,L9ES 9 ,S& 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,PET] ,GELD]LOOS 

,TEXT 3 

,!RE IS A L9E ?AT DIVIDES MANY PEOPLE :OSE /RUGGLES ,I RESPECT4 ,I WON'T NAME ?IS L9E OR DEF9E EI!R CAMP1 TO AVOID 5TR5*+ !M1 & ,I DON'T KN[ ( ANY FAIR DEF9ITIONS ?AT HAVE BE5 PUT =W>D BY ANY ( ?OSE 9VOLV$ 9 ?IS ANTAGONISM4 ,MO/ ( US >E FAMILI> ) ! /RAWM5 ?AT LITT] ?IS BATTLEFIELD1 ?\<4 ,?OSE ON ONE SIDE >E GUILTY ( 0ID5TITY POLITICS10 ?OSE ON ! O!R >E 0PRIVILEG$0 OR 0DOGMATIC40 

,9 SOME CASES ,I ?9K ! DIFF]5T PRACTICES CAN COMPLEM5T EA* O!R1 EA* HAV+ !IR [N %ORTCOM+S4 ,BUT 9 O!R CASES !Y >E M]ELY DIFF]5T2 ,I KN[ ( PEOPLE ON EI!R SIDE :O SEEM TO ME TO HAVE A COMPLETE REVOLUTION>Y PRACTICE1 ) ITS [N P>TICUL> ADVANTAGES1 BUT NO FAIL+ ?AT C\LD BE ADDRESS$ BY ! O!R SIDE4 ,SIMULTANE\SLY1 !RE >E ?OSE ON BO? SIDES :O ,I DO NOT CONSID] ALLIES4 ,AMONG ?OSE :O SPEAK ( SOCIAL W> >E SOME :O WANT A HOMOG5\S FRONT ?AT /RUGGLES ONLY = FRE$OM 9 ! AB/RACT1 :O /IFLE ANY TALK ( OPPRESSIONS !Y DO NOT P]SONALLY EXP]I5CE4 ,& AMONG ?OSE :O SPEAK ( PRIVILEGE & OPPRESSION >E SOME :O >E JU/ POLITICIANS & GUILT-MONG]]S4 

,BETWE5 ?OSE :O SPEAK ( PRIVILEGE & OPPRESSION1 & ?OSE :O SPEAK ( SOCIAL W>1 ,I COME L>GELY FROM ! =M]1 & N[ F9D MYSELF CLOS] TO ! LATT]4 ,:ILE ,I WANT TO DIRECT !SE CRITICISMS 9 MULTIPLE DIRECTIONS1 ,I DON'T WANT TO CREATE A FALSE BALANCE BETWE5 TWO FICTIVE POSITIONS4 ,I HOPE !SE CRITICISMS AID NOT 9 ! DEVELOPM5T ( A BETT] AN>*I/ PRACTICE1 A PEACE OR SYN!SIS BETWE5 ?OSE :O HAVE NOT SE5 EYE TO EYE1 BUT 9 ! DEVELOPM5T ( BETT] AN>*I/ PRACTICES ?AT NE$ NOT EV] COME TO T]MS4 

,H[EV]1 RECOGNIZ+ ?AT WE'LL NEV] ALL AGREE ON ANY?+1 & ?IS IS GOOD1 ,I WANT TO >GUE NONE!LESS ?AT A NE$$ COMMON GR\ND IS AN UND]/&+ & EMBRACE ( SOCIAL W>4 ,I'M AFRAID ?AT ?OSE :O SPEAK ( OPPRESSION )\T ACKN[L$G+ ! W> WE >E A P>T (1 NOT AS METAPHOR BUT AS A REAL & CURR5T PRACTICE1 WILL ONLY SUCCE$ 9 TURN+ A BATTLEFIELD 9TO A G>D51 DECORAT+ ?IS CEMET]Y ( A SOCIETY ) FL[]S1 5SUR+ EQUALITY ( ACCESS TO A GRAVEY>D4 ,I DON'T C>E TO >GUE ?AT ONE SIDE OR ANO!R IS MORE CORRECT1 ONLY ?AT REVOLUTION BECOMES IMPOSSIBLE :5 WE />T BELIEV+ 9 CIVIL SOCIETY & /OP NOTIC+ ?AT ! GUNS >E PO9T$ AT US TOO4 

,IT IS VITAL TO HAVE CONNECTIONS ) PEOPLE WE DON'T %>E AFF9ITY )1 PEOPLE :O >E DIFF]5T FROM US1 BUT IT CAN BE DIFFICULT TO WORK ) PEOPLE :OSE DESIRES >E RE=MI/ )\T ALSO ADOPT+ RE=MI/ MODES ( /RUGGLE4 ,LACK+ A SPECIFIC & =EGR\ND$ CRITIQUE ( RECUP]ATION1 AS DO MANY :O FOCUS ON PRIVILEGE & OPPRESSION1 COALITION POLITICS >E ALMO/ C]TA9 TO 5D UP 9 ,POPUL> ,FRONTS ?AT /IFLE AN>*I/ CRITIQUES1 PROP UP ,AU?ORITY1 & HOODW9K ANTI-AU?ORIT>IANS 9TO BE+ ! %OCK TROOPS OR GRUNT WORK]S = ! LEFTW+ ( ! SY/EM1 :E!R 9 ! GUISE ( ,N,G,OS1 PROGRESSIVE POLITICIANS1 OR ,/AL9I/ P>TIES4 

,UND] DEMOCRATIC GOV]NM5T1 RECUP]ATION IS F> MORE COMMON ?AN REPRESSION AS A TOOL = C\NT]9SURG5CY4 ,!Y PREF] ! C>ROT OV] ! /ICK4 ,?OSE :O TALK AB\T EXCLUSION MORE ?AN EXPLOITATION1 & :O FOCUS ON GETT+ MORE C>ROTS = EV]YONE1 >E SURE TO DEFEAT !MSELVES4 

0,Y\ ,HAVE TO ,DO ,IT ,MY ,WAY0 WAS WRITT5 9 ! SUMM] ( #b#i1 & 0,SO ,FUCK$ ,UP0 & 0,SOME ,SUGGE/IONS0 W]E WRITT5 9 ! SUMM] ( #b#a4 

,Y\ ,HAVE TO ,DO ,IT ,MY ,WAY 

,IDEOLOGICAL ID5TITY1 EXP]I5C$ ID5TITY1 & >ROGANCE AMONG AN>*I/S 

,ONE ( ! MO/ LOAD$ T]MS ,I SEE 9 ! CRITIQUES ( C]TA9 AN>*I/S IS 0ID5TITY POLITICS40 ,:AT EXACTLY >E ID5TITY POLITICS8 ,I CAN'T D$UCE A COH]5T DEF9ITION FROM ITS USAGE2 GIV5 H[ ! T]M IS ?R[N >\ND IT SEEMS ONLY TO IMPLY ?AT ! SPEAK] IS ANNOY$ BY SOMEONE ELSE FOCUS+ ON RACISM OR SEXISM4 ,I ?\<T ID5TITY POLITICS MEANT ! PROCESS ( CREAT+ A HOMOG5\S ID5TITY )9 A C]TA9 POPULATION TO S]VE AS A POLITICAL CON/ITU5CY & P[] BASE = A GR\P ( POLITICIANS1 :OSE ROLE AS EXPLOIT]S SITT+ ATOP ?AT POPULATION IS HIDD5 BY ! %>$ USE ( ?AT S+UL> ID5TITY4 ,9 O!R WORDS IT CALLS UP ! LIKES ( ,GLORIA ,/E9EM1 ,ADOLF ,HITL]1 ,DAVID ,B5-,GURION1 OR ,RON ,K>5GA4 

,YET :5 AN>*I/S USE ?IS T]M1 FREQU5TLY !Y'RE US+ IT AGA9/ PEOPLE 9VOLV$ 9 ! CON/RUCTION ( FLUID1 HET]OG5\S1 & COMPLEX ID5TITIES1 :O EXT5D SOLID>ITY TO PEOPLE ) DIFF]5T ID5TITIES & DEVELOP HOLI/IC CRITIQUES ( P[]1 & ADOPTION ( ?IS ID5TITY DOES NOT ALSO MEAN ! ADOPTION ( A PRE=MULAT$ & UNQUE/IONABLE DOGMA4 ,= EXAMPLE1 ! GR\P ,AN>*I/ ,PEOPLE ( ,COLOR 9CLUDES PEOPLE :O ID5TIFY AS BLACK1 LAT9A1 9DIG5\S1 ,ASIAN1 ,PALE/9IAN1 BIRACIAL2 IMMIGRANTS & CITIZ5S2 QUE] & TRANS PEOPLE4 ,FROM :AT ,I KN[ FROM ! \TSIDE1 !Y 5GAGE 9 DISCUSSIONS REG>D+ !SE MULTIPLE ID5TITIES RA!R ?AN SUPPRESS+ 9T]NAL DIFF]5CE4 ,!IR PUBLI%$ WRIT+S REFLECT A DIV]SITY ( ?\<T RA!R ?AN A S+LE POLITICAL L9E4 ,I'VE READ ?+S BY ,A,P,O,C MEMB]S ,I DISAGREE )1 & O!R ?+S ?AT HAVE REALLY *ALL5G$ OR DEVELOP$ MY ?9K+ REG>D+ IMP]IALISM1 RACE1 G5D]1 AN>*I/ /RUGGLE1 & O!R !MES4 ,I KN[ ( PEOPLE ( COLOR :O >E CRITICAL ( ! WAY ! GR\P OP]ATES & DON'T FEEL 9CLUD$1 & ,I KN[ :ITE PEOPLE :O /RONGLY DISLIKE G5]ALIZATIONS REG>D+ !MSELVES ?AT (T5 APPE> 9 WRIT+S BY ,A,P,O,C4 ,I DON'T LET !SE BO!R ME BECAUSE ,I KN[ ?AT )\T EXCEPTION1 SOMEONE'S DEF9ITION ( AN ,O!R CAN BE USEFUL1 BUT NEV] VALID4 ,BEYOND ?IS ,I'VE READ ONE OR TWO ?+S FROM MEMB]S ( ?IS GR\P ?AT W]E PURPOSEFUL MANIPULATIONS ( :ITE GUILT4 .<,?IS ESSAY WAS WRITT5 BE=E ,SMACK A ,:ITE ,BOY #b.>4 

,ALL ?IS GOES TO %[ ?AT ?IS GR\P IS NOT A S+UL> 5TITY & !Y EXPRESS A RANGE ( P]SPECTIVES 9 A NUMB] ( DIFF]5T MANN]S4 ,H[EV] 9 DISREG>D = ?IS DIV]SITY !RE HAS BE5 A C]TA9 S+UL>ITY ( RESPONSE FROM :ITE AN>*I/S3 :5EV] WRIT+S FROM ! GR\P >E PO/$ ON O!R AN>*I/ WEBSITES ! *>GE ( 0ID5TITY POLITICS0 9EVITABLY APPE>S 9 ! COMM5TS SECTION1 REG>DLESS ( :E!R ! WRIT+ BE+ CRITIQU$ POSITS ESS5TIAL DIFF]5CES OR HOMOG5\S1 UN*ANG+ CATEGORIES4 

,P]HAPS = MANY AN>*I/S1 ID5TITY POLITICS HAVE COME TO MEAN ! CON/RUCTION ( ID5TITIES )9 POLITICAL PROJECTS8 ,BUT ?IS DOESN'T PAN \T EI!R4 ,Y\ HAVE ! MORE OLD-FA%ION$ :ITE AN>*I/S CLAIM+ ?AT !RE IS ONLY ! WORK+ CLASS1 & ?AT EMPHASIS ON RACE OR G5D] DIVIDES ! WORK+ CLASS1 ?US AID+ ! CAPITALI/S4 ,O!RS DON'T GO 9 MU* = ! WORK]S & ID5TIFY /RICTLY AS AN>*I/S4 ,ONE TYPICAL 9T]NET H>ANGUE ( ,AN>*I/ ,PEOPLE ( ,COLOR BRI/L$ AT !IR SUPPORT = ,MUMIA ABU-,JAMAL1 :O IS 0NOT AN AN>*I/40 ,DOES ?IS MEAN WE %\LD BE CONC]N$ AB\T :AT HAPP5S TO O!R AN>*I/S1 BUT :AT HAPP5S TO O!R PEOPLE 9 ! SAME SOCIAL CATEGORY AS US DOESN'T AFFECT US8 ,9 ! 5D IT'S NOT A COH]5T CRITICISM1 IT'S JU/ :ITE PEOPLE TELL+ PEOPLE ( COLOR H[ !Y %\LD ID5TIFY4 ,?IS IS TRUE ID5TITY POLITICS1 9 ! ,MOBUTU ,SESE ,SEKO S5SE ( ! T]M1 ?AT ONLY REG>DS ONE ID5TITY AS NATURAL OR AT LEA/ UNQUE/IONABLE 9 ! COMMON PROJECT 7NATIONHOOD1 ! /RUGGLE AGA9/ CAPITALISM1 :AT HAVE Y\71 & ANY O!R ID5TITY AS SUP]FLU\S OR H>MFUL4 

,A COMMON >GUM5T MADE BY !SE CRITICS ( A POORLY ID5TIFI$ ID5TITY POLITICS SEEMS TO BE ?AT ! SPEAK] PAYS LIPS]VICE TO ! EVILS ( RACISM OR SEXISM BUT CLAIMS ?AT ! BASIS ( RACISM & SEXISM IS ! DIVISION ( PEOPLE 9TO CATEGORIES ALONG L9ES ( RACE OR SEX1 ?US PEOPLE :O 9CLUDE !SE DIVISIONS 9 !IR POLITICAL WORK >E GUILTY ( RE9=C+ RA!R ?AN ATTACK+ ! OPPRESSION ITSELF4 ,H[ VALID IS ?IS HYPO!SIS8 ,FIR/ ,I WANT TO ANALYZE ! LOGIC A LITTLE MORE4 ,AN ASSUMPTION UND]LY+ ?IS >GUM5T IS ?AT ! FIR/ APP>5T FEATURE1 *RONOLOGICALLY1 ( A PH5OM5ON WILL BECOME ! BASIS ( ?AT PH5OM5ON1 & ?US ITS G5]ATIVE FEATURE4 ,9 O!R WORDS1 A DI/9CTION ( G5D] IS A PR]EQUISITE = SEXISM1 ?US G5D] DI/9CTIONS G5]ATE SEXISM & BY DE/ROY+ G5D] DI/9CTIONS WE DE/ROY SEXISM4 ,:AT WAS ?AT VIDEO GAME :]E ! BOSS ( A C]TA9 LEVEL IS ?IS EVIL BUG ?AT FLIES >\ND & SUDD5LY MULTIPLIES 9TO A DOZ5 COPIES ( ITSELF1 BUT IF Y\ CAN KILL ! ORIG9AL1 !N !Y ALL DIE8 ,ANYWAYS ,I ?9K ,I MAKE MY PO9T3 IF ID5TITY ITSELF IS ! BASIS = OPPRESSION !N WE CAN DE/ROY OPPRESSION BY DE/ROY+ ID5TITY4 ,A FUR!R ASSUMPTION ( ?IS L9E ( REASON+ IS ?AT HI/ORY IS ME*ANICAL1 PROGRESSIVE1 & UNIL9EAL1 BECAUSE IF ! FIR/ FEATURE ( A PH5OM5ON AUTOMATICALLY LEADS TO ! DEVELOPM5T ( ! 5TIRE PH5OM5ON1 !N !RE IS NO POSSIBILITY = MULTIPLE \TCOMES OR EV5 = /ASIS OR REV]SAL4 ,A ALWAYS LEADS TO ,B ALWAYS LEADS TO ,C4 

,!RE4 ,! IDEA HAS LO/ ITS CLO!S4 ,IT REVEALS ITSELF TO BE ,HI/ORICAL ,MAT]IALI/ AT BE/1 & ,SOCIAL ,D>W9I/ AT WOR/4 

,9 ?IS S5SE IT BE>S SIMIL>ITY TO ! WOR/ EXCESSES ( PRIMITIVISM 7:I*1 DON'T GET ME WRONG1 ,I BELIEVE HAS HAD A NUMB] ( GOOD 9FLU5CES ON AN>*I/ !ORY & PRACTICE71 NAMELY ?AT ! DEVELOPM5T ( AGRICULTURE L$ 9EVITABLY TO ! DEVELOPM5T ( AU?ORITY1 :I* IS HI/ORICALLY UNTRUE1 UNLESS WE R$EF9E AU?ORITY TO MEAN1 WELL1 AGRICULTURE4 

,I CAN'T >GUE H>D 5\< ?AT HI/ORY IS NEI!R ME*ANICAL1 PROGRESSIVE1 NOR UNIL9EAL4 ,!SE *>ACT]IZATIONS >E A FUNDAM5T ( ,WE/]N DOGMA1 & ,GOD HELP US IF !Y >E TRUE BECAUSE ?AT W\LD MEAN ?AT UNLESS AN>*Y HAS BE5 PREORDA9$ BY ! MA*9ES ( HI/ORY !N !RE IS NO?+ WE CAN DO TO BR+ IT AB\T4 

