,%>+ ! ,PA9S1 ,9DIGNITIES & ,ANG] 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,FIR/ ( ,MAY ,AN>*I/ ,ALLIANCE 

,TEXT 3 

,COMRADES1 

,?IS IS AN 9T]E/+ 9T]VIEW ) \R COMRADE ,MIRIAM 7,M#a ,DETROIT7 ON H] HI/ORY ( 0,9DU/RIALIZATION0 ) H] ORGANIZATION AT ! TIME ! ,REVOLUTION>Y ,SOCIALI/ ,LEAGUE4 0,9DU/RIALIZATION0 WAS ! T]M ?AT ! ,LEFT US$ TO DESCRIBE ! /RATEGY ( GETT+ MA9LY ,UNIV]SITY & C\NT]-CULTURE Y\? ACTIVI/S TO COMMIT TO PO9T-(-PRODUCTION ORGANIZ+ 9 FACTORIES AS P>T ( ! WORK+-CLASS4 ,IT WAS DIFF]5T ?AN :AT IS TODAY KN[N AS 0SALT+0 - AS 0,9DU/RIALIZATION0 WAS NOT USUALLY SE5 AS A %ORT-T]M /9T >\ND A SPECIFIC CAMPAIGN1 BUT RA!R A LONG-T]M COMMITM5T TO BUILD+ A REVOLUTION>Y PRES5CE 9 ! CLASS4 

,! ORGANIZ$ 5TRANCE ( A FEW HUNDR$ REVOLUTION>IES 9TO ! 9DU/RIAL WORK+-CLASS WAS ONE ( ! FACTORS 7ALONG ) ! ,BLACK ,P[] CONSCI\SNESS1 RETURN+ ,VIETNAM VETS1 & ! BROAD 9FLU5CE ( ! C\NT]-CULTURE7 9 ! UPSURGE 9 RADICAL /RUGGLE 9 ! WORKPLACE4 ,9 SOME SECTIONS ( ! ,LEFT 0,9DU/RIALIZATION0 WAS 5C\RAG$ 9 A TOP-D[N1 AU?ORIT>IAN MANN]4 ,MANY ,NEW ,LEFT-]A ACTIVI/S :O 0,9DU/RIALIZ$0 DID 5D UP LEAV+ WORK+-CLASS JOBS = ACADEMIA & ! PR(ESSIONS AFT] SOME TIME SP5T 9 ! FACTORIES4 ,O!RS EV5TUALLY MADE HOME = !MSELVES )9 ! ,UNION BUREAUCRACY & LEFT RADICAL POLITICS BEH9D4 

,MIRIAM AGREES ?AT ?IS 9T]VIEW CAN BE PO/$ WIDELY1 9 ORD] TO %>E LESSONS & SP>K DISCUSSION4 ,%E ADDS3 

0,IF WE HAD HAD AN AN>*I/ UND]/&+ ( BOTTOM UP ORGANIZ+1 9CORPORAT+ COMMUNITY WORK WE C\LD MAYBE HAVE GOTT5 F>!R4 ,LESSONS 9DE$60 

,SOLID>ITY1 

,KI]AN 

,PRELIM9>Y ,9T]VIEW ,QUE/IONS3 

,DID Y\ 9DU/RIALIZE AS P>T ( AN ORGANIZATION OR A GR\P8 

  

,YES1 AS P>T ( ! ,REVOLUTION>Y ,SOCIALI/ ,LEAGUE4.<#a.> 

,IF AS A GR\P1 :5 DID Y\R GR\P BEG9 S5D+ COMRADES 9TO 9DU/RY8 ,:Y DID Y\ ALL TAKE ?IS 0TURN0 TO 9DU/RY1 SO TO SPEAK8 

  

