I don't disagree with anything you've written, but think that some of racism and sexism is not as heartfelt as assumed, at least among the white workers I knew. Just two examples:
My first career was at sea. I was in the Sailors' Union of the Pacific, a classically racist industrial union, and the Masters, Mates, and Pilots. When I talked to my fellow workers I found that their racism, if they expressed any at all (which the vast majority did not) was voiced when they thought the union officials or their toadies were listening. I saw none of it on the job. The fact is, the SUP had a tradition of racism, and the officials strove to perpetuate that. Now the SUP is integrated, and that took place with no drama or crisis. It just happened. On the ships I sailed on where the company did half the hiring there were black sailors, and no racism was voiced, or from what I could see, felt. My point is that sometimes it's a holdover that is just waiting to be ended. My second career was in construction, specifically as a land surveyor and engineering tech. It was mostly white and male. We had very frank and open conversations, sometimes over a campfire, and always after too much alcohol. It was an environment in which no one felt inhibited. I noticed that while we said the things men tend to say in those situations, there was a line of respect that was not crossed. It reflected a lack of sexism. In no way did I ever hear racism. Even those of us who had more conservative ideas generally did not voice those prejudices. One fellow worker who voiced homophobia against another of us (behind his back) was ostracized over it. I also would relate the experience of my son, who lived in Beirut for a few months. He was in a poor neighborhood, where sectarian differences were rampant, and debates ensued constantly. I listened while he spoke of the loyalties of neighbors, which we in the west think would lead to instant gunbattles; but they didn't. Factions we are led to believe wallow in constant bloodlust just argued. My overall point being: While these differences are real, and that Socialist Equality Party point of advocacy that class is the only issue is simply wrong, we have more in common than popular culture might suggest. The white working class is too often held up as some bastion of reaction, when in reality it is far more aware of its position than those outside of it seem to understand, and far more willing to ally with non-white and non-male fellow workers. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group. View/Reply Online (#714): https://groups.io/g/marxmail/message/714 Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/76356029/21656 -=-=- POSTING RULES & NOTES<br />#1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message.<br />#2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived.<br />#3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. -=-=- Group Owner: [email protected] Unsubscribe: https://groups.io/g/marxmail/leave/8674936/1316126222/xyzzy [[email protected]] -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