,REVEAL+ ! CULTURAL ASSUMPTIONS HID+ BEH9D ?IS P>TICUL> UND]/&+ ( ID5TITY IS F> FROM 5\< TO DISPROVE IT4 ,SO LET'S TAKE IT AT FACE VALUE3 DO ID5TITY CATEGORIES 9 !MSELVES RECREATE ! OPPRESSIONS ?AT OP]ATE ON ?OSE ID5TITIES8 ,I DON'T ?9K !RE'S ANY EVID5CE ( ?IS4 ,= EV]Y EXAMPLE ?AT OCCURS TO ME ( SOME AU?ORIT>IAN GR\P ?AT US$ ID5TITY TO SUPPRESS DIFF]5CE OR CREATE PREJUDICE1 EV5 AS !Y W]E FI<T+ AGA9/ OPPRESSION1 ,I CAN ?9K ( ANO!R GR\P ( OPPRESS$ PEOPLE :O US$ ID5TITY AS A MEANS ( SURVIVAL & :O MA9TA9$ RELATION%IPS ) PEOPLE & GR\PS ) O!R ID5TITIES TO JO9TLY ATTACK ! P[] /RUCTURE ITSELF4 

,ONE MI<T >GUE ?AT :5 IT COMES TO 9DIG5\S PEOPLE1 IT IS NOT AT ALL ! CATEGORY ?AT OPPRESSES !M1 IT'S ! PEOPLE :O CAME & /OLE !IR L& & CONT9UE TO COLONIZE !M1 & 9 ?IS CASE ! ID5TITY ( BE+ 9DIG5\S MAY BE A VITAL TOOL 9 SURVIV+ CULTURAL G5OCIDE4 ,LOS+ ?AT CATEGORY MAY BE TANTAM\NT TO DISAPPE>+ AS A PEOPLE & ALL[+ ! G5OCIDE TO RUN ITS FULL C\RSE4 ,ONE MI<T ALSO SAY ?AT AN?ROPOLOGI/S & PHILOSOPH]S :O LOOK AT ID5TITIES AS TOOLS >E ONLY REFLECT+ !IR [N MANIPULATIVE & ME*ANICAL WAY ( LOOK+ AT ! WORLD1 & ?AT AN 9DIG5\S ID5TITY IS A HI/ORY1 A CULTURE1 A COMMUNITY1 & AN 9SEP]ABLE P>T ( :O ONE IS4 ,I DON'T KN[4 ,9 ANY CASE1 MANY ACTIVE 9DIG5\S PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY EXPRESS$ ?AT :ITE PEOPLE'S D5IAL ( !IR ID5TITY & NATIONHOOD IS ONE REASON !Y DON'T WORK ) :ITE PEOPLE1 & AS A G5]ALIZATION :ITE PEOPLE DIDN'T LI/54 

,BUT ?IS VAGUE CRITIQUE ( ID5TITY POLITICS REJECTS SU* AN >GUM5T4 ,IT'S A PO/URE ?AT BE>S MU* 9 COMMON ) ! PO/MOD]N REJECTION ( ,GR& ,N>RATIVES4 ,?IS REJECTION IS HI<LY USEFUL 9 D5Y+ ! RACIAL MY?S ( ,EUROPEAN NATIONHOOD & REFUS+ ! /ORIES ?AT GIVE US A %>$ HI/ORY ) \R RUL]S4 ,?IS IS GREAT4 ,ON ! O!R H& SU* A PO/URE PREV5TS ONE FROM ACKN[L$G+ LEGACIES & HI/ORIES ( RESI/ANCE & OPPRESSION1 :I* IS USEFUL = ! RUL]S4 ,= EXAMPLE1 IF ONE CAN ONLY CONNECT ONESELF TO #e YE>S ( BRUTAL COLONIAL OPPRESSION & ALSO #e YE>S ( IMPRESSIVE RESI/ANCE1 BY ID5TIFY+ ONESELF )9 A C]TA9 CATEGORY ( PEOPLE1 & WE HOLD SU* CATEGORIZATION TO BE OPPRESSIVE & UNDESIRABLE1 !N H[ IS ONE TO MAKE S5SE ( H] POSITION 9 SOCIETY IF %E GR[S UP 9 HI<LY M>G9ALIZ$ CIRCUM/ANCES & IS TREAT$ A C]TA9 WAY BY RUL+ 9/ITUTIONS & A GREAT MANY PEOPLE ON ! /REET8 ,?IS IS JU/ CO9CID5CE8 ,& :5 %E F9DS \T ?AT ! O!R PEOPLE 9 H] FAMILY1 & C]TA9 O!R PEOPLE ALL ACROSS ! C\NTRY1 HAVE EXP]I5CES ?AT >E REM>KABLY SIMIL>1 :ILE ! DOM9ANT CULTURE TALKS NO?+ ( !SE EXP]I5CES1 ?IS IS JU/ MEAN+LESS8 ,OR IS IT A LEGITIMATE BASIS = A %>$ ID5TITY1 & A PO9T ( DEP>TURE = /RUGGLE8 

,I HAVE TO SAY ?AT ! EXAMPLE ,I'M GIV+ IS MILES AWAY FROM MY P]SONAL EXP]I5CE4 ,ALL ! ID5TITIES ?AT SOCIETY TRI$ TO /IT* ME 9TO DON'T FIT1 & ! FABRIC IS CO>SE3 MAN1 ,AM]ICAN1 :ITE P]SON1 MEMB] ( ! MIDDLE CLASS1 OR MORE REC5TLY1 \TCA/1 FAILURE1 CRIM9AL1 T]RORI/4 ,TO V>Y+ DEGREES ,I HAVE PEEL$ !SE ID5TITIES (F MY BODY4 ,! COMMON EXP]I5CE ,I F9D ) O!R PEOPLE IS \R %>$ ALI5ATION1 \R DESIRE TO DE/ROY :AT CREAT$ US4 ,IT W\LD BE UNFAIR TO CALL ?IS A :ITE EXP]I5CE1 OR A MIDDLE CLASS EXP]I5CE1 BECAUSE ( ALL ! O!R PEOPLE ,I HAVE MET :O ALSO %>E ?IS EXP]I5CE4 ,ON ! O!R H& IT W\LD BE TOK5I/IC TO ASS]T ?AT ?IS ID5TITY-FREE ID5TITY IS ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL JU/ BECAUSE ,I'VE SE5 IT FIT SO MANY DIFF]5T TYPES ( PEOPLE4 ,I MI<T TIE ?IS EXP]I5CE TO GR[+ UP 9 ! SUBURBS1 & 9 MO/ CASES ,I MI<T BE RI<T1 BUT TO DECL>E ?IS A SUBURBAN ID5TITY W\LD BE UNFAIR TO ALL ! PEOPLE :O GREW UP 9 ! SAME CATEGORIES AS ME BUT HAD DIFF]5T EXP]I5CES1 OR ALL ! PEOPLE :O HAD SIMIL> EXP]I5CES DESPITE GR[+ UP 9 DIFF]5T CATEGORIES4 

,EV5 ?\< A NEGATIVE ID5TITY IS /ILL AN ID5TITY1 IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE ONE1 SO BUILD+ A POLITICS >\ND ?AT P>TICUL> EXP]I5CE ( ! WORLD1 AS ,CRIME?,9C4 HAS DONE QUITE EFFECTIVELY1 ,I W\LD >GUE1 DOESN'T SEEM TO HAVE ANY COMMONALITY ) ID5TITY POLITICS1 ?\< 9 FACT IT DOES4 ,9 FACT IT IS TYPICAL TO ! CATEGORY ?AT ,I GREW UP 9 ?AT ,I HAVE G5]ALLY NEV] WANT$ TO BELONG TO AN ID5TITY GR\P1 & ,I ALWAYS FELT AWKW>D & PRET5TI\S :5 ,I TRI$ ONE ON4 

,UNTIL ,I MET AN>*Y4 ,I DON'T MEAN AN>*ISM1 OR ! AN>*I/ MOVEM5T1 ,I MEAN ! %>$ EXP]I5CE ( /RUGGLE ) PEOPLE :O HAVE MY BACK1 :O COMPRISE MY MAT]IAL & EMOTIONAL COMMUNITY1 :O %>E MY HI/ORY1 & :O LE>N & GR[ )9 A V]Y REAL CONT9UITY ( /RUGGLE ?AT GOES ALL ! WAY BACK TO ! ,SPANI% ,CIVIL ,W>1 ! ,RUSSIAN ,REVOLUTION1 ! ,P>IS ,COMMUNE 7A CONT9UITY ?AT DOESN'T EXI/ 9 ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES1 9 MY EXP]I5CE74 ,PEOPLE :O WILL 9VITE Y\ 9TO !IR HOME & FE$ Y\ BECAUSE !Y %>E ! SAME DREAM1 PEOPLE :O WILL RISK !MSELVES = Y\ 9 ! /REET :5 !Y DON'T EV5 KN[ Y\1 BECAUSE !Y CAN LOOK AT Y\ & KN[ Y\'RE ON ! SAME SIDE4 ,IT WAS :5 ,I MET ! GR&P>5TS ( ! /RUGGLE1 :O F\<T 9 MY?ICAL #a#i#c#f1 MET !M AS FRI5DS1 & DO+ SO REALIZ$ ?AT ONE DAY ,I OR MY FRI5DS1 IF WE SURVIV$1 W\LD BE ! GR&PAS & GR&MAS TELL+ /ORIES ( A /RUGGLE EQUALLY DI/ANT 9 TIME2 IT WAS :5 MY FRI5D TOOK ME ON A T\R ( ,MOSC[ 7OR ,B>CELONA1 OR ,B]L91 OR ?AT LITTLE VILLAGE 9 ,FRIESL&7 & %[$ ME -- ?IS IS :]E !Y KILL$ \R FRI5DS ,/AS & ,NA/YA A FEW MON?S AGO1 & H]E IS :]E ! ,BOL%EVIKS EXECUT$ SOME AN>*I/S 9 #aiba -- & ,I REALIZ$ ?AT !SE PLACES HAD ! SAME MEAN+2 ?AT'S :5 HI/ORY BECAME DEMY/IFI$ & ,I DISCOV]$ ?AT ! AN>*I/S >E MY PEOPLE4 

,?IS IS NOT AN ID5TITY ,I WANT TO IDEOLOGIZE OR SPREAD BEYOND MY [N P]SONAL EXP]I5CE4 ,BUT IT'S SOME?+ ,I FEEL V]Y REAL 9 MY BONES4 ,& IT'S SOME?+ ?AT %[S ME ?AT MY DISCOM=T ) ID5TITY WAS 9 P>T AN ALI5ATION FROM ! HI/ORY ( /RUGGLE4 

,BUT ! ID5TITY ( AN>*I/ DOES NOT SAY MU* TO MY />T+ POSITION 9 SOCIETY OR ! =MS ( PRIVILEGE & EXPLOITATION ! V>I\S RUL+ 9/ITUTIONS HAVE DESIGNAT$ = ME4 ,:AT AB\T AN ID5TITY IMPOS$ ON ME BY RACISM & SEXISM1 BY ! NATION8 ,AT ?IS LEVEL MY ID5TITY TELLS ME ( MY DESC5T FROM A LONG L9E ( POOR F>M]S :O OV] ! YE>S CONSCI\SLY DECID$ TO COOP]ATE ) A CAPITALI/IC1 RELIGI\S1 & RACIAL PROJECT ?AT ULTIMATELY LEFT ME ) AN 9H]ITANCE /RIPP$ ( ANY?+ ,I VALUE4 ,MY LIV+ RELATIVES NO LONG] EV5 F>M OR WORK ) !IR H&S2 9 ! 5D !IR F>M+ WAS ! FIR/ RUNG ON A PR(ESSIONAL LADD]4 ,!Y DID NOT FI<T = !IR L& & RESI/ ! 5CLOSURES OR ! 9DU/RIALIZATION ( F>M+1 & !Y COOP]AT$ FULLY 9 ! V>I\S =MS ( ACTIVE RACISM :ITE PEOPLE 5GAG$ 9 TO CREATE ! ,UNIT$ ,/ATES4 ,& 9 !IR EAG]NESS TO CONTROL EA* O!R & /AY )9 !IR COMPLEM5T>Y REPRODUCTIVE ROLES1 !Y CREAT$ PATT]NS ( ABUSE ?AT ALMO/ DE/ROY$ ME BE=E ,I WAS OLD 5\< TO UND]/& :AT ! HELL WAS GO+ ON4 ,! BAD *OICES ( MY ANCE/ORS HELP EXPLA9 ! WELL F$ MIS]Y ,I WAS BORN 9TO1 & GIVE MY /RUGGLE MORE MEAN+4 ,& ?IS P>T ( MY ID5TITY BE>S OV]:ELM+ SIMIL>ITIES ) ! ID5TITIES ( MANY O!R PEOPLE1 & OV]:ELM+ DIFF]5CES ) ! ID5TITIES ( EV5 MORE PEOPLE4 

,TO GET !ORETICAL AGA91 ! DISCOM=T ) ID5TITY ALSO SEEMS TO ME TO BE A SYMPTOM ( PO/MOD]N SOCIETY4 ,OH ,GOD1 NOT ?AT DREAD$ LABEL 7EV5 WORSE ?AN 0ID5TITY POLITICS074 ,BUT NO1 PATI5T READ]1 ,I MEAN SOME?+ V]Y CONCRETE BY ?AT4 ,I MEAN ! PO/MOD]N RECOGNITION ?AT ID5TITY IS CON/RUCT$ & P]=MATIVE1 & ITS ASSOCIATION ( ID5TITY ) ! IRONIC & 9S9C]E1 CONSEQU5TIAL TO ! UNPREC$5T$ BOMB>DM5T ( ! 9DIVIDUAL ) ! BASE/ =MS ( M>KET+ & *ICAN]Y TO MANIPULATE ! =MATION ( AN ID5TITY ?AT HAS BECOME NO?+ MORE ?AN AN 9T]FACE ) COMMODITIES & POLITICAL CATEGORIES4 ,H[ ! HELL CAN WE TAKE ID5TITY S]I\SLY :5 IT IS SO EVID5TLY PRODUC$ = US BY CLO?+ COMM]CIALS1 SPORTS TEAMS1 & TALK RADIO8 

,BUT MOV+ BEYOND ! HI/ORICAL MOM5T 9 :I*1 = MANY PEOPLE1 ID5TITY HAS BECOME AN ABSURDITY1 :AT IS ID5TITY IF IT IS NOT 9H]5TLY A PRODUCT ( MANIPULATIVE \TSIDE FACTORS8 ,I W\LD >GUE ?AT EV5 ?\< ID5TITY IS A PROJECT & IT IS HI/ORICAL1 IT IS NONE!LESS NATURAL1 9 ! S5SE ?AT IT >ISES FROM ! NATURE ( HUMAN CONSCI\SNESS4 ,ID5TITY IS A FUNCTION ( ! WAY HUMANS UND]/& \RSELVES & RECOGNIZE O!RS2 & ,I W\LD MAKE ! ,*OMSKIAN >GUM5T ?AT ! EPI/EMOLOGICAL MOVEM5T TO & BEYOND CATEGORIES IS UNIV]SAL TO ! HUMAN BRA9 ITSELF4 ,9 O!R WORDS1 ,I ?9K ?AT WE ALWAYS HAVE & ALWAYS WILL LABEL \RSELVES & O!RS1 *ALL5GE !SE LABELS1 RE9=CE !M1 AB&ON !M & 9TEGRATE ! FRAGM5TS 9TO NEW LABELS1 & !RE IS NO?+ WRONG ) ?IS PROJECT EXCEPT :]E IT 9T]SECTS ) AN AU?ORIT>IAN SOCIETY ?AT USES A DISC\RSE & A REGULATION ( ID5TITIES1 AMONG MANY O!R MEANS1 TO NOT LET PEOPLE BE :O !Y WANT TO BE4 ,?US1 US+ OR NOT US+ ID5TITIES IS NOT AS IMPORTANT AS ADDRESS+ ! V]Y REAL SOCIAL /RUCTURES & P[] DYNAMICS ?AT LIE BEH9D !SE ID5TITIES4 