,! ,DETROIT BRAN* ( ! ,REVOLUTION>Y ,SOCIALI/ ,LEAGUE BEGAN 9DU/RIALIZ+ 9 #a#i#g#d-#g#e4 ,WE FELT IT IMP]ATIVE TO GET WORK 9 ! AUTO FACTORIES1 WORK ALONGSIDE1 GET TO KN[ & RECRUIT AUTO WORK]S TO ! REVOLUTION>Y CAUSE4 

,:I* 9DU/RIES DID Y\ & Y\R COMRADES T>GET 9 P>TICUL>1 & :Y8 ,WAS !RE ANY DISCUSSION AB\T S]VICE OR AGRICULTURAL LABOR8 

  

,! AUTO 9DU/RY WAS T>GET$ 9 ,DETROIT4 ,WE ALSO HAD CADRE 9 ! PO/ (FICE4 ,! ,*ICAGO BRAN* HAD WORK]S 9 /EEL & AUTO4 ,! ,NEW ,YORK BRAN* HAD PEOPLE 9 AUTO & ! PO/ (FICE4 ,WE W]E LOOK+ = ! L>G] UNIONS1 :]E WE C\LD POSSIBLY HAVE A NATIONAL IMPACT4 ,WE LOOK$ = A DIV]SE WORK=CE4 

,:Y DID Y\ P]SONALLY DECIDE TO 9DU/RIALIZE8 ,WAS ?IS A P]SONAL *OICE OR DID Y\R GR\P DIRECT ITS MEMB]S 9TO 9DU/RIALIZATION8 

  

,I WAS ASK$ IF ,I WANT$ TO MOVE TO ! ,MIDWE/ & GO TO WORK 9 ! FACTORY4 ,I WAS 9 MY E>LY #bS1 NE$$ WORK & ?\<T ?IS C\LD WORK = ME4 

,:]E DID Y\ 9DU/RIALIZE8 ,:Y8 ,WAS ?IS ALSO Y\R *OICE8 

  

,:5 ,I MOV$ TO ,DETROIT 9 #a#i#g#e1 ,I FIR/ GOT A JOB AT ! PO/ (FICE4 ,I WAS HIR$ AS AN ,N,T,E 7NOT TO EXCE$ #hi DAYS7 & REHIR$ ON ?AT BASIS #c TIMES4 ,WE W]E NOT ALL[$ TO P>TICIPATE 9 ! UNION4 ,I ATTEMPT$ TO GO TO UNION MEET+S & DID A LITTLE AGITATION >\ND ?AT4 ,:5 ,I WAS CALL$ = AN 9T]VIEW AT ,G5]AL ,MOTORS1 ,I MADE ?AT MOVE & BEGAN WORK AT ,G,M 9 #a#i#g#f4 ,I WAS #bf YE>S OLD1 ONE ( V]Y FEW WOM5 9 ! PLANT1 ONE ( EV5 FEW] ,JEWS1 A CLOSET$ LESBIAN4 

,:AT W]E Y\R OBJECTIVES1 BO? %ORT T]M & LONG T]M1 9 9DU/RIALIZ+8 

  

,MY FIR/ OBJECTIVE WAS TO MAKE A LIFE = MYSELF1 A SECURE JOB1 FRI5DS1 A SAFE PLACE TO LIVE4 ,)9 ?AT WE NE$$ A REVOLUTION TO *ANGE ! WAY ! SY/EM WORKS1 & ,I SAW IT AS MY JOB TO TALK ?AT IDEA UP1 TO CONV9CE PEOPLE WE W]E RI<T & TO JO9 ) US1 9 !IR [N 9T]E/S4 

,DID !SE *ANGE8 ,:Y8 

  

,9 ! LATE #a#i#hS ,I SUFF]$ POLITICAL BURN\T4 ,I MADE LIFE/YLE *ANGES1 GOT M>RI$ & LEFT ACTIVE POLITICAL LIFE4 ,I CONT9U$ MY FRI5D%IPS & MY JOB BUT WAS NOT SELL+ ,TOR*_/,LA ,ANTOR*A OR BR++ PEOPLE TO MEET+S1 ETC4 

