Communists within the mass movements and aligned with parties have played a mix role in recent years. While being able to give wide ranging analysis of the current situation and playing a major role in the formation of the anti-war movement(The top three anti war organizations have communists in leader positions), their primary focus on personality cult(the Revolutionary Communist Party), support of dictatorship (Workers World Party), and support for reform candidates(the Communist Party USA and International Socialist Organization) has alienated many. Indeed, the focus of anti-authotrians is not only the rejection of state violence, but also of the conservative tendiences of many communists to squash mass movements at the roots in favor of their own particular party line. Their inability to rise to the occasion and go past their own organizational quirks has been a weakness.

The present tasks of the mass movement in general, and revolutionaries in particular are to create revolutionary ferment among the oppressed. At the root of this is a firm understanding of the nature of U.S. society. This country is based upon the subjugation and genocide of Native Americans and the enslaved of Africans. Abroad, this country’s foreign policy is based on imperialist exploitation and colonial plunder. Domestically, entire communities, particularly those black and brown communities, are under constant state violence, in the hands of prisons and police.


Every day more and more, the lines between oppressed and oppressor are becoming clearer. While there is dissatisfaction by many, it hasn’t been turned to a revolutionary movement for the above reasons.


I think on a larger level there needs to be a new methodology, a new way of looking and examining our current situation. On a basic level, it’s the duty of revolutionaries to make revolution. That means sustained work in oppressed communities, pointing out the obvious differences between the oppressed and oppressor.
As revolutionaries there are a few things I think we need to do to strengthen our work:

*Capturing the Imagination of the Generation: “From the people to the people” It’s crucial that revolutionaries take the thoughts, sentiments, feelings and opinions of the people, which are often scattered and turn them into unified thoughts and actions. In the revolutionary tradition of this country, individuals like Malcolm X, Marcus Garvey, Fannie Lou Hamer, and countless others where able to transform the rebellios moods into revolutionary aspriations

 Education: One of the amazing facets of the new social movements is the Do it yourself culture(DIY). In addition to medical training, bike repair, etc., there needs to be the establishment of liberation schools for youth and adults that exposed the nature of this system. There also needs to be an emphasis on study circles in the neighborhoods and on the work place to create common language and plans of action.


 Civil Disobedience: The present tactics of mass arrests as a form of protest has run its course. Rather than inspiring people to action, it has weakened our forces and taken away our political message. We should use CD as a tactics only to protest unfair laws in particular. While CD was used to protest obviously flagrant laws like Jim Crow, there are certain invisible laws that are equally unjust. For example, tuition and subway fare hikes are a form of a war tax. There imposed upon the people to pay for the imperialist adventures abroad. We should, as a measure, protest any future “war taxes” with a refusal to pay. We should protest luxury houses by occupying them and vacnt buildings


 Speak Plainly, but Speak: Its important to do mass propaganda work, particularly in oppressed sectors. The needs to be a flurry of journals, newspapers, flyers, radioshows, Public Television broadcasts that transforms the public opinion from quiet nihilism to active participation. In this regard it is important to understand the general and particulars of a subject, without falling into the trap of “objective” and “subjective” dualism. I think a lot of the media produced by the left doesn’t go to the heart of the matter, rather maintains a sense of “Who can tell?” There’s nothing wrong with taking sides, the ruling class and their press does it all the time.


 Be Scientific be also be Romantic: Science is more than hard facts. Its an acknowledgement of the interconnection of the world.We should try not to fall into the trap of being cold and rigid in our understanding and actions. We should be good at a lot of things, among thing political organizing creating art, writing, music and healing. We should confront the coldness of their system with our shared humanity. We should speak not only in the “what is” but also in the utopian desires of “What ought to be.”

These are just a few ideas swimming in my head. I’ve basing these words on my experience, but also in the bold hope that we can create a new society. I firmly believe in a soulful socialism that can be free, democratic, and open, while giving power to the people on the streets. I’m firm beliver in love.