Subversive Skype #3: The Ferguson Uprising
Hosted by Southwest Defense Network (November 2014)
The murder of Mike Brown in Ferguson, Mo has unleashed a wave of struggle across the US. Although this uprising has similar characteristics to those of the past (LA, Watts, etc), it is clear that many of its dynamics are unique to the current moment. A moment defined by police militarization, gentrification of inner cities, mass incarceration of Blacks and Latinos, increased police and vigilante murders, precarious jobs, massive student debt with diminishing job possibilities, austerity and the list goes on.
At the same time, we’re faced with a number of political antagonisms brought to light by this rebellion. The people of Ferguson have shown they’ll no longer wait around for the “justice” system to run its course. Nor are they willing to be pacified by old guard Civil Rights “leaders” such as Al Sharpton and Jessie Jackson. Also, some view the appropriation of goods (looting) and direct confrontation with the police as ineffective and self destructive instead of effective tactics in fighting white supremacy and capitalism. These are a few of many important political dynamics we will explore. Moreover, how will these conditions further shape and fuel struggles in Ferguson, and future ones to come? If one thing is certain, it is that this marks an important shift in Black struggle in the US.
Members of the Southwest Defense Network invite you to a conversation about the Ferguson uprising. The event will start with a video presentation on Ferguson by Lorenzo Kom’boa Ervin. Lorenzo is a former member of the original Black Panther Party, political prisoner and author of “Anarchism and the Black Revolution”.
His biography of over 40 years of struggle cannot be captured in a few sentences, so please check out this article that describes his history.
http://libcom.org/library/anarchism-black-revolution-lorenzo-ervin-bio
If you have time we encourage you to check out some of his essays listed below as well as analysis that has been written recently on the struggle in Ferguson.
**Suggested Readings**
By Lorenzo:
Anarchism and the Black Revolution
http://libcom.org/library/anarchism-black-revolution-lorenzo-ervin
Black autonomy: civil rights, the Panthers and today by Lorenzo Kom’boa Ervin and JoNina Abron
http://libcom.org/library/black-autonomy-civil-rights-the-panthers-and-today
Black capitalism
http://libcom.org/library/black-capitalism-lorenzo-ervin
About Ferguson:
Hands UP Turn Up: Ferguson Jailbreaks Out of History
http://unityandstruggle.org/2014/08/17/hands-up-turn-up-ferguson-jailbreaks-out-of-history/
New Ghettos Burning
http://www.ultra-com.org/project/new-ghettos-burning/