raghu wrote: > re: "class trumps race". Yes it certainly does. In the theoretical > world of Marxists.
Class doesn't "trump" race for all types of self-identified Marxists. There are a lot of "third worldists." (I don't think it's worth arguing about who's a "true" Marxist and who isn't.) > I think that comment is really at the heart of all the > Obama-skepticism on PEN-L. Just because you wish something were true, > why oh why wouldn't everyone see how obviously true it is, still > doesn't make it so. > > In the real world the way most people actually experience the > institutions of race and class, sadly, no, race doesn't trump class. > If you don't believe me, just walk around and ask how many people > self-identify as black or latino or white or whatever and how many > self-identify as a proletarian. In people's individual experience, the institutions of class, racial domination, and the gender hierarchy are combined, so that in many situations it's impossible to prioritize institution over the others. It's easier when we're talk about self-identification by individuals. But even if they _can_ prioritize when talking about their own personal role in the mix, it's not an either/or matter. That is, many will self-identify as working-class _and_ Latino (or whatever) _and_ female (or male, depending). (As I understand it, most people in the US self-identify as "working class" but most people _also_ self-identify as "middle class.") In the (usual) Marxian view, it's not that "class trumps race" but rather than capitalism (including its class relations but there's more to it than that) tends to dominate race and gender in the sense that the latter are transformed to fit with the logic of capitalism. This tendency can be counteracted by people struggling against the trend: the sexist men's club that dominates business in a small town might be pushed to admit women (a good thing to my mind, BTW) since it fits better with profit-seeking, networking, etc., but the members can resist. (I understand that some of the most important golf clubs in the US are still all-male.) And contrary to Marx & Engels in the MANIFESTO, this process does not completely _abolish_ sexism and racism. Rather, they are transformed. Women may be allowed to join the men's club -- but only if they imitate the men's culture. -- Jim Devine / "Segui il tuo corso, e lascia dir le genti." (Go your own way and let people talk.) -- Karl, paraphrasing Dante. _______________________________________________ pen-l mailing list [email protected] https://lists.csuchico.edu/mailman/listinfo/pen-l