,IT SEEMS TO ME ?AT ADDRESS+ \R P]SONAL RELATION%IP TO !SE P[] /RUCTURES 5TAILS ! CREATION ( ID5TITY IF IT 9CLUDES ANY TALK ( A COLLECTIVE RESPONSE1 I4E4 /RUGGLE4 ,?IS IS TRUE EV5 IF WE ADOPT AS BROAD AN ID5TITY AS 0! EXPLOIT$40 ,\R ID5TITY BECOMES MORE SPECIFIC ! MORE SPECIFICALLY WE EXAM9E ?OSE P[] /RUCTURES & H[ !Y AFFECT US4 ,IF WE TRY TO UND]/& PATRI>*Y & COLONIALISM & MIGRANT LABOR & LIQUOR /ORES1 SOME?+ AS VAGUE AS 0! EXPLOIT$0 IS NO LONG] A USEFUL ID5TITY TO HELP US UND]/& \R PLACE 9 ALL ( ?IS4 ,SU* A BROAD ID5TITY CAN BE USEFUL 9 PREV5T+ AN ATOMIZ$ UND]/&+ ( ! SY/EM -- IT IS A :OLESALE REJECTION ( ! SY/EM ON ! P>T ( EV]YONE :O CAN CONSID] !MSELVES EXPLOIT$ BY IT 7:I* IS BASICALLY EV]YBODY74 ,BUT ?IS NE$ NOT 5TAIL A REJECTION ( A SPECIFIC APPROA* ?AT LOOKS AT ONE OR SEV]AL P>TS ( ! SY/EM 9 DETAIL1 9 T&EM ) A MORE SPECIFIC ID5TITY1 AS LONG AS ?AT APPROA* DOES NOT LOSE A HOLI/IC ANALYSIS ( ! SY/EM & ?US GIVE BIR? TO A P>TIAL /RUGGLE4 

,AFT] ALL1 ID5TITIES NE$ NOT BE S+UL> OR MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE4 ,9 EXAM9+ PATRI>*Y IT BECOMES APP>5T ?AT DIFF]5T PEOPLE HAVE DIFF]5T CATEGORICAL RELATION%IPS ) ?AT P[] /RUCTURE1 BUT JU/ BECAUSE SOMEONE UND]/&S H]SELF TO BE A WOMAN DOES NOT AT ALL PREV5T H] FROM UND]/&+ H]SELF AS AN 5EMY ( ! 5TIRE SY/EM1 TOGE!R ) ALL ! O!R 5EMIES ( ! SY/EM4 

,H]E ,I WANT TO QUOTE FROM A ?\<T-PROVOK+ >TICLE BY ,CRAIG ,CALH\N AB\T ID5TITY POLITICS4 ,HE PROVIDES A SUCC9CT DEF9ITION ( ESS5TIALISM 9 ID5TITY :I* IS SIMIL> TO ! ONE ,LAWR5CE ,J>A* USES 9 HIS >TICLE 0,ESS5TIALISM & ,ID5TITY ,POLITICS10 AL?\< ,I F9D ! ,CALH\N >TICLE TO BE BETT] DEVELOP$1 MU* MORE PRECISE1 & LESS LOAD$4 ,HE DEF9ES ESS5TIALISM AS ! 0.<NOTION.> ?AT 9DIVIDUAL P]SONS CAN HAVE S+UL>1 9TEGRAL1 ALTOGE!R H>MONI\S & UNPROBLEMATIC ID5TITIES40 ,FUR!R ALONG3 

,BOSNIAN ,MUSLIM FEM9I/S & O!R ADVOCATES ( ,BOSNIAN WOM5 FAC$ 9 #aiic A HORRIFIC V]SION ( ! WAY NATIONALISM & G5D] CAN COLLIDE4 ,S]BIAN M5 RAP$ ?\S&S ( ,BOSNIAN WOM5 .<444.>4 ,?IS WAS A SPECIFICALLY G5D]$ VIOLATION EQUALLY SPECIFICALLY DEPLOY$ AGA9/ A NATIONALLY DEF9$ GR\P4 ,YET ,BOSNIAN M5 ADD$ TO ! CALAMITY BY TREAT+ ! WOM5 :O W]E RAP$ AS DEFIL$ & IMPURE4 ,!Y W]E DEFIL$ NOT ONLY 9 ! G5]AL SEXI/ DISC\RSE ( FEMALE PURITY1 BUT 9 A SPECIFICALLY NATIONALI/ DISC\RSE 9 :I* !Y HAD BE5 9SCRIB$ 9 PROP] ROLES AS DAU<T]S1 WIVES & MO!RS4 ,TO ?9K ( !MSELVES AS EI!R WOM5 RA!R ?AN ,BOSNIAN ,MUSLIMS OR ,BOSNIAN ,MUSLIMS RA!R ?AN WOM5 MADE NO S5SE4 ,!Y W]E RAP$ BECAUSE !Y W]E BO?1 & TO CONDEMN ! ,BOSNIAN ,MUSLIM CULTURE EQUALLY ) ! ,S]BIAN PROJECT ( E?NIC CLEANS+ 7AS SOME ,AM]ICAN FEM9I/S HAVE DONE7 IS TO CONDEMN ?OSE V]Y WOM54 ,YET ! OBVI\S CLAIM TO BE BO? WOM5 & ,BOSNIAN ,MUSLIMS WAS AVAILABLE ONLY AS A POLITICAL PROJECT 7H[EV] IMPLICIT7 TO REFIGURE ! DISC\RSES ( G5D]1 RELIGION & NATION )9 :I* !IR ID5TITIES W]E 9SCRIB$ & ON ! BASES ( :I* !IR BODIES & !IR HONOR ALIKE W]E VIOLAT$4 

.<444.> ,BUT ! PUZZLES LIE NOT JU/ 9 9VOCATIONS ( /RONG COLLECTIVE ID5TITY CLAIMS4 ,!Y LIE ALSO 9 ! EXT5T TO :I* PEOPLE .<444.> >E NOT MOV$ BY ANY /RONG CLAIMS ( ID5TITY -- OR COMMUNALITY -- ) O!RS & RESPOND 9/EAD TO 9DIVIDUALI/IC APPEALS TO SELF-REALIZATION4 ,MOREOV]1 !SE TWO >E NOT ALTOGE!R MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE 9 PRACTICE4 ,! SAME UNWILL+NESS TO WORK 9 COMPLEX /RUGGLES = SOCIAL TRANS=MATION MAY LIE BEH9D BO? A PREF]5CE = 9DIVIDUALI/IC1 PSY*OLOGI/IC SOLUTIONS TO PROBLEMS & A T5D5CY TO ACCEPT ! ILLUSORY SOLUTIONS (F]$ BY /RONG1 SIMPLI/IC ID5TITY CLAIMS ON BEHALF ( NATIONS1 RACES & O!R PUTATIVELY UNDIFF]5TIAT$ CATEGORIES4 .<#a.> 

,H[ CAN EMPHASIZ+ COLLECTIVE ID5TITIES ACTUALLY BE HELPFUL 9 AN AN>*I/ /RUGGLE8 ,I CAN ?9K ( PL5TY ( EXAMPLES4 ,H]E'S A GOOD ONE4 ,ONE ( MY BE/ FRI5DS 9 ! PLACE :]E ,I LIVE N[ WAS1 :5 ,I MET H]1 A LESBIAN SEP>ATI/ FEM9I/4 ,%E IS AN AN>*I/ & WE HAD PL5TY ( AFF9ITY1 BUT 9 ! MAJORITY ( H] POLITICAL PROJECTS & P]SONAL RELATION%IPS %E *OSE TO ONLY HAVE CONTACT ) O!R WOM54 ,%E LIV$ 9 A WOM5-ONLY H\SE1 WORK$ ) A WOM5-ONLY SELF-DEF5SE GR\P AS WELL AS A C\PLE WOM5-ONLY POLITICAL COLLECTIVES1 & %E ONLY HAD ROMANTIC RELATION%IPS ) WOM54 ,%E *OSE ?IS /RATEGY BECAUSE ( H] P]SONAL EXP]I5CE ) SEXUAL & SEXI/ VIOL5CE1 BECAUSE IT SEEM$ TO H] ?AT ONLY WOM5 REALLY UND]/OOD & C\LD SUPPORT H] 9 !SE EXP]I5CES1 BECAUSE %E NOTICES A DIFF]5T DYNAMIC 9 !SE WOM5-ONLY GR\PS ?AT FEELS SAF] & ALSO MORE 5ABL+ ( EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION & ACTION1 & BECAUSE %E'S SICK ( ALWAYS HAV+ TO JU/IFY H] EXP]I5CES OR >GUE ) M5 & ) ANTI-FEM9I/ WOM5 ?AT ! SEXI/ VIOL5CE EXP]I5C$ BY H] & H] FRI5DS ACTUALLY EXI/S4 

,IT W\LD BE >ROGANT TO TELL H] ?AT !SE EXP]I5CES >E 9VALID1 & MOREOV]1 H] EFFECTIV5ESS AS AN AN>*I/ SEEMS TO VALIDATE H] /RATEGY4 ,FROM :AT ,I HAVE SE51 %E HAS MADE IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO ! /RUGGLE AGA9/ SEXISM ?AT 9CLUDE DIRECT ACTION AGA9/ RAPI/S1 C\NT]9=MATION1 & P>TICIPATION 9 !ORETICAL DEBATES ?AT MO/ AN>*I/S H]E HAVE DEEM$ IMPORTANT1 REG>DLESS ( :AT SIDE !Y TAKE4 ,& %E HAS MADE IMPORTANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO ! AN>*I/ MOVEM5T1 BEYOND ITS FEM9I/ ASPECTS4 ,( C\RSE ,I CAN'T SAY :AT !SE HAVE BE51 BUT ,I W\LD WAG] ?AT NE>LY ALL AN>*I/S1 REG>DLESS ( H[ !Y FEEL AB\T SO-CALL$ ID5TITY POLITICS1 W\LD F9D H] WORK TO BE WOR?:ILE & EV5 IMPRESSIVE4 ,& ! BASE = MU* ( ?IS WORK IS ! SAFE SPACE %E HAS CREAT$ = H]SELF 9 WOM5-ONLY GR\PS4 

,! :OLE TIME ,I HAVE KN[N H]1 %E NEV] IMPOS$ AN ID5TITY ON ME OR MADE ME FEEL DEVALU$ OR EXCLUD$4 ,ALL IT TOOK WAS = ME TO LI/5 TO H]1 ACCEPT H] EXP]I5CES AS VALID1 & RESPECT H] *OICES REG>D+ :OM %E WANT$ TO WORK ) & :51 EV5 IF IT MEANT ?AT SOMETIMES %E DIDN'T WANT TO WORK ) ME1 NOT SO MU* BECAUSE ( MY G5D]1 BUT BECAUSE ( H] G5D] EXP]I5CES4 ,AS A ,CATALAN AN>*I/ PO9T$ \T1 SEP>ATISM IS ONLY SEP>ATISM IF WE ACCEPT ! AU?ORITY ?AT B\ND ! TWO TOGE!R 9 ! FIR/ PLACE4 ,O!RWISE1 IT'S VOLUNT>Y ASSOCIATION4 

,?IS CON/ITUTES ONE ( SEV]AL /ORIES ,I AM FAMILI> ) ?AT CONTRADICT ! HYPO!SIS ?AT AN>*I/ /RATEGIES EMPHASIZ+ ID5TITY WILL DIVIDE ! /RUGGLE OR RECREATE OPPRESSION4 ,BUT ?IS EXAMPLE IS ESPECIALLY 9T]E/+ BECAUSE ?IS FRI5D ( M9E IS NO LONG] A LESBIAN SEP>ATI/4 ,%E N[ WORKS 9 MIX$ GR\PS & HAS RELATIONS ) BOYS4 ,%E DOES NOT REJECT H] OLD /RATEGY1 %E HAS JU/ MOV$ BEYOND IT4 ,IT WAS A NECESS>Y P>T ( H] PROCESS4 ,O!R AN>*A-FEM9I/S H]E REMA9 MORE P]MAN5TLY 9 ?AT MODE ( ACTION & AL?\< WE HAVE LESS COMMON GR\ND TO /RUGGLE TOGE!R1 ,I RESPECT ?AT !Y >E DO+ IMPORTANT WORK1 :I* ,I CAN SEE1 AS JU/ ONE EXAMPLE1 BY H[ MU* !Y HELP$ MY FRI5D4 ,= ME TO SET SOME SORT ( TIMETABLE = !M1 TO DEM& ?AT !Y PASS ?R\< SEP>ATISM AS A PHASE1 W\LD BE ! HEI<T ( >ROGANCE4 ,AS LONG AS ,I RESPECT !IR WORK & !Y RESPECT M9E1 ! /RUGGLE IS NOT DIVID$4 ,! DIVISION OCCURS :5 WE 9VALIDATE ! /RUGGLE ( PEOPLE :O HAVE *OS5 TO FOCUS ON A DIFF]5T P>T ( ! SY/EM4 

,:AT ,I WI% ALL ?OSE SNOOTY BA/>DS :O T\T ! T]M 0ID5TITY POLITICS0 W\LD UND]/& IS ?AT AN>*I/ !ORIES & PRACTICES EXI/ TO S]VE \R NE$S4 ,?IS IS NOT TO SAY ?AT ANY?+ GOES1 ?AT ,I'M OKAY & Y\'RE OKAY1 BUT ?AT ! BASIS = \R CRITICISMS %\LD BE H[ WELL \R PRACTICES S]VE US 9 \R /RUGGLE = LIB]ATION RA!R ?AN H[ WELL \R PRACTICES FIT A CLE> BLUEPR9T D]IV$ FROM A PURE AN>*I/ IDEOLOGY4 ,YET SO (T5 ,I HE> ! =MULA3 AN>*ISM IS OPPOS$ TO 9VOLUNT>Y CATEGORIES1 SO ORGANIZ+ AS WOM5 OR AS PEOPLE ( COLOR OR RE9=C+ ?OSE CATEGORIES 9 ANY WAY IS CONTR>Y TO AN>*ISM4 ,?IS REM9DS ME ( DEBAT+ PACIFI/S4 0,WE WANT A PEACEFUL WORLD1 SO Y\ CAN'T USE VIOL5CE TO GET !RE40 

,NOT ONLY >E !RE MANY EXAMPLES ( /RUGGLES ?AT >E AID$ BY ! DEVELOPM5T OR DEF5SE ( ID5TITY1 ,I W\LD >GUE ?AT ! REJECTION ( ID5TITY IMPLICIT 9 A REJECTION ( POLITICAL CONTE/ATIONS ( ID5TITY IS A ?R[BACK TO TIMES :5 SOCIAL /RUGGLES WILL+LY ADOPT$ 9/ITUTIONAL =MS -- TO :5 ! AN>*I/ MOVEM5T HADN'T YET LE>N$ :AT AN>*ISM REALLY WAS4 ,A REJECTION ( ID5TITY DIFF]5TIATION & ! CONCOMITANT HOMOG5EITY ( AN IMPLICIT ID5TITY 7:E!R ?AT BE 0! EXPLOIT$0 OR 0! WORK]S07 MAKES MORE S5SE )9 ! 0ONE BIG UNION0 =M ( ORGANIZ+ ?AT HAS L>GELY BE5 RETIR$ BY ! /RUGGLE1 ?AN IT DOES )9 ! NETWORKS ?AT >E MORE COMMON TODAY4 ,A FUNDAM5TAL FEATURE ( NETWORKS AS ,I UND]/& !M IS ! AUTONOMY ( !IR CON/ITU5T P>TS1 & ?IS AUTONOMY & ! ABILITY ( DI/9CT P>TS TO RECOGNIZE & RELATE TO ONE ANO!R IS DEVELOP$ PRECISELY 9 ! CONT9U\S PROJECT ( ID5TITY =MATION4 

,YES1 ID5TITY CAN BE MISUS$4 ,SO CAN CULTURE1 OR 9DIVIDUALITY4 ,REJECT+ ID5TITY IS REVEAL$ TO BE AS ABSURD AS REJECT+ CULTURE OR 9DIVIDUALITY :5 WE RECOGNIZE ?AT =M+ ID5TITIES IS A P>T ( BE+ HUMAN4 ,:AT WE %\LD REJECT IS BORD]S1 PURITY1 & CONTROL )9 ! =MATION ( ID5TITIES4 

,IT IS NOT 5\< TO DISMISS RACISM & SEXISM4 ,YES1 RACE & G5D] >E SOCIALLY CON/RUCT$1 BUT ?AT DOES NOT MAKE !M ANY LESS REAL 7MOREOV] G5D] >GUABLY HAS NOT BE5 OPPRESSIVE 9 EV]Y SOCIETY 9 :I* IT HAS EXI/$74 ,RACISM & SEXISM REQUIRE SPECIFIC ATT5TION & PROLONG$ /RUGGLE 9 ORD] TO BE DE/ROY$1 JU/ ! SAME AS H[ CAPITAL IS A SOCIAL CON/RUCT1 YET CAPITALISM WILL NOT BE DE/ROY$ )\T SPECIFIC ATT5TION & PROLONG$ /RUGGLE4 ,9 A CRITICISM ( SEXISM )9 ! MOVEM5T !RE1 A ,GREEK 9SURRECTIONI/1 :O WAS ALSO AN AN>*I/ & A FEM9I/1 SAID ?AT FRE$OM IS NOT !ORETICAL1 IT IS PRACTICAL4 ,FRE$OM EXI/S NOT ON BE+ DECL>$ BUT :5 WE FIGURE \T H[ TO MAKE IT WORK ON ! GR\ND1 & :5 WE FI<T = IT4 ,I AGREE :OLEHE>T$LY3 ?IS IS ! DIFF]5CE BETWE5 ! LIB]AL NOTION ( FRE$OM & ! AN>*I/ ONE4 

