Book tour on Black freedom struggle

Monica Moorehead, former Workers World Party presidential candidate and editor of the groundbreaking book, “Marxism, Reparations and the Black Freedom Struggle,” spoke at forums and book signings from San Francisco to San Diego June 14-21. She is also a managing editor of WW newspaper.

Monica Moorehead speaks at meeting, book signing in Los Angeles WW photo: Cheryl LaBash

Moorehead spoke about the coming period of struggle and the challenges necessary to build multinational, working-class solidarity in relation to the upcoming elections in talks titled, “Obama, Racism and Black-Brown Unity.”

The writer and editor spoke eloquently about the need to both understand and be sensitive to the overwhelmingly positive reaction to the Obama bid for the presidency, especially among Black people here, but also to understand the contradictions presented by Obama’s pro-imperialist perspective.

John Parker, second from right. WW photo: Cheryl LaBash

She talked about the historical significance of Obama’s campaign within the overall struggle against racist Jim Crow laws that disenfranchised millions of Black people up until the passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act as well as the right to self-determination.

“Our movement must stand ready and united to defend the Obama campaign from racist attacks, separate and apart from defending his status quo program. Defending Obama’s right to run free of racist, right-wing attacks is part and parcel of the demand for reparations, since the right to full equality has been denied to Black people since the demise of Reconstruction,” stated Moorehead.

In San Diego, Gloria Verdieu holds Cuban Five pamphlet. WW photo: Bob McCubbin

This approach to discussing the challenges ahead resonated with the many who attended these book signings and forums.

In San Diego WWP member Carl Muhammad chaired the meeting at San Diego Community College on June 19. Gloria Verdieu of the Free Mumia Coalition and WWP spoke about the need to free political prisoners, naming Mumia Abu-Jamal, Leonard Peltier, the MOVE 9 and the Cuban Five, among others. Black spoken-word artist Sherehe read a moving poem called “Somos Una Gente.” A Big Noise Film narrated by Abu-Jamal was shown on the Jena Six—Black youth being legally lynched in Jena, La., for opposing racism.

In Los Angeles on June 20, Moorehead did a book signing at one of Inglewood’s landmark bookstores—Zahra’s, which features books from the progressive movement, particularly the Black liberation movement. The following day, at a full meeting at the Kaos Network office in over 90-degree heat, Moorehead’s talk inspired enthusiastic questions and comments.

John Parker of the International Action Center also reported on a local community campaign to end foreclosures and evictions that are plaguing Los Angeles County, along with demanding an end to the racist raids and deportations against immigrant workers. Many in the audience expressed interest in working on the foreclosure campaign. All left in agreement about the need to build unity for action.

Read “S.F. forum weighs May Day, Obama” article at www.workers.org. Go to www.leftbooks.com to order “The Jena 6” film.