,9 WORK+ \T !SE PRACTICAL DETAILS WE WILL />T FROM \R [N EXP]I5CES & WE WILL DEVELOP \R [N /RATEGIES4 ,BUT AN>*Y CAN ONLY B5EFIT FROM A DIV]SITY ( EXP]I5CES & /RATEGIES4 

,SO ,FUCK$ ,UP 

,GUILT1 ,DISEMP[]M5T1 & ,O!R ,MI/AKES ( AN ,ANTI-,OPPRESSION PRACTICE 

,MANY FOLKS :O W]E LE>N+ H[ TO BE GOOD AN>*I/S BETWE5 #b-#b#e ON ! ,EA/ ,COA/ W]E 9FLU5C$ BY :AT ,I'M GO+ TO CALL AN 0ANTI-OPPRESSION PRACTICE40 ,! PH5OM5ON IS BROAD] ?AN ?IS2 ,I'M SIMPLY SPEAK+ FROM EXP]I5CE4 ,! T]M IS NOT PRECISE1 & ,I WANT TO KEEP IT ?AT WAY1 SO NO ONE FEELS PIGEON-HOL$1 & SO EV]YONE CAN CONSID] :E!R !SE CRITICISMS APPLY TO !M OR NOT2 & AT ! SAME TIME SO NO ONE CAN IGNORE !SE CRITICISMS IF !Y DO NOT FIT )9 ! PRECISELY DEF9$ T>GET4 

,AN ANTI-OPPRESSION PRACTICE POSITS A LI/ ( DIFF]5T =MS ( OPPRESSION AT WORK 9 SOCIETY ON A MACRO & MICRO LEVEL1 ?AT REPRODUCE !MSELVES ?R\< SOCIALIZATION AT ! MICRO LEVEL & ?R\< CONT9U+ POLITICAL & ECONOMIC RE/RUCTURATION C>RI$ \T BY ELITE 9/ITUTIONS AT ! MACRO LEVEL4 ,?IS PRACTICE HAS CULTIVAT$ A NUMB] ( /R5G?S 9 ! AN>*I/S :O PASS$ ?R\< IT -- AN AW>5ESS ( ONE'S SOCIALIZATION1 A S5SITIVITY TO SITUATIONS & GR\P P[] DYNAMICS1 ! *ALL5G+ ( TRADITIONAL ID5TITIES1 AN AB&ONM5T ( ! MONOLI?IC POLITICS ( ! N[ EXT9CT REVOLUTION>Y ,LEFT1 :I* C\LD NOT FA?OM =MS ( OPPRESSION ?AT W]E NOT PRIM>ILY ECONOMIC4 

,BUT ANTI-OPPRESSION POLITICS1 ?\< NOT HOMOG5\S1 HAS A NUMB] ( COMMON WEAKNESSES BUILT 9TO IT ?ANKS TO ! ACADEMIC CULTURE \T ( :I* IT L>GELY GREW2 ! GUILT1 BLAME1 & VICTIMIZATION ?AT RUN ESPECIALLY 9T5SE 9 ! ,ANGLO-,SAXON COLONIAL SOCIETY ( ! ,U,S2 & ! LEFTISM & RE=MISM ( MANY =MULATORS ( ?IS PRACTICE ) :OM ANTI-OPPRESSION AN>*I/S UNCRITICALLY ALLI$ !MSELVES4 ,I ?9K ! PRACTICE HAS BLOCK$ (F ITS [N PA? TO REVOLUTION1 & NE$S TO BE JUNK$4 ,A FEW KEY P>TS CAN BE SALVAG$4 ,! RE/ %\LD BE LEFT TO ! DES]T4 

,GUILT 

,! SECOND LESSON NEW ACOLYTES LE>N 9 AN ANTI-OPPRESSION PRACTICE IS ?AT FEEL+ GUILTY = PRIVILEGE IS ALSO 0FUCK$ UP40 ,! ,CALV9I/S C\LDN'T HAVE DONE IT BETT]4 ,GUILT IS 9T5TIONALLY BUILT 9TO ANTI-OPPRESSION POLITICS1 FIRMLY ROOT$ 9 ITS SYLLABUS4 ,ANYONE :O HAS A HE>T IS GO+ TO FEEL GUILTY :5 !Y >E ASSIGN$ ! LABEL ( 0PRIVILEG$10 :5 !Y >E PRESSUR$ TO ACKN[L$GE ?AT 0ALL :ITE PEOPLE >E RACI/0 OR 0ALL M5 >E SEXI/0 7BO? ( !SE /ATEM5TS >E T5ETS ( ANTI-OPPRESSION POLITICS74 ,DOGMATICALLY 9SI/+ ?AT GUILT ON ! P>T ( PRIVILEG$ PEOPLE IS UNHELPFUL & BURD5SOME = OPPRESS$ PEOPLE ONLY 5SURES ?AT !IR GUILT IS P]MAN5T & SELF-P]PETUAT+1 BECAUSE !RE >E NO TOOLS 9 ?IS TOOLBOX = RI<T+ ! WRONGS ?AT >E ! S\RCE ( ! GUILT2 ONLY = ACKN[L$G+ !M4 ,IT IS AN ORIG9AL S9 PRACTITION]S >E P[]LESS TO *ANGE4 

,QUICKLY1 A DIVISION BECOMES APP>5T 9 ! MOBILIZATION ( GUILT )9 AN ANTI-OPPRESSION PRACTICE4 ,BECAUSE ( ! LAUNDRY LI/ ( OPPRESSIONS ?AT REQUIRE EQUAL CONSID]ATION1 NE>LY EV]Y 9DIVIDUAL IS PRIVILEG$ 9 SOME WAY1 & OPPRESS$ 9 O!RS4 ,H[EV]1 ANTI-OPPRESSION ACTIVI/S REFUSE TO USE 0PRIVILEGE0 & 0OPPRESS0 AS SITUATIONAL V]BS1 ) ! OBVI\S CONNOTATION ?AT !SE >E ?+S IMPOS$ BY A L>G] SOCIAL /RUCTURE4 ,9/EAD1 ! COMMONLY UPHELD NORM IS TO USE !SE T]MS AS LABELS ?AT 9H]E TO 9DIVIDUALS & QUALIFY :O !Y >E4 ,?IS MEANS ?AT MO/ 9DIVIDUALS CAN *OOSE :AT IS1 ACCORD+ TO ! !ORY1 NOT SOME?+ WE HAVE AN ABILITY TO *OOSE3 :I* CATEGORY WE BELONG TO4 ,!ORETICALLY ?IS COMES ) AN AW>5ESS ( AN 9T]SECTIONALITY ( DIFF]5T OPPRESSIONS1 BUT 9 PRACTICE PEOPLE 5D UP ID5TIFY+ & BE+ ID5TIFI$ ) ONE CAMP OR ! O!R4 ,SK9 COLOR T5DS TO BE ! PRIME DET]M9ANT 9 :E!R SOMEONE CAN GET AWAY ) ID5TIFY+ AS PRIVILEG$ OR OPPRESS$4 

,BECAUSE REVOLUTION OR 0SOCIAL *ANGE0 IS RE=MULAT$ AS WORK+ AGA9/ OPPRESSION1 & BECAUSE 0?OSE MO/ DIRECTLY AFFECT$ BY AN OPPRESSION MU/ LEAD !IR [N /RUGGLE0 7ANO!R COMMON T5ET71 PEOPLE 9 ! OPPRESS$ CATEGORY BECOME ! PRIM>Y AG5TS ( SOCIAL *ANGE4 ,A SY/EM ( REW>DS DEVELOPS TO 5C\RAGE COMPLIANCE ) ?IS PRACTICE4 ,PRIVILEG$ PEOPLE GA9 P[] & LEGITIMACY BY BE+ ALLIES TO OPPRESS$ PEOPLE4 ,IT IS CONC$$ ?AT PRIVILEG$ PEOPLE >E ALSO NEGATIVELY AFFECT$ BY ! SY/EM1 BUT ! APPROPRIATE RESPONSE TO !IR PRIVILEGE IS TO $UCATE !MSELVES & CALL ONE ANO!R \T ON ALL ! WAYS !Y >E TI$ TO & B5EFIT FROM ! SY/EM AT ! EXP5SE ( O!RS4 7,A FRI5D ( M9E APTLY CALLS ?IS A Z]O SUM ECONOMY ( P[]74 ,PRIVILEG$ PEOPLE :O =CEFULLY /RUGGLE AGA9/ OPPRESSIVE 9/ITUTIONS >E FREQU5TLY CALL$ BACK 9TO L9E = TRY+ TO LEAD O!R PEOPLE'S /RUGGLES1 OR 5DANG]+ ?OSE :O >E MORE OPPRESS$4 ,9 O!R WORDS1 !IR MAJOR OPPORTUNITY = /RUGGLE AS SOME?+ O!R ?AN SELF-IMPROVEM5T IS AS AN ALLY 9 ! /RUGGLES ( O!RS4 

,H]E WE SEE ANO!R CONTRADICTION2 TOK5IZATION & PAT]NALISM >E ON ANY LI/ ( 0FUCK$ UP0 BEHAVIORS 9 AN ANTI-OPPRESSION PRACTICE1 ?US ! PRACTICE PROTECTS ITSELF FROM OP5 COMPLICITY ) ! V]Y PROBLEMS IT CREATES4 ,HUMAN AG5CY IS A FUNDAM5TAL COMPON5T ( FRE$OM1 P]HAPS ! MO/ IMPORTANT ONE2 !RE=E IF SOMEONE IS D5I$ AG5CY 9 !IR [N /RUGGLE BECAUSE ! MO/ LEGIT ?+ !Y CAN DO IS BE AN ALLY TO SOMEONE ELSE'S /RUGGLE1 IT IS 9EVITABLE ?AT !Y WILL EX]CISE !IR AG5CY 9 ! C\RSE ( SUPPORT+ A /RUGGLE !Y VIEW AS SOMEONE ELSE'S4 ,TO DO SO1 !Y WILL EI!R LOOK = ANY OPPRESS$ P]SON :O SUPPORTS A =M ( /RUGGLE !Y FEEL 9CL9$ T[>DS1 & USE !M AS A LEGITIMAT+ FACADE1 OR !Y WILL TRY TO P>TICIPATE FULLY & AFFECT ! C\RSE ( A BROAD] CAMPAIGN OR COALITION 9 :I* !Y >E PRET5D+ TO BE M]E ALLIES4 ,9 O!R WORDS1 BY PRES5T+ PRIVILEGE AS A GOOD ?+1 ANTI-OPPRESSION POLITICS CREATES PRIVILEG$ PEOPLE :O HAVE NO?+ TO FI<T = & 9EVITABLY TOK5IZE OR PAT]NALIZE ?OSE :OSE /RUGGLES >E DEEM$ 7MORE7 LEGITIMATE4 

,:ITE M5 )9 ! ANTI-OPPRESSION PRACTICE GA9 LEGITIMACY & 9FLU5CE BY APPE>+ HYP]-S5SITIVE & SELF-FLAGELLAT+1 & BY VISIBLY ACKN[L$G+ !IR PRIVILEGE4 ,BECAUSE ?IS 9EVITABLY CREATES GUILT1 & GUILT IS A CRIPPL+ EMOTION1 ?OSE :ITE M5 :O WILL BE MO/ EFFECTIVE AS ANTI-OPPRESSION ACTIVI/S WILL BE ?OSE :O >E LEA/ AFFECT$ BY !IR %[S ( GUILT1 9 O!R WORDS1 ! LEA/ S9C]E4 ,:ITE WOM51 OR O!RS :O G5]ALLY HAVE TO ID5TIFY AS PRIVILEG$ BUT ALSO VISIBLY BELONG TO SOME OPPRESS$ CATEGORY1 REMA9 EFFECTIVE BY %IFT+ GUILT UP ! PYRAMID4 ,A FREQU5T =MULATION IS TO ACKN[L$GE :ITE PRIVILEGE1 BUT CONSI/5TLY TALK AB\T 0:ITE M50 AS ! CREATORS ( PATRI>*Y & :ITE SUPREMACY1 AS ?\< M5 ( COLOR OR :ITE WOM5 W]E P[]LESS & UNCOMPLIANT 9 !SE RESPECTIVE PROCESSES4 

,?OSE FULLY 9 ! OPPRESS$ CATEGORY FACE ANO!R P[] DYNAMIC )9 ! POLITICAL SPACE ( ANTI-OPPRESSION ACTIVISM4 ,!Y EI!R HAVE TO PUT UP ) ALLIES LIKE !SE1 &1 FRU/RAT$ BY ! CON/ANT HYPOCRISY ?AT !Y HELP P]PETUATE BY ASCRIB+ TO ! POLITICAL VALUES ( ANTI-OPPRESSION ACTIVISM1 FACE ! *OICE ( WALL+ !MSELVES (F FROM ?OSE :O >E SUPPOS$ TO BE !IR COMRADES OR WA/+ ALL !IR TIME $UCAT+ !M \T ( CONTRADICTIONS ?AT >5'T GO+ AWAY4 

,OR1 !Y >E !RE BECAUSE !Y SPECIFICALLY WANT ALLIES LIKE !SE1 & WANT ! =MS ( POLITICAL P[] ?AT ACCUMULATE TO ?OSE :O >E CATEGORIZ$ AS OPPRESS$ )9 ?IS PRACTICE4 ,:ILE ,I ?9K MO/ PEOPLE :O *OOSE ANTI-OPPRESSION POLITICS >E S9C]E & DO A LOT ( GOOD1 !RE CAN BE NO D\BT ?AT ?AT POLITICAL SPACE ATTRACTS POLITICIANS :O ?RIVE ON ! P[] PLAYS & (FICE POLITICS ?AT 9FE/ ANTI-OPPRESSION GR\P+S1 ORGANIZATIONS1 & AFFILIAT$ ,N,G,OS4 ,FRI5DS ( M9E :O *OSE TO WORK ) RESPECT$ ORGANIZATIONS L$ BY OPPRESS$ PEOPLE HAVE EXP]I5C$ SU* AN EXTREME DEGREE ( MANIPULATION & M9DFUCK+ ?AT ,I F9D IT COMPLETELY FAIR TO SAY ?AT ! LEAD]S ( ?OSE P>TICUL> ORGANIZATIONS1 :I* ,I WON'T NAME1 W]E NOT REVOLUTION>IES1 BUT C>E]I/S4 

,AG5CY 

,AS A G5]ALIZATION1 ANTI-OPPRESSION POLITICS PRIM>ILY SEES 9DIVIDUALS AS A NODE ( 9T]SECT+ OPPRESSIONS1 EA* ( :I* G5]ATE COMMON EXP]I5CES AMONG !IR SUBJECTS4 ,! RESULT IS ! SOMETIMES IMPLICIT1 SOMETIMES EXPLICIT ASSUMPTION ?AT ONE'S PLACE 9 ! HI]>*Y 7DIFF]5TLY ABL$ QUE] FEMALE-BODI$ LAT9A7 CAN TELL Y\ MORE AB\T !M & !IR HI/ORY ?AN ANY 9DIVIDUAL DIFF]5CES4 ,SOME ANTI-OPPRESSION ACTIVI/S >E MORE GUNG-HO ?AN O!RS 9 ?IS M9IMIZATION ( P]SONAL EXP]I5CE1 BUT ,I W\LD >GUE ?AT ?OSE :O >E LESS GUNG-HO & MORE S5SITIVE >E 9 FACT MORE HYPOCRITICAL OR 9CONSI/5T1 AS SU* A M9IMIZATION ( ! 9DIVIDUAL IS AN 9EVITABLE PRODUCT ( AN ANALYSIS ?AT =EGR\NDS ONE'S POSITION 9 HI]>*IES ( PRIVILEGE & OPPRESSION4 

,I ?9K ?IS FACT IS NOT UNRELAT$ TO ! EMB>RASS+1 ONE MI<T EV5 SAY H>MFUL1 DELAY BE=E ANTI-OPPRESSION ACTIVI/S ACKN[L$G$ H[ FREQU5TLY PEOPLE SOCIALIZ$ AS M5 HAVE EXP]I5C$ SEXUAL VIOL5CE4 ,9 FACT1 ! D5IAL ( TRAUMA ) :I* M5 >E SOCIALIZ$ PROV$ TO BE QUITE AT HOME 9 ANTI-OPPRESSION POLITICS PRECISELY BECAUSE ?OSE POLITICS RE9=C$ ?AT SOCIALIZATION BY 5C\RAG+ M5 :O HAVE BE5 9TIMATELY H>M$ BY \R SOCIETY TO VIEW !MSELVES AS EXTRAORD9>ILY PRIVILEG$ BY IT & COMPLICIT 9 IT4 

,9 O!R WORDS1 BY EMPHASIZ+ H[ C]TA9 PEOPLE >E PRIVILEG$1 ?IS PRACTICE HAS 9 SOME WAYS P]PETUAT$ RA!R ?AN UND]M9$ A P]SONAL ID5TIFICATION ) ! SY/EM1 & PREV5T$ /RUGGLE AGA9/ IT1 9 ! RUBRIC ( SELF-IMPROVEM5T OR TAK+ P]SONAL RESPONSIBILITY1 AN E?IC ?AT HAS ALREADY PROV5 ITS C\NT]REVOLUTION>Y EFFECTIV5ESS :5 9 ! H&S ( ! ,*RI/IANS4 

,I ?9K AW>5ESS ( HI/ORY & SOCIALIZATION IS CRITICALLY IMPORTANT4 ,BUT ! SET ( NUANCES & EMPHASES ?AT ANTI-OPPRESSION ACTIVI/S *OOSE 5C\RAGES P]SONAL ID5TIFICATION ) SY/EMS ( OPPRESSION RA!R ?AN MUT9Y1 9 ! CASE ( ?OSE 9 ! PRIVILEG$ BOX1 & VICTIMIZATION BY SY/EMS ( OPPRESSION ?AT >E P]PETUAT$ BY ALLIES AS MU* AS BY 5EMIES1 9 ! CASE ( ?OSE 9 ! OPPRESS$ BOX4 

,BY PUTT+ 9T]P]SONAL OR MICRO P[]-DYNAMICS ON P> ) /RUCTURAL OR MACRO P[]-DYNAMICS1 !SE ACTIVI/S MAY BE TRA9+ !MSELVES 9 WEAKNESS & VICTIMIZATION4 ,I ?9K IT IS NECESS>Y TO UND]/& H[ !SE BEHAVIORS FILT] UPW>DS & D[NW>D1 BUT )\T MAK+ ANY FACILE EQUIVAL5CE BETWE5 ABOVE & BEL[4 ,AN 9DIVIDUAL :O E*OES OPPRESSIVE BEHAVIORS HE HAS BE5 TRA9$ 9 %>ES V]Y LITTLE 9 COMMON ) AN 9/ITUTION ?AT CAN BO? G5]ATE1 MODEL1 & EVOLVE ?OSE BEHAVIORS4 ,EMPHASIZ+ ?AT COMMONALITY CAN BE USEFUL1 ) AN 9DISP5SABLE CAVEAT1 9 UND]/&+ H[ ! SY/EM WORKS1 BUT IF WE PLACE \R NEW UND]/&+ 9 A REVOLUTION>Y FRAMEWORK -- ) ! DESIRE TO ACTUALLY ABOLI% !SE 9/ITUTIONS -- !N ?IS KN[L$GE PO9TS DIRECTLY TO ! /RATEGIC NECESSITY TO UND]M9E & SEV] ?IS COMMONALITY OR ID5TIFICATION ) P[]1 NOT TO RE9=CE IT4 

,! CAVEAT IS ?IS3 ,I ?9K AN HONE/1 CRITICAL LOOK AT H[ P[] & SOCIALIZATION WORK 9 ?IS SOCIETY MAKES IT UND5IABLE ?AT1 EXCEPT 9 ! CASE ( >M$ COLONIZATION OR *ATTEL SLAV]Y1 OPPRESS$ PEOPLE & PRIVILEG$ PEOPLE >E EQUALLY TI$ 9TO & SOCIALIZ$ TO ID5TIFY ) ! FUNCTION+ ( ! SY/EM1 EV5 ?\< !IR M$IAN EXP]I5CES AS GR\PS >E VA/LY DIFF]5T4 ,OPPRESS$ PEOPLE >E NOT MORE \TSIDE ( OR LESS COMPLICIT 9 ! PRES5T SY/EM -- !Y SIMPLY FACE A DIFF]5T1 MORE FREQU5TLY VIOL5T SET ( 9DUCEM5TS TO P>TICIPATE4 ,9 O!R WORDS1 AS AN ACCURATE G5]ALIZATION LESBIANS1 GAYS1 & WOM5 HELP P]PETUATE & ID5TIFY ) PATRI>*Y2 & PEOPLE ( COLOR 7) ! POSSIBLE EXCEPTION ( PEOPLES /ILL FI<T+ AGA9/ COLONIZATION7 HELP P]PETUATE :ITE SUPREMACI/ CAPITALISM4 ,I HOPE ?IS /ATEM5T DOES NOT COME (F AS 9S5SITIVE TO PEOPLE :OSE /RUGGLES ,I RESPECT4 ,I C\LD QUOTE ! MANY RADICAL WOM5 OR PEOPLE ( COLOR :O HAVE >GU$ ! EXACT SAME ?+1 BUT ?IS TIME ,I WANT TO SAY IT ) MY [N VOICE1 BECAUSE IT IS A TRU? ?AT IS EVID5T TO MY [N EYES1 TOO4 

,TO RETURN TO ! QUE/ION ( MICRO P[]-DYNAMICS1 BY EQUAT+ !M TO MACRO P[]-DYNAMICS WE ACKN[L$GE !IR PREVAL5CE BUT EXAGG]ATE !IR /R5G?4 ,IF WE VIEW OPPRESSIVE_/PRIVILEG$ SOCIALIZATION AS DET]M9ANT1 AS EXTREMELY P[]FUL OV] :O WE >E1 WE RISK MAK+ A M\NTA9 \T ( A MOLE HILL4 ,TRUE1 A P]SON :O 5ACTS OPPRESSIVE BEHAVIORS IS P]PETUAT+ ! SAME P[] DYNAMICS AS 9/ITUTIONS LIKE ! M$IA OR ! POLICE1 BUT BY CREAT+ AN EQUIVAL5CE WE BL9D \RSELVES TO ! FACT ?AT WE >E /RONG 5\< TO CONFRONT ?IS P]SON2 9 FACT ?IS %\LD BE RELATIVELY EASY4 ,WE >E CURR5TLY NOT /RONG 5\< TO OV]COME ! M$IA OR ! POLICE 9 ! DAY TO DAY1 EXCEPT = A FEW =TUIT\S 5GAGEM5TS1 & IT IS ?IS FACT1 ?IS REAL -- NOT IMAG9$ -- WEAKNESS1 ?AT MU/ ILLUM9ATE ! PA? ( /RUGGLE AHEAD3 H[ TO BUILD ! COLLECTIVE =CE WE NE$ TO ATTACK & DEFEAT !SE P[] /RUCTURES4 ,?IS /RUGGLE DOES NOT COME AT ! EXP5SE ( UND]/&+ 9T]P]SONAL DYNAMICS & RELATION%IPS4 ,9 FACT1 FUCK ?AT DI*OTOMY 5TIRELY4 ,!RE IS NO 9SIDE & \TSIDE4 ,!RE IS BUILD+ HEAL?Y1 C>+ RELATION%IPS1 SOLID ALLIANCES1 & NETWORKS ( COMPLICITY & MUT9Y AS WE WAGE W> AGA9/ A SOCIAL SY/EM WE C\LD NOT ID5TIFY ) 9 ! LEA/1 BECAUSE IT IS IMPOSSIBLY F> AWAY FROM :O WE WANT TO BE4 

,LOOK+ AT SOCIALIZATION ) ! OLD SET ( NUANCES1 AS A PRIVILEG$ P]SON1 ! CONCLUSION IS ?AT ! SY/EM PRIVILEGES US1 IT HAS TRA9$ US1 & ?IS WILL BE ! CASE = ! RE/ ( \R NATURAL LIVES4 ,SOMEONE :O SAYS %E DOESN'T WANT TO BE PRIVILEG$ ANYMORE IS SIMPLY SMIL$ AT & TOLD TO READ ! NEXT FEW BOOKS ON ! READ+ LI/4 ,I P]SONALLY HAVE NO USE = ANY !ORY OR PRACTICE ?AT LEAVES \T HUMAN AG5CY1 BECAUSE P[]LESSNESS IS ALWAYS A SELF-FULFILL+ PROPHESY4 

,ALLIES LIKE !SE 

,I ADMIRE ?OSE :O WORK ) NON-AN>*I/S & P>TICIPATE 9 NON-HOMOG5\S CAMPAIGNS & /RUGGLES EV5 ?\< !Y DON'T AGREE ) EV]YONE ELSE P>TICIPAT+4 ,BUT ,I ?9K WE ALL NE$ TO FI]CELY REJECT ! ,ALLY AS A PRIM>Y ID5TITY ( /RUGGLE4 ,Y\ CANNOT GIVE SOLID>ITY IF Y\ >E NOT /RUGGL+ FIR/ & =EMO/ = Y\R [N REASONS4 ,TO BE ONLY OR PRIM>ILY AN ALLY IS TO BE A P>ASITE ON O!RS' /RUGGLES1 ) NO HOPE GREAT] ?AN TO BE A B5IGN P>ASITE2 IT IS TO REFUSE TO ACKN[L$GE \R 9T]E/S & PLACE 9 ! WORLD \T ( A DOGMATIC 9SI/5CE ON ID5TIFY+ \RSELVES ) ! SY/EM WE >E SUPPOS$ TO BE FI<T+4 ,BE+ AW>E ( RELATIVE OPPRESSION & PRIVILEGE IS VITAL1 BUT EMPHASIZ+ ?OSE DIFF]5CES OV] ! FACT ?AT ALL ( US HAVE COMMON 5EMIES & ALL ( US HAVE REASONS TO DE/ROY ! 5TIRE SY/EM IS DELIB]ATELY MISS+ OPPORTUNITIES TO MAKE \RSELVES /RONG] 9 ?IS FI<T4 

,MANY P>TISANS ( AN ANTI-OPPRESSION PRACTICE1 9CLUD+ PEOPLE ,I RESPECT1 HAVE SIMPLY /OPP$ TALK+ AB\T REVOLUTION1 & FREQU5TLY NO LONG] ID5TIFY AS AN>*I/S1 AT LEA/ 0NOT OP5LY40 ,!Y (T5 *>ACT]IZE ?OSE :O DO AS NAIVE1 PRIVILEG$1 ISOLAT$1 %ELT]$ FROM ! CONSEQU5CES ( 0REAL0 REVOLUTION>Y /RUGGLE4 ,SO TALK+ AB\T PRIVILEGE HAS COME1 9 MANY CASES1 9TO DIRECT CONFLICT ) TALK+ AB\T REVOLUTION4 ,:AT >E ! IMPLICATIONS ( ?IS8 ,W\LD ?IS BE AN APPROPRIATE TIME TO BR+ UP ?AT ,NIETZS*E QUOTE AB\T />+ 9TO ! ABYSS8 

,A FREQU5T JU/IFICATION ,I HAVE HE>D IS ?AT AN>*ISM HAS NO CURR5CY 9 !IR BROAD] COMMUNITIES1 & ?AT SO MANY AN>*I/S !Y KN[ >E PRIVILEG$ & EMPTY-HEAD$4 ,?IS REASON+ BAFFLES ME4 ,IF Y\ COME TO BELIEVE 9 TOTAL FRE$OM1 :Y W\LD Y\ AB&ON ONE ( ! ONLY !ORETICAL & PRACTICAL FRAMEWORKS ?AT ESP\SES TOTAL FRE$OM1 JU/ BECAUSE SO MANY O!RS DON'T LIVE UP TO ! IDEAL8 

,IF Y\'RE = REAL1 Y\ DON'T AB&ON ! IDEAL TO ! HYPOCRITES1 Y\ CALL \T ! HYPOCRISY4 7,SPEAK+ ( HYPOCRISY1 9 MY EXP]I5CE MO/ ( ! PEOPLE :O BACK (F FROM AN>*Y = ?IS REASON /ILL USE ! T]M 0DEMOCRACY0 9 A GOOD WAY1 EV5 ?\< WAY MORE PROPON5TS ( DEMOCRACY >E BA/>DS ?AN AN>*I/S :O >E BA/>DS4 ,EVID5TLY !Y'RE MORE COM=TABLE ASSOCIAT+ !MSELVES ) GOOD POLITICIANS ?AN ) BAD REVOLUTION>IES47 

,I ?9K 9 MANY CASES ! TRUE REASON = ?IS DISAV[AL IS FE> ( FAILURE1 LACK ( CONFID5CE 9 ONE'S [N IDEAS1 ! NE$ = AFFIRMATION ?R\< WORK+ ) ?OSE :O >E MORE OPPRESS$ & :OSE EXP]I5CES ?US SEEM MORE REAL4 ,! FEEL+ ( SOPHI/ICATION BUILT 9TO ANTI-OPPRESSION POLITICS IS AN EFFECTIVE %IELD AGA9/ SELF-CRITICISM4 ,ONE CAN GIVE UP HOPE 9 ! /RUGGLE1 :I* IS A PA9FUL ?+ TO C>RY >\ND1 )\T HAV+ TO ADMIT TO P]SONAL WEAKNESS OR FAILURE1 BY CL++ ON TO & SUPPORT+ /RUGGLES C>RI$ \T BY PEOPLE :O ONE SEES1 9 A HYP]-ALI5AT$ WAY1 AS MORE REAL4 

,IT'S TRUE 5\< ?AT \TSIDE ( C]TA9 CULTURAL GR\PS1 NOT MANY PEOPLE 9 /RUGGLE ID5TIFY AS AN>*I/S4 ,H[EV]1 ?OSE :O 9SI/ ON BE+ ALLIES T5D OV]:ELM+LY TO ALLY ONLY ) A C]TA9 PORTION ( ?OSE O!RS :O /RUGGLE3 ! PORTION ?AT IS MO/ RECOGNIZABLE TO AN ACTIVI/ PRACTICE4 ,GANGS & PRISON REBELS >E USUALLY IGNOR$1 :ILE LEFTI/ ORGANIZATIONS & ,N,G,OS NE$ NEV] GO WANT+ = VOLUNTE]S4 ,9 O!R WORDS1 :ILE JU/IFY+ ?IS DISAV[AL ( OR DI/ANC+ FROM AN>*Y ON ! GR\NDS ( LEAV+ COM=T ZONES1 ?IS IS EXACTLY :AT MANY ANTI-OPPRESSION ACTIVI/S REFUSE TO DO4 ,AFT] ALL1 VISIBLE ACTIVI/ ORGANIZATIONS >E ! EASIE/ =M ( RESI/ANCE 9 OPPRESS$ COMMUNITIES = ACTIVI/S ) COLLEGE DEGREEES TO F9D4 

,! FACT ?AT ! JOB ( !SE RE=MI/ ALLIES IS TO RECUP]ATE RESI/ANCE LEADS TO 9T]E/+ CONTRADICTIONS4 ,:5 BLACK Y\? 9 ,OAKL& RIOT$ A FEW DAYS AFT] ! KILL+ ( ,OSC> ,GRANT1 AID$ & 5C\RAG$ BY AN EMB>RASS+LY SMALL NUMB] ( AN>*I/S 7BLACK & :ITE71 ! PR(ESSIONAL ACTIVI/S 9 ! BLACK COMMUNITY WORK+ EXPLICITLY = ! =CES ( ORD] D5\NC$ ! UPRIS+ AS ! WORK ( \TSIDE :ITE AN>*I/S4 ,IT WAS !SE BLACK LEAD]S :O W]E BE+ RACI/1 BY SIL5C+ & ]AS+ ! BLACK AN>*I/S :O HELP$ KICK ?+S (F1 & PORTRAY+ ! BLACK Y\? AS MISGUID$ %EEP MANIPULAT$ BY :ITE PEOPLE4 ,BY EXT5SION1 ! ANTI-OPPRESSION ACTIVI/S :O TOOK UP ?IS RALLY+ CALL = RETREAT W]E COMPLICIT 9 ?IS RACI/ OP]ATION4 ,CONC]N$ ) APPE>ANCES & LACK+ CONFID5CE 9 !IR [N POLITICAL ANALYSIS1 !Y LAT*$ ON TO ! MO/ VISIBLE FIGUREHEADS FROM ! BLACK COMMUNITY 7:O1 CONSID]+ WE LIVE 9 A M$IA-DRIV5 SOCIETY1 W]E ! MO/ RE=MI/7 & P>ROT$ !IR L9E4 ,! M$IA1 P]CEPTIVE TO ! EFFECTIV5ESS ( ?IS TACTIC1 ADOPT$ IT TO PREEMPT RIOTS :5 ! V]DICT ( ,OSC> ,GRANT'S KILL] WAS ANN\NC$1 US+ GUILT-LAD5 LANGUAGE TO PORTRAY ALL ! POT5TIAL RIOT]S AS AN>*I/S1 & ALL ! AN>*I/S AS :ITE \TSID]S4 ,IT WORK$4 ,9 ORD] TO BE GOOD ALLIES1 MANY :ITE AN>*I/S 9 ! ,BAY /AY$ HOME DUR+ ! RIOTS4 

,BY PRIVILEG+ SOMEONE'S SK9 COLOR OV] AN AFF9ITY ) !IR POLITICAL ANALYSIS :5 *OOS+ ALLIANCES1 AN>*I/S >E MORE LIKELY TO DEF5D RACISM RA!R ?AN TO *ALL5GE IT1 BECAUSE AT ?IS PO9T MO/ PEOPLE1 REG>DLESS ( !IR COLOR1 HAVE BE5 TRA9$ TO BEHAVE 9 A WAY ?AT P]PETUATES ! SY/EM4 

,TRAUMA & ,VICTIMIZATION 

,I AM NOT HEAD+ T[>DS ! 9SULT+ & 9S5SITIVE CONCLUSION SOME PROPON5TS ( SOCIAL W> HAVE MADE :5 ,I SAY ?AT ,AM]ICAN AN>*I/S >E ?OSE :O TALK MO/ AB\T TRAUMA1 & >E ALSO ! MO/ TRAUMATIZ$4 ,LET'S NOT GO BACK TO ! DAYS ( /OIC1 EMOTIONLESS REVOLUTION>Y SACRIFICE4 ,BUT LET'S ALSO NOT IGNORE ! MASSIVE FAILURE REPRES5T$ BY \R TRAUMA4 ,TALK+ AB\T IT1 9 ! WAY WE'VE BE5 TALK+ AB\T IT1 JU/ ISN'T WORK+4 

,A FRI5D ( M9E HIT ! NAIL ON ! HEAD :5 %E SAID1 0TO HEAL FROM TRAUMA1 Y\ NE$ TO FEEL EMP[]$40 ,! ,U,S AN>*I/ MOVEM5T EXI/S )9 ONE ( ! MO/ DISEMP[]$ POLITICAL CULTURES 9 ! WORLD4 ,IT W\LD BE NO?+ LESS ?AN A N>CISSI/IC VANITY ( ?AT V]Y POLITICAL CULTURE TO SUGGE/ ! ALL-TOO-COMMON EXPLANATION ?AT ! ,/ATE1 ! ,SPECTACLE1 IS SIMPLY /RONG] 9 ?IS C\NTRY1 & SOCIETY SIMPLY WEAK]4 ,9 FACT1 ! =CES ( ORD] >E ONLY /RONG] H]E BECAUSE WE'VE BE5 LOS+ = SO LONG1 & ?AT LOS+ /REAK HAS LONG S9CE MANIFE/$ AS ANALYSIS1 AS PRACTICE4 

,SEE+ \R SOCIALIZATION AS MORE P[]FUL ?AN \R WILLS LEADS TO A NUMB] ( ]RORS4 ,! FIR/ IS ! BELIEF 9 A PURE BODY ?AT EXI/S BE=E SOCIALIZATION & HAS BE5 IRREVOCABLY IMPR9T$4 ,9 FACT !RE IS NO BODY )\T HI/ORY1 )\T RELATION%IPS1 ) IMPR9TS FROM SOCIETY4 ,BECAUSE ! BODY IS NOT & CANNOT BE ON A TRAJECTORY IDEALLY T[>DS1 & !RE=E PRACTICALLY AWAY FROM1 P]FECTION1 BUT IS ALREADY IMP]FECT$1 OPPRESSIVE SOCIALIZATION BECOMES JU/ ONE /A9 AMONG MANY1 & WE AS P]SONS BECOME MOSAICS ( SC>S ?AT1 9 SUM1 >E REALLY QUITE BEAUTIFUL1 & HELLA T\<4 

,MY PRIVILEG$ POSITION 9 SOCIETY NOT)/&+1 ,I'VE HAD MORE ?AN !ORETICAL 5C\NT]S ) TRAUMA1 & ,I'VE F\ND ?AT ,I HEAL$ BE/ :5 ,I DID NOT ID5TIFY ) ! TRAUMA OR MAKE AN ID5TITY \T ( IT4 ,! MO/ DRAMATIC REV]SAL ( A TRAUMATIC EV5T CAME :5 ,I US$ VIOL5CE AGA9/ SOMEONE :O HAD SUCCESSFULLY VICTIMIZ$ ME4 ,?IS EXP]I5CE HELP$ ME TO SEE ?AT IT IS NOT BLAM+ ! VICTIM1 BUT RA!R1 GOOD !RAPY1 TO FOCUS ON H[ DISEMP[]M5T IS SOME?+ WE *OOSE OR REJECT1 & H[ IT CAN BE REV]S$ ?R\< \R [N P]SONAL AG5CY 9 A TRAUMATIC SITUATION4 ,FRI5DS ( M9E :O HAVE ALSO HEAL$ FROM TRAUMATIC EXP]I5CES HAVE HAD SIMIL> OBS]VATIONS4 

,FRAGILE ,FRE$OM 

,ONE ASPECT ( ANTI-OPPRESSION POLITICS ,I F9D H>DE/ TO =GIVE IS ! IDEA IT HAS IMPLICITLY PROMOT$ ?AT FRE$OM IS A FRAGILE ?+ ?AT WE CREATE FIR/ 9 \R [N 9T]NAL SPACES4 ,AT A REC5T TALK ON ID5TITY POLITICS AT ! ,SEATTLE ,AN>*I/ ,BOOKFAIR1 ONE ( ! PRES5T]S TOLD ( A CONS5T WORK%OP AT AN ACTIVI/ OR AN>*I/ SPACE4 ,HE SAID IT WAS A GOOD1 IMPORTANT WORK%OP1 BUT HE WAS /RUCK BY H[ LIMIT$ ?AT SAFE SPACE WAS AFT] !Y LEFT1 :5 A FEMALE-BODI$ FRI5D WAS H>ASS$ & ?REAT5$ BY A PASS+ MOTORI/ AS !Y WALK$ AWAY4 

,FRE$OM HAS TO GO >M$4 ,\R NOTION ( FRE$OM CAN'T BE SOME?+ ?AT FALLS AP>T IF EV]Y S+LE P]SON 9VOLV$ DOES NOT FOLL[ P]FECT$ NORMS ( CONS5T4 ,SU* A NOTION1 MORE ?AN ANY ( \R FA%IONS OR SPECIALIZ$ VOCABUL>Y1 WILL IMPRISON US 9 A POLITICAL <ETTO4 ,BY TRY+ TO BANI% SEXISM & HET]OSEXISM ON ! MICRO LEVEL1 BY P]FECT+ BEHAVIORS & NORMS 9 \R CIRCLES ( FRI5DS1 WE HAVE MADE \RSELVES 9CAPABLE ( ACTUALLY 5GAG+ ) & TRANS=M+ ?OSE BEHAVIORS & NORMS \TSIDE ( \R CLIQUES1 & WE MAKE IT 9CREAS+LY DIFFICULT = \TSID]S TO COME 91 OR = ALLIES TO WORK ) US4 ,:AT WE >E LEFT ) >E A S]IES ( =TRESSES1 ?AT >E NO LESS PLAGU$ BY G5D] VIOL5CE = ALL \R EMPHASIS ON NEW RULES & PROCESSES1 9 :I* WE CAN EI!R HIDE1 FE>+ ! DAYS :5 WE HAVE TO DEAL ) \TSID]S :O WILL ASSIGN US TO A G5D] CATEGORY WE DON'T FIT 91 OR FROM :I* WE CAN MAKE VIOL5T =AYS1 A LA ,BA% ,BACK1 TO ASSAULT ! =TRESSES ( ! NORMAL4 

,I WANT TO M5TION ?AT ,I LOVE ! !ORETICAL & TACTICAL DEVELOPM5TS REPRES5T$ BY ,BA% ,BACK2 H[EV] ONE ( !IR POSSIBLE FUTURE TRAJECTORIES IS A DET5TE1 A W> ( ATTRITION1 9 :I* ! BITT]NESS ( SURR5D] IS BLUNT$ ) ! SWEETNESS ( V5GEFUL ATTACKS DIRECT$ FROM AN IDEALLY OPPRESSION-FREE 9T]NAL SPACE ?AT CAN NEV] EXP& OR EXPLODE TO 9CLUDE ALL ( SOCIETY 9 A REVOLUTION>Y WAY4 ,A MILITANT REFUSAL TO BE ASSIMILAT$1 AN 9ABILITY TO SABOTAGE ASSIMILATION 9 ! RE/ ( SOCIETY1 AN ADMIRABLE D$ICATION TO ! CONTIUNATION ( ?IS CONTRADICTION ?R\< ATTACKS ON *UR* S]VICES & GAY BUS9ESSES4 ,I BR+ UP ,BA% ,BACK BECAUSE )9 IT >E ?OSE :O >E MORE CLOSELY ALIGN$ ) A PRACTICE ( SOCIAL W> & ?OSE MORE CLOSELY ALIGN$ ) AN ANTI-OPPRESSION PRACTICE1 & SO :I* FUTURE TRAJECTORY !Y FOLL[ IS UNDECID$4 ,IT IS NOT A QUE/ION ( SPECIFIC TACTICS SO MU* AS PROJECTUALITY4 ,IF \R ACTIONS CAN FACILITATE REVOLUTION>Y SOCIAL *ANGE ONLY IF MORE & MORE PEOPLE JO9 ! 9-GR\P WE HAVE CREAT$1 WE WILL NEV] W94 

,FI<T ,OPPRESSION1 ,BURN ! ,WIT* 

,I FIR/ />T$ TO S]I\SLY D\BT ANTI-OPPRESSION POLITICS :5 ,I WITNESS$ :AT ,I REALIZ$ WAS A TYPICAL RESPONSE TO CRITICISM4 ,SOMEONE FROM \TSIDE ! MOVEM5T WAS RESPECTFULLY QUE/ION+ :E!R !RE W]5'T BETT] WAYS TO FI<T SEXISM ?AN US+ G5D]$ SPEAK]S' LI/S 9 MEET+S 75SUR+ ?AT NO MORE ?AN HALF ( ?OSE :O SPEAK >E M571 & A :ITE MAN WELL V]S$ 9 ANTI-OPPRESSION RHETORIC RESPOND$ DISMISSIVELY & RUDELY1 CALL+ ! SKEPTIC A SEXI/ & GIV+ HIM A LI/ ( RECOMM5D$ READ+S TO /UDY UP ON SO HE C\LD UND]/& SEXISM BETT]4 0,READ !SE FIR/1 !N WE'LL TALK10 WAS ! TONE ( ! REPLY4 ,9 ?IS COV]TLY ACADEMIC FRAMEWORK1 SOMEONE FROM ! \TSIDE CAN'T EV5 PROP]LY BE 5GAG$ ) UNTIL !Y >E BR\<T UP TO ! APPROPRIATE LEVEL4 

,MORE REC5TLY1 ,I WITNESS$ A DISGU/+ EX*ANGE ?AT /RUCK ME & O!R PEOPLE AS TYPICAL ( O!R EXP]I5CES WE'D HAD4 ,AT ! A=EM5TION$ WORK%OP AT ! ,SEATTLE BOOKFAIR1 ! PRES5T]S EXPLICITLY /AT$1 MULTIPLE TIMES1 ?AT !Y ?9K IT IS IMPORTANT TO FI<T AGA9/ RACISM1 SEXISM1 HOMOPHOBIA1 & O!R =MS ( OPPRESSION1 & ?AT !Y SEE NO?+ WRONG ) PEOPLE FOCUS+ ON SEXISM1 = EXAMPLE1 OR COM+ TOGE!R AS QUE] PEOPLE TO FI<T AGA9/ HET]OSEXISM4 ,H[EV]1 !Y CRITICIZ$ A NUMB] ( FEATURES ( :AT !Y LABEL$ 0ID5TITY POLITICS40 ,:ILE !Y DID NOT SUCCESSFULLY CL>IFY :AT !Y MEANT BY ?AT1 !Y GAVE PRECISE CRITICISMS ( SPECIFIC ANALYZES OR P>ADIGMS DUR+ EV]Y /EP ( !IR PRES5TATION4 

,BECAUSE !Y CRITICIZ$ ! DOM9ANT P>ADIGM = H[ TO CONFRONT OPPRESSION1 ! TALK WAS HI<LY CONTROV]SIAL4 ,ANTI-OPPRESSION ACTIVI/S :O W]E !RE SUMM>IZ$ ! PRES5TATION ?USLY3 0,!Y SAID FOCUS+ ON RACISM & SEXISM OR ?+S LIKE ?AT ONLY GETS 9 ! WAY ( ! /RUGGLE40 ,?IS IS SU* AN 9ACCURATE REPRES5TATION1 IF ,I DIDN'T KN[ ! PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE = IT ,I W\LD ASSUME IT WAS AN 9T5TIONAL OR MALICI\S LIE4 ,! ONLY O!R POSSIBILITY ,I CAN SEE IS ?AT ! OR?ODOXY ( ANTI-OPPRESSION POLITICS MAKES PRACTITION]S 9CAPABLE ( HE>+ CRITICISM )\T ASSUM+ ?AT !IR CRITIC IS BE+ OPPRESSIVE4 

,ONE >EA ,A,P,O,C MEMB]1 CAPITALIZ+ ON A RACI/ POLICE %OOT+ ?AT HAPP5$ >\ND !N TO =EGR\ND ! IMPORTANCE ( ID5TITY1 ATTACK$ ! TWO PRES5T]S1 :OM HE *>ACT]IZ$ AS A :ITE WOMAN & A HALF-LAT9O MAN 7?US UND]M9+ ! LATT]'S /ATUS AS A P]SON ( COLOR & ?US R$UC+ !IR LEGITIMACY )9 ! ANTI-OPPRESSION P>ADIGM1 AS P>T ( ! SADLY COMMON GAME1 ,D>K] ,?AN ,?\74 ,IT W\LD HAVE BE5 MU* EASI] IF ! TWO PRES5T]S HAD BE5 :ITE MALES1 BUT S9CE !Y BELONG$ TO SOME OPPRESS$ CATEGORIES 7NEV] M9D !IR CLASS BACKGR\NDS71 !Y HAD TO BE L9K$ TO :ITE MALES 9 SOME O!R WAY 9 ORD] TO IGNORE !IR ACTUAL CRITIQUES4 ,SO1 !SE TWO W]E TURN$ 9TO REPRES5TATIVES ( ! AN>*I/ GR\P TO :I* !Y SUPPOS$LY BELONG$4 7,9CID5TALLY1 ITS PREF]5CE = REPRES5TATION WAS ONE ( ! CRITICISMS ! TWO HAD ( ID5TITY POLITICS47 

,?AT AN>*I/ GR\P1 ACCORD+ TO ! ,A,P,O,C]1 WAS COMPRIS$ ( MAJORITY M5 & ONLY ONE P]SON ( COLOR 7:5 9 REALITY1 ! GR\P DOESN'T EXI/1 BUT ! CIRCLE OR SC5E HE WAS CONFUS+ IT ) 9CLUDES MULTIPLE PEOPLE ( COLOR1 MULTIPLE WOM51 & NO MAJORITIES74 ,9 O!R WORDS1 TO DEF5D ! OR?ODOX =M ( ANTI-RACISM1 ?IS P]SON HAD TO CREATE ! CATEGORY HALF-LAT9O1 TURN SEV]AL PEOPLE ( COLOR 9TO :ITE PEOPLE1 & TURN WOM5 COMRADES 9TO A SORT ( SIL5C$ M9ORITY4 ,FROM HIS DESCRIPTION1 Y\'D ?9K ! :ITE MALE MAJORITY ( ?IS NON-EXI/5T AN>*I/ GR\P HAD =C$ ! P[]LESS1 OPPRESS$ MEMB]S ( !IR GR\P TO PUBLICLY D5\NCE ID5TITY POLITICS SO !Y C\LD /OP ?9K+ AB\T PRIVILEGE & GET BACK TO RUL+ ! MOVEM5T4 ,9 ! WORDS ( ONE ( ! WORK%OP PRES5T]S1 0,I DON'T FEEL TOK5IZ$ BY ! :ITE AN>*I/S 9 .<MY CITY.> BUT ,I DO FEEL IT FROM Y\ 9 ?IS C>ICATURE Y\ PORTRAY40 

,SUPPRESSION 

,AN EMPHASIS ON MICRO DYNAMICS CAN BE HELPFUL )9 ! FRAMEWORK ,I'M AB\T TO ELABORATE1 AS AN ATT5TIV5ESS TO TACTICAL DETAILS ?AT CAN FACILITATE OR H9D] \R ATTACKS ON ! SY/EM4 ,BUT GIV5 H[ !Y'RE NUANC$ BY ANTI-OPPRESSION ACTIVI/S1 MICRO DYNAMICS BECOME A LAUNDRY LI/ ( BEHAVIORS ?AT >E OPPRESSIVE1 OR 9COMPATIBLE ) FRE$OM1 :I* IS TO CA/ FRE$OM AS A PURE /ATE ?AT IS BANI%$ BY IMPURE BEHAVIORS4 

,)9 ?IS FRAMEWORK = SOCIAL *ANGE1 ! PRIM>Y ACTIVITY = CREAT+ FRE$OM IS 9 FACT SUPPRESSION4 

,BECAUSE ( ?IS RELIANCE ON SUPPRESSION & BELIEF 9 ! FRAGILITY ( FRE$OM1 WOM5 :O TALK L\DLY & DON'T WANT TO BE PUT ON A /ACK1 DON'T WANT M5 TO /EP BACK TO MAKE ROOM = !M1 >E CALL$ 0MAN>*I/S40 ,9DIVIDUAL P]SONALITIES DISAPPE> UND] CATEGORICAL G5]ALIZATIONS1 & SU* WOM5 >E TOLD !Y >E SIMPLY ADOPT+ MASCUL9E *>ACT]I/ICS AS A COP+ /RATEGY4 ,NOT BE+ OPPRESSIVE IS BOIL$ D[N TO ADOPT+ A C]TA9 P]SONALITY TYPE ?AT1 P]HAPS1 IS NOT SO SUIT$ TO REVOLUTION>Y /RUGGLE3 BE+ S(T SPOK51 HAV+ ?9 SK91 LE>N+ & FOLL[+ GR\P NORMS1 & SUBMITT+ TO GR\P PROCESS4 

,ON ! O!R H& ,I ?9K BUILD+ A CULTURE ( RESPECT1 SOLID>ITY1 & S5SITIVITY IS VITAL4 ,9 SOME WAYS1 FRE$OM EXI/S MORE 9 ! DETAILS ?AN 9 ! AB/RACT1 & ! DETAILS >E DIFF]5T FROM ONE P]SON TO ! NEXT4 ,?IS IS A TRU? ?AT ANTI-OPPRESSION ACTIVI/S HAVE HELP$ TO =EGR\ND4 ,I DON'T AT ALL WANT TALK+ AB\T MICRO P[] DYNAMICS TO GO \T ( VOGUE1 NOR DISCUSSION ( \R SOCIALIZATION & \R P]SONAL EXP]I5CES )9 SOCIAL SETT+S4 ,BUT MAYBE WE %\LD BASE \R IDEA ( FRE$OM ON AN EXPECTATION ( CON/ANT CONFRONTATION :I* WE >E /RONG 5\< TO DEAL ) ON \R [N & ) FRI5DS1 RA!R ?AN ON AN EXPECTATION ( P]FECT$ NORMS ?AT MU/ BE UPHELD BY ! 5TIRE GR\P4 

,FRE$OM IS NOT A FRAGILE ?+4 ,IT IS ALSO NOT LACK+ 9 DISCOM=T OR CONFLICT1 BUT !SE UNPLEASANTRIES >E EXACTLY :AT WE NE$ TO GR[ /RONG]1 & /R5G? IS :AT WE NE$ TO CREATE & DEF5D FRE$OM4 

,/RATEGIC ,ALLIANCES 

,TO TALK PRIM>ILY AB\T SOCIAL W> RA!R ?AN AB\T PRIVILEGE & OPPRESSION IS TO ACKN[L$GE ?AT CAPITALISM1 ! ,/ATE1 PATRI>*Y -- ALL ( !SE 9T]CONNECT$ SY/EMS -- CON/ITUTE A W> AGA9/ ALL ( US1 & EA* & EV]Y ONE ( US HAVE A REASON TO FI<T ?IS SY/EM4 ,\R REASONS & CAPABILITIES >E NOT ! SAME1 SO WE WILL NEV] HAVE A UNIFI$ FRONT4 ,BUT WE HAVE ! POSSIBILITY TO SEEK ALLIANCES ) NE>LY EV]YONE ELSE >\ND US1 TO UND]M9E ! CONS5T & P>TICIPATION ?IS SY/EM RE/S UPON & %IELDS ITSELF )1 & TO ATTACK ITS EXPOS$ /RUCTURES & SYMBOLS4 

,AN ANALYSIS ?AT FOCUSES ON PRIVILEGE & OPPRESSION WILL 5C\RAGE A PRIM>Y RESPONSE1 AMONG OPPRESS$ PEOPLE1 ?AT AIMS AT *ALL5G+ !IR EXCLUSION FROM ! SY/EM MORE ?AN !IR EXPLOITATION BY IT4 ,AMONG PRIVILEG$ PEOPLE1 ! PRIM>Y RESPONSE IS LIKELY TO BE CONTEMPLATIVE OR $UCATIONAL4 

,AN ANALYSIS ?AT =EGR\NDS SOCIAL W> WILL 5C\RAGE A PRIM>Y RESPONSE ( (F5SIVE OR DEF5SIVE ACTION FROM ONE'S UNIQUE POSITION 9 SOCIETY1 C\PL$ ) ! SEEK+ ( SUBV]SIVE ALLIANCES4 ,TO />T )1 ?IS IS A F> MORE EMP[]$ & REALI/IC PRACTICE1 BECAUSE EA* ( US >E ! PRIM>Y AG5TS 9 \R [N /RUGGLES1 & EA* ( US >E DECL>+ WE >E /RONG 5\< TO FI<T BACK4 ,9 ORD] TO BE EFFECTIVE1 WE HAVE TO ACQUA9T \RSELVES 9TIMATELY ) ! SOCIAL T]RA9 ON :I* WE /RUGGLE1 :I* WILL LEAD TO A SIMIL> AW>5ESS ( HI/ORY1 SOCIALIZATION1 & P[] DYNAMICS1 BUT )\T ! GUILT ?AT ACCOMPANIES ! ANTI-OPPRESSION PRACTICE4 

,WE RECOGNIZE ?AT ! SY/EM PRIVILEGES SOME ( US1 BUT ?IS IS SOME?+ ?AT IS IMPOS$1 & SOME?+ WE REJECT1 RA!R ?AN SOME?+ WE VIEW AS 9H]+ TO US = ! RE/ ( \R LIVES4 ,H]E'S AN IMPORTANT DI/9CTION3 Y\ FI<T SOME?+ IMPOS$ ON Y\4 ,Y\ TAKE RESPONSIBILITY = SOME?+ ?AT BELONGS TO Y\4 ,WE DID NOT CREATE ?IS SY/EM1 & FROM N[ ON WE DO NOT ACCEPT ITS CLAIMS TO US4 ,PRECISELY BECAUSE PRIVILEGE IS NOT SOME?+ VOLUNT>Y1 IT IS NOT SOME?+ WE CAN SIMPLY DISMISS1 BUT WE RECOGNIZE ?IS AS A RESULT ( HI/ORICAL /RUGGLES1 & A TACTICAL REALITY ON ! BATTLEFIELD4 

,IT IS NO CO9CID5CE ?AT :IT5ESS WAS CREAT$ AT A TIME ( MAJOR SOCIAL REVOLTS 9 ,EUROPE & ANTI-COLONIAL REVOLTS 9 ! ,AM]ICAS1 AT A TIME :5 ! RUL+ CLASS NE$$ EV] GREAT] P>TICIPATION 9 ITS PROJECT ( DOM9ATION4 ,NEI!R IS IT A CO9CID5CE ?AT PATRI>*Y EXP]I5C$ A QUALITATIVE LEAP =W>D 9 ?AT ]A4 ,MU* LIKE HI<] WAGES1 PRIVILEGES ( G5D] & SK9 COLOR >E 9 FACT CONCESSIONS ?AT HAVE BE5 WON BY PA/ /RUGGLES1 BUT LIKE ALL CONCESSIONS1 !Y W]E DESIGN$ TO WEAK5 REBELLION1 9 ?IS CASE BY DIVID+ IT & 5C\RAG+ GREAT] PORTIONS ( SOCIETY TO ID5TIFY ) !IR RUL]S4 ,BUT ALSO LIKE ALL CONCESSIONS1 !Y (F] NEW POSSIBILITIES IF WE REFUSE TO SEE !M AS A GIFT GIV5 TO US1 & 9/EAD VIEW !M AS WEAPONS WE HAVE /OL54 

,PEOPLE :O >E PRIVILEG$ BY ! SY/EM CAN FEEL GUILTY AB\T ?IS1 OR WE CAN USE !SE PRIVILEGES TO ATTACK ! SY/EM4 ,?OSE ( US ) :ITE SK9 DON'T FACE AS MU* ATT5TION FROM ! POLICE OR /ORE SECURITY4 ,WE C\LD SAY1 !RE=E1 ?AT IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO %OPLIFT4 ,OR WE C\LD ROB ?OSE /ORES BL9D1 SELL ! M]*1 & DONATE ! PROCE$S TO \R [N /RUGGLES & ! /RUGGLES ( PEOPLE :O CAN'T %OPLIFT SO EASILY4 ,BY US+ PRIVILEGE AS A WEAPON RA!R ?AN OBSESS+ OV] IT1 WE ACTUALLY UND]M9E IT1 BECAUSE /ORES ?AT 9T5TIONALLY CONDUCT RACIAL PR(IL+ OR MORE PASSIVELY GIVE 9 TO ! COMMON PREJUDICES WILL BE HURT ECONOMICALLY4 ,IF !Y %IFT SURVEILLANCE TO WELL DRESS$ :ITE %OPP]S1 !N :ITE PRIVILEGE1 :I* HELPS PREV5T REBELLION1 ]ODES A LITTLE4 

,BY SEE+ RACE NOT AS ESS5TIAL CATEGORIES OR =MS ( SOCIALIZATION WE HAVE TO [N UP TO1 BUT AS C\NT]REVOLUTION>Y ALLIANCES ?AT NEV] SUCCE$ 9 NEGAT+ \R [N AG5CY1 ! ,PH5IX ,CLASS ,W> ,C\NCIL A*IEV$ A VICTORY ( A MAGNITUDE ,I'VE NEV] SE5 COME \T ( PRIVILEGE WORK%OPS4 ,!Y APPROA*$ :ITE LIB]T>IANS :O G5]ALLY REMA9$ )9 RI<T W+ COALITIONS1 & CALL$ ON !M TO HONOR !IR [N PR9CIPLES BY JO9+ !M 9 A PROTE/ AGA9/ NEO-NAZIS :O W]E CAPITALIZ+ ON ANTI-IMMIGRANT RACISM ) A X5OPHOBIC RALLY4 ,! LIB]T>IANS %[$ UP1 & HELP$ DRIVE ! NAZIS \T ( T[N4 ,SUBSEQU5TLY1 ! ,PH5IX AN>*I/S 9T]V5$ AGA91 & CALL$ ON ! :ITE LIB]T>IANS TO /& TRUE TO !IR OPPOSITION TO BIG GOV]NM5T BY JO9+ !M 9 A PROTE/ AGA9/ ! MILIT>IZATION ( ! BORD]S1 :I* WAS ALSO AN IMMIGRANT SOLID>ITY PROTE/4 ,MANY ( !M CAME \T1 MUT9Y+ AGA9/ ! ALLIANCES ( :ITE SUPREMACY4 7,ONE MI<T >GUE ?AT ?IS MOM5TUM WAS L>GELY DE/ROY$ BY ! LEFTI/ ,BOYCOTT ,>IZONA CAMPAIGN1 :I* HAD A WAT]$ D[N POLITICS1 WAS BAS$ ON %AM+ & GUILT1 & GAVE ALL ,>IZONA CITIZ5S1 I4E4 FROM ! NAZIS TO ! LIB]T>IANS1 CAUSE TO UNITE74 

,) ?IS DIFF]5T NUANC+1 BE+ A GOOD ALLY MEANS FI<T+ = Y\R [N REASONS1 UNAPOLOGETICALLY1 & FAMILI>IZ+ Y\RSELF ) Y\R CAPABILITIES AS COMP>$ ) ! CAPABILITIES ( Y\R ALLIES1 LOOK+ = WAYS TO ACKN[L$GE !SE DIFF]5CES BUT MAKE !M COMPLEM5T>Y4 ,:AT'S REQUIR$1 ABOVE ALL1 IS F9D+ ALLIES :O ACTUALLY %>E AFF9ITY ) Y\1 :ILE BREAK+ UP ! ALLIANCES ?AT PROTECT ! SY/EM4 ,?IS MEANS WORK+ 9 BROAD] CAMPAIGNS1 )\T A HAU<TY & 9SUL> DISDA9 = 0LEFTI/S10 BUT ALSO )\T ! DI%ONE/ & HYPOCRITICAL SUPPRESSION ( ONE'S [N POLITICAL ID5TITY1 ONE'S [N REASONS = /RUGGL+ 7:I* HAS BECOME SECOND NATURE = ! HUNDR$S ( AN>*I/S :O WORK 9 O!R PEOPLE'S CAMPAIGNS & P>ROT SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC RHETORIC RA!R ?AN OP5LY EXPRESS+ !IR [N IDEAS & RADICAL CRITIQUES74 

,TOO MANY ANTI-AU?ORIT>IANS S]VE AS ! SUPPORT]S & %OCK TROOPS = RE=MI/ CAMPAIGNS ?AT CAN ONLY HUMANIZE ! PRISON SY/EM1 ! BORD]S1 ! ,W> ON ,T]ROR1 :5 :AT WE MU/ DO IS SPEAK OP5LY AB\T ! NE$ TO ABOLI% !SE ?+S1 & LOOK = WAYS ?AT \R P>TICIPATION 9 !SE CAMPAIGNS CAN OP5 REVOLUTION>Y PA?S RA!R ?AN FOLL[+ RE=MI/ DEAD-5DS4 ,IF WE DON'T HAVE \R [N REASONS = HAT+ ! BORD]1 >E WE (F]+ ANY MORE ?AN *>ITY BY TAK+ P>T 9 A CAMPAIGN TO S(T5 IT8 ,& :AT >E WE ADMITT+ AB\T ! DEP? ( \R ALLIANCES :5 WE DON'T TALK OP5LY AB\T ! NE$ = A WORLD ) NO BORD]S8 ,H[ MU* DO WE TRULY RESPECT ! PEOPLE WE >E WORK+ ) IF WE'RE HID+ \R ACTUAL DREAMS & MOTIVATIONS FROM !M8 

,EXP]I5CE 9 O!R PLACES HAS %[N ?AT BY BE+ AN UNCOMPROMIS+ =CE1 SAY+ ! ?+S NO ONE ELSE W\LD SAY1 & MILITANTLY PU%+ ! 5VELOPE1 AFT] ! 9ITIAL CONFLICTS & >GUM5TS O!R PEOPLE WILL COME TO APPRECIATE AN>*I/ SOLID>ITY BECAUSE \R PRES5CE GIVES /R5G? TO A /RUGGLE1 MU* ! SAME WAY ?AT MO/ ( ,M>T9 ,LU!R ,K+4 ,JR4'S RE=MI/ VICTORIES CAN BE *ALK$ UP TO ?OSE :O F\<T MORE =CEFULLY = SOME?+ MORE RADICAL4 

,9 O!R WORDS1 ! PRAGMATIC >GUM5TS AB\T ! IMM$IACY ( HUMAN SUFF]+ 9 C]TA9 /RUGGLES1 & ! NE$ TO APPROA* ?OSE TIMIDLY1 FALL %ORT1 BECAUSE BY SIL5C+ \R RADICAL CRITIQUE1 WE 5SURE ?AT RE=MISM & RECUP]ATION WILL MA9TA9 ! PROBLEM 9DEF9ITELY1 & BY NOT MANIFE/+ A ?REAT5+ =CE WE 5SURE ?AT ! SY/EM WILL HAVE LITTLE MOTIVATION TO DECREASE ! HUMAN SUFF]+ 9 ! %ORT T]M4 

,IT DES]VES TO BE M5TION$ ?AT ONE ( ! L>GE/ AMNE/IES = ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS 9 REC5T DECADES1 ?AT WAS NOT LOBBI$ = BY BUS9ESS 9T]E/S1 HAPP5$ 9 ,GREECE1 AFT] AN>*I/S & O!RS VIOL5TLY & UNCOMPROMIS+LY ROSE UP AGA9/ ALL ASPECTS ( ! SY/EM ( DOM9ATION1 & IMMIGRANTS TOOK P>T 9 ?AT UPRIS+4 ,DESPITE BE+ ! MO/ VULN]ABLE OR AT RISK1 !Y W]E FREQU5TLY ! MO/ VIOL5T & RECKLESS1 ONCE ! HUMANIT>IAN1 RE=MI/ LEAD]%IP :O G5]ALLY M$IAT$ !IR RAGE WAS PROV5 OBSOLETE4 

,BY COM+ \T ( ! CLOSET1 AN>*I/S CAN DISCOV] :O \R REAL ALLIES >E4 ,AMONG ! LEFTI/S1 WE CAN DI/+UI% ! POLITICIANS FROM ! S9C]E ONES1 & WE CAN SET A TONE ( RADICAL DIRECT ACTION ?AT MAKES IT EASI] = PEOPLE 9 MORE PREC>I\S POSITIONS TO COME \T 9 SUPPORT ( ?AT APPROA*4 ,BY SPEAK+ AB\T ! ABOLITION ( BORD]S & PRISONS & ! ,/ATE & CREAT+ A MAT]IAL =CE 9 SOCIETY1 ) ITS CREATIVE_/SUPPORTIVE & NEGATIVE_/DE/RUCTIVE ASPECTS1 WE MAKE ?OSE RADICAL IDEAS A REAL POSSIBILITY & CREATE AN EXIT FROM ! TIMELESS CYCLES ( GUILT1 RE=M1 RECUP]ATION1 & ID5TIFICATION ) ! V]Y SY/EM ?AT MAKES LIV+ IMPOSSIBLE = ALL ( US4 

,SUGGE/IONS = REAL SOLID>ITY 

,LET'S PICK A REAL LIFE SITUATION4 ,A ,U,S CITY1 A PROTE/ AGA9/ ! POLICE 9 ! WAKE ( YET ANO!R %OOT+4 ,AMONG ! SMALL CR[D1 !RE'S A GR\P ( HOMELESS Y\?1 SOME AN>*I/S 9 A BLACK BLOC1 & O!RS4 ,!RE >E NO POLITICIANS H]E1 NO C\NT]REVOLUTION>IES1 JU/ V>I\S PEOPLE ) DIFF]+ REASONS TO P>TICIPATE1 ALL ( !M S9C]E4 ,MANY ( ! PEOPLE DON'T KN[ ONE ANO!R1 H[EV]2 IT'S SOME?+ LIKE ! CO9CID5CE ( SEP>ATE ISL&S1 & :5 !Y GO !IR SEP>ATE WAYS1 FEW IF ANYONE HAS MET A /RANG] OR MADE A NEW FRI5D4 

,AT ONE PO9T1 SOMEONE TRIES TO PULL AT LEA/ TWO ( ! HOMELESS Y\? 9TO ! /REET1 :]E ! BLACK BLOC >E BLOCK+ TRAFFIC4 ,MANY IF NOT MO/ ( ! PEOPLE DO NOT NOTICE ?IS 9CID5T4 ,?IS UPSETS ! HOMELESS Y\?1 AS !Y HAVE DECID$ TO /AY ON ! SIDEWALKS = !IR [N SAFETY2 !Y HAVE NO %ORTAGE ( OPPORTUNITIES TO CONFRONT ! POLICE4 ,DESPITE ?IS %[ ( DISRESPECT1 AT ! 5D ( ! PROTE/ !Y TALK AB\T HAV+ HAD AN OV]:ELM+LY POSITIVE EXP]I5CE /&+ UP TO ! POLICE & />T+ LONG-LA/+ CONV]SATIONS AB\T POLICE VIOL5CE4 

,LAT]1 AN >GUM5T DEVELOPS BETWE5 AN>*I/S OR ANTI-AU?ORIT>IANS1 SOME ( :OM :O ID5TIFY MORE CLOSELY ) A PRACTICE ( ID5TITY POLITICS OR ANTI-OPPRESSION1 O!RS :O ID5TIFY MORE CLOSELY ) A PRACTICE ( 9SURRECTION OR SOCIAL W>4 ,! SAME OLD >GUM5TS COME \T4 0,! BLACK BLOC TRI$ TO =CE PEOPLE 9TO ! /REETS1 !Y 5DANG]$ PEOPLE ) !IR TACTICS40 0,!Y W]E BE+ FUCK$ UP40 0,!Y'RE JU/ PRIVILEG$10 0/RAI<T :ITE M50 ETC4 ,EV5 ?\< NOT ! BLACK BLOC BUT ONE P]SON WAS 9VOLV$ 9 PULL+1 & ! BLACK BLOC WAS NEI!R ALL :ITE NOR ALL MALE1 & POSSIBLY DID NOT 9CLUDE ANY /RAI<T PEOPLE AT ALL4 ,& EV5 ?\< SOME PEOPLE :O LAT] MADE !SE >GUM5TS SAW ! PULL+ GO+ ON & DIDN'T 9T]V5E1 !Y JU/ BLAM$ O!RS = IT4 

,& ON ! O!R SIDE3 0,I CALL BULL%IT10 0?AT'S JU/ ID5TITY POLITICS10 0!Y'RE JU/ TRY+ TO PACIFY \R RESPONSE10 0!Y CLAIM$ ! BLACK BLOC WAS 5DANG]+ PEOPLE JU/ BY TAK+ ! /REETS10 EV5 ?\< IT WASN'T AB\T TAK+ ! /REETS BUT SOMEONE TRY+ TO =CE O!RS TO DO SO1 & SOMEONE )9 !IR FRI5D%IP CIRCLE REPORT$ HE>+ AB\T ! PULL+ 9CID5T DIRECTLY FROM ! M\?S ( TWO ( ! HOMELESS Y\?4 

,TWO WELL KN[N GAMES MAKE COMMUNICATION IMPOSSIBLE3 ! PRIVILEGE GAME1 & ! MORE-MILITANT-?AN-?\ GAME4 ,9 ! FIR/1 ANY UNOR?ODOX IDEA AB\T H[ TO CONFRONT OPPRESSION IS SAID TO BE A PRODUCT ( PRIVILEGE1 & AN ATTEMPT TO PRES]VE OPPRESSIVE DYNAMICS4 ,9 ! SECOND1 ANY CRITICISM ( A MILITANT OR ILLEGAL ACTION IS SAID TO BE A MOVE T[>DS RE=MISM & PACIFICATION4 

,IT SEEMS CLE> ?AT !SE BOXES & >GUM5TS EXI/ PRIM>ILY TO RESCUE US FROM COMPLICAT$ SITUATIONS3 CONFRONT+ DISRESPECTFUL BEHAVIORS RA!R ?AN JU/ D5\NC+ !M1 OR FEEL+ JUDG$ BY ?OSE C>RY+ \T MORE RISKY ACTIONS1 ON ! ONE H&2 & ON ! O!R1 TAK+ CRITICISMS S]I\SLY & HUMBLY1 & UND]/&+ & SUPPORT+ O!R PEOPLE'S TACTICS4 

,I ?9K EV]YONE IS TIR$ ( ! DI*OTOMY BETWE5 NEGATION & CREATION4 ,IT'S CLI*E = ANTI-AU?ORIT>IANS !SE DAYS TO ADMIT ?AT WE NE$ TO TE> SOME %IT D[N & BUILD O!R /UFF UP4 ,WE'RE NOT ALL ON ! SAME PAGE1 & !RE'S /ILL WOR?:ILE DEBATES TO BE HAD >\ND NIHILISM2 ! IDEA ( ALT]NATIVES1 BLUEPR9TS1 & PROCESSES V]SUS COMMUNES1 VISIONS1 & CAPACITIES2 BUT HOPEFULLY WE CAN ALL SEE ?AT !RE >E PL5TY ( PEOPLE ON ! O!R SIDE ( !SE DEBATES :O1 EV5 IF !Y >E MAK+ A REAL /RATEGIC MI/AKE1 >E /RUGGL+ S9C]ELY & HAVE !IR HE>TS 9 ! SAME PLACE AS \RS1 :I* IS (T5 MORE IMPORTANT1 BECAUSE IT'S MU* EASI] TO SEE A /RATEGIC MI/AKE ?AN TO ACTUALLY BE RI<T AB\T IT2 !RE=E EXCOMMUNICAT+ EV]YONE WE BELIEVE TO BE GUILTY ( /RATEGIC MI/AKES IS MORE LIKELY TO RESULT 9 HYP]-FRAGM5T$ SECT>IANISM ?AN 9 GOOD1 EFFECTIVE /RATEGIES PUT 9TO PRACTICE4 

,IT %\LD ALSO BE EASY TO SEE ?AT SO MU* ( !SE >GUM5TS IS A QUE/ION ( TEMP]AM5T4 ,SOME PEOPLE PREF] ACTS ( CREATION1 HEAL+1 & SUPPORT2 O!RS PREF] ACTS ( NEGATION1 DE/RUCTION1 & ATTACK4 ,?IS IS GREAT1 BECAUSE WE NE$ IT ALL4 

,SO :AT W\LD REAL SOLID>ITY1 & A REAL DIV]SITY ( TACTICS LOOK LIKE8 ,! FIR/ /EP IS TO ABOLI% ANY HI]>*Y ( TACTICS4 ,! RISKI] & MORE EXCIT+ TACTICS >E NOT ! MO/ IMPORTANT ONES1 & NOT ! ONLY ONES DES]V+ DIRECT SUPPORT4 

,WE'VE HAD TO PUT UP ) AU?ORIT>IAN1 RE=MI/ PACIFI/S CONTROLL+ PROTE/ M>*ES = SO LONG1 ?AT IT BECOMES EASY TO VIEW A PROTE/ M>* OR SOME O!R MANIFE/ATION ( A SOCIAL MOVEM5T AS JU/ A TOOL1 A COV] TO GET \R RIOT ON4 ,BUT WE HAVE NO HOPE ( SUBV]T+ ! CONTROL ( ! 9/ITUTIONALIZ$ ,LEFT & =M+ REAL RELATION%IPS ( SOLID>ITY ) A BROAD NETWORK ( PEOPLE 9 /RUGGLE IF WE HOLD ON TO ?IS >ROGANT1 UTILIT>IAN VIEW4 

,9 ! PROTE/ ,I M5TION ABOVE1 NOT ONLY ! BLACK BLOC BUT ALL ! PEOPLE PRES5T DES]V$ DIRECT SUPPORT = ! TYPE ( 9VOLVEM5T !Y *OSE4 ,! LESS MILITANT W]E NOT SIMPLY ! BOTTOM ( A PYRAMID HOLD+ UP ! MORE MILITANT4 ,AS SOMEONE :O WORKS AT A DROP-9 C5T] ) ?OSE HOMELESS Y\? PUT IT1 = SOME PEOPLE PRES5T IT WAS REVOLUTION>Y TO TAKE ! /REETS OR ATTACK ! POLICE2 & = ! HOMELESS Y\? IT WAS REVOLUTION>Y TO TAKE A PUBLIC /& AGA9/ ! POLICE & YELL AT !M1 BECAUSE ( H[ DIFF]5T ?IS P[] DYNAMIC IS FROM !IR EV]YDAY EXP]I5CE4 ,RISK IS DIFF]5T = EV]Y P]SON 9VOLV$1 BAS$ ON !IR /&+ 9 V>I\S SOCIAL HI]>*IES4 ,OPPRESS$ PEOPLE >E NOT FRAGILE1 VULN]ABLE1 OR UNABLE TO P>TICIPATE 9 DANG]\S1 VIOL5T RESI/ANCE1 AS MANY SPOKESPEOPLE ( ANTI-OPPRESSION POLITICS HAVE CLAIM$1 AGA9 & AGA91 IMPLICITLY & EXPLICITLY4 ,H[EV]1 DIFF]5T PEOPLE DO FACE DIFF]5T *OICES 9 ! EXACT SAME SITUATIONS1 & WE ALL NE$ TO BE AW>E ( ?AT4 

,I WANT TO GO BACK TO ! IDEA ?AT IT WAS 0REVOLUTION>Y0 = ?OSE FOLKS TO SIMPLY YELL AT ! POLICE4 ,?IS IS TRUE 9S(> AS IT GIVES !M A S5SE ( !IR [N P[]4 ,MANY PEOPLE MI<T SC(F AT ! LIMIT$ SCOPE ( ?IS 0REVOLUTION>Y0 VICTORY1 BUT WE %\LD CONSID] ?AT RIOTS >E (T5 CLAIM$ AS M9OR VICTORIES ON ! BASIS ( H[ !Y MAKE PEOPLE FEEL4 ,?IS %\LD NOT BE UND]E/IMAT$3 IF WE FEEL WEAK & DEMORALIZ$1 WE WILL NEV] W94 

,NO S+LE TACTIC %\LD EV] BE EXPECT$1 ON REPETITION1 TO LEAD TO REVOLUTION4 ,EV]Y SUCCESSFUL TACTIC SIMPLY OP5S NEW DOORS1 ?AT REQUIRE O!R TACTICS 9 ORD] TO WALK ?R\<4 ,HOMELESS KIDS YELL+ AT ! POLICE UND\BT$LY OP5 A DOOR ?AT LEADS 9 ! RI<T DIRECTION4 ,BE+ ABLE TO FI<T ! POLICE & BEAT !M 9 ! /REETS IS A SUBSEQU5T DOOR ?R\< :I* ALL REVOLUTION>Y /RUGGLES MU/ BE ABLE TO PASS4 ,! SIMPLE ACT ( YELL+ AT POLICE CAN BE CLAIM$ AS REVOLUTION>Y1 BUT ONLY IF WE >E WILL+ TO BUILD (F ( :AT IS WON & LOOK = ! NEXT /EPS ?AT LEAD TO A SOCIAL TRANS=MATION ?AT ACTUALLY DES]VES ! NAME 0REVOLUTION40 

,?OSE :O >E P>TICIPAT+ 9 LESS COMBATIVE =MS ( /RUGGLE CAN HELP 5D ?IS DIVIDE BY MORE VOCALLY SUPPORT+ COMBATIVE ACTIONS4 ,REPRESSION WORKS BY DIVID+ ! /RUGGLE1 & ?OSE :O FOCUS ON MORE CREATIVE OR %ORT-T]M ORGANIZ+ (T5 HELP ?IS PROCESS ( ISOLATION OCCUR4 ,ON ! O!R H&1 ?OSE :O FOCUS ON ! MORE DE/RUCTIVE SIDE ( ! /RUGGLE (T5 5SURE !IR [N ISOLATION BY DISRESPECT+ ! WORK ( !IR POT5TIAL ALLIES4 

,! WORK ( SUPPORT+ PRISON]S1 SUPPORT+ O!R PEOPLE 9 /RUGGLE1 COMMUNICAT+ & BUILD+ RELATION%IPS ) O!R GR\PS1 & MAK+ AN>*I/ CRITIQUES & PROJECTS VISIBLE IS AS IMPORTANT & AS H]OIC AS SABOTAGE & /REET FI<TS4 ,9SURRECTIONS !MSELVES CONSI/ ( ALL ( !SE1 NOT JU/ ! LATT]1 MORE OBVI\S ACTS4 

,PEOPLE :O WORK 9 ! COMMUNITY CAN HELP BUILD A REAL CULTURE ( /RUGGLE IF !Y DO NOT FALL 9TO ! TRAP ( PRAGMATISM1 IF !Y RISK FRI<T5+ SOME POT5TIAL ALLIES BY VOCALLY & VISIBLY VALU+ REVOLUTION>Y /RUGGLES4 ,PEOPLE :O FI<T 9 ! /REETS CAN UND]M9E ALI5ATION BY BUILD+ RELATION%IPS ) ?OSE :O DO NOT P>TICIPATE 9 SU* =MS ( /RUGGLE1 & BY MORE VOCALLY APPRECIAT+ & HONOR+ SUPPORT WORK & CREATIVE =MS ( /RUGGLE4 ,& ?OSE :O FEEL 9CL9$ CAN 5GAGE 9 BO? CREATIVE & DE/RUCTIVE =MS ( /RUGGLE1 ]AS+ A L9E ?AT %\LD NEV] HAVE BE5 DRAWN4 

,) ALL ?IS 9 M9D1 H]E >E SOME SUGGE/IONS = DEVELOP+ REAL SOLID>ITY3 

,/UDY Y\R SITUATION1 TO UND]/& 9 :AT WAYS ! SY/EM OPPRESSES Y\1 9 :AT WAYS IT TRIES TO BUY Y\ (F1 & H[ O!R PEOPLE >\ND Y\ MAY FACE A DIFF]5T SITUATION4 

,MAKE ALLIANCES ) ?OSE Y\ CAN WORK BE/ ) BAS$ ON Y\R [N GOALS1 & BE UPFRONT AB\T ?OSE GOALS4 

,MA9TA9 CONNECTIONS ) PEOPLE :O ?9K & /RUGGLE DIFF]5TLY4 

,ESPECIALLY = :ITE PEOPLE & M51 ACTIVELY SUBV]T ! ALLIANCES ?AT 9DUCE PRIVILEG$ PEOPLE TO BE LOYAL TO ! SY/EM4 

,= ?OSE ) MORE ACCESS TO RES\RCES1 SPREAD ?OSE RES\RCES TO PEOPLE 9 /RUGGLE :O HAVE LESS ACCESS4 

  

.<#a.> ,CRAIG ,CALH\N 7#a#i#i#d71 ,SOCIAL ,!ORY & ! ,POLITICS ( ,ID5TITY1 P4#a#c1 PP4#b#h-#b#i4 ,! ,J>A* >TICLE ,I REF] TO IS 0,ESS5TIALISM & ,ID5TITY ,POLITICS0 9 ,AN>*Y #bf ,MAGAZ9E NO4#e#h1 #b#d4 

,FROM 3 ,!,AN>*I/,LIBR>Y4ORG4 

,*RONOLOGY 3 
,JANU>Y #b1 #bba 3 ,L9ES 9 ,S& -- ,ADD$4 
,JANU>Y #f1 #bbb 3 ,L9ES 9 ,S& -- ,UPDAT$4 

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