,:AT DID Y\ ACTUALLY DO1 9 T]MS ( POLITICAL ACTIVITY1 ONCE Y\ W]E 9DU/RIALIZ$8 

  

,!RE W]E #b COMRADES 9 MY PLANT1 MYSELF & MY FRI5D ,LISA1 N[ DECEAS$4 ,WE WROTE & DI/RIBUT$ ,REVOLUTION>Y ,AUT[ORK]1 A NEWSLETT] SPECIFICALLY = \R PLANT2 WE SOLD ,TOR*_/,LA ,ANTOR*A1 ! NEWSPAP] ( ! ,R,S,L1 WE PASS$ \T LEAFLETS = MEET+S & ACTIONS4 ,! ,R,S,L HAD SIMIL> CAMPAIGNS 9 O!R PLANTS & A WIDE RANGE ( ACTIVITIES WE W]E 9VOLV$ 94 ,LISA & ,I BR\<T PEOPLE FROM ! PLANT TO AS MANY ( !SE ACTIVITIES AS WE C\LD4 ,WE HAD A SMALL GR\P FROM ! PLANT ?AT MET REGUL>LY1 ,LISA1 MYSELF & #c-#e O!R PEOPLE4 ,WE W5T TO UNION MEET+S & PUT =W>D PROPOSALS1 BO? ON 9-PLANT ISSUES & ON WID] POLITICAL TOPICS4 

,DID Y\ REVEAL Y\R ID5TITY TO Y\R C[ORK]S8 ,IF SO1 :58 

  

,AS SOON AS WE />T$ SELL+ PAP]S1 PEOPLE KNEW :O WE W]E4 ,SOME ( ! MA9 CONFUSION WAS AMONG ,AFRICAN-,AM]ICAN WORK]S :O ASSOCIAT$ \R RADICAL-NESS ) ! ,COMMUNI/ ,P>TY & ASSUM$ WE W]E 9 ! ,P>TY4 

,DID Y\ HAVE CONTACT )1 OR KN[ AB\T1 MILITANTS FROM O!R C\NTRIES :O W]E ALSO 9DU/RIALIZ+ AT ?IS TIME8 7,CANADA1 ,FRANCE1 ,ITALY1 ETC47 ,:I* GR\PS 9 P>TICUL>8 ,:AT1 IF ANY?+1 WAS LE>N$8 

  

,! ,R,S,L HAD A SI/] GR\P 9 ,JAMAICA :I* ALSO LOOK$ TO ! 9DU/RIAL WORK+ CLASS AS ! PRIM>Y =CE = REVOLUTION4 ,WE W]E AW>E ( ,TROTSKYI/S1 ,MAOI/S & O!R T5D5CIES :O W]E 9DU/RIALIZ+4 

,:AT WAS ! RELATION%IP BETWE5 Y\R FRI5DS :O 9DU/RIALIZ$ & MILITANTS FROM O!R ,AM]ICAN LEFTI/ GR\PS :O 9DU/RIALIZ$8 ,DID Y\ COORD9ATE EF=TS1 WORK 9DEP5D5TLY1 SEE EA* O!R AS RIVALS8 

  

,! ,AM]ICAN LEFT AT ?AT TIME WAS EXTREMELY SECT>IAN1 EA* GR\P FI<T+ ! O!R ALMO/ MORE ?AN ! CAPITALI/S4 ,ONE ,MAOI/ 9 MY PLANT ORGANIZ$ A CAUCUS 7A BIT L>G] ?AN \RS7 & 9 ONE ( HIS LEAFLETS CLAIM$ HE WAS NOT 0A ,COMMUNI/1 LIKE ,MIRIAM & ,LISA40 ,HIS ORI5TATION WAS MU* MORE T[>DS GETT+ A POSITION 9 UNION LEAD]%IP :]E \R EF=TS W]E MORE DIRECT$ T[>D ! SELF ORGANIZATION ( ! RANK & FILE TO PUT PRESSURE ON ! UNION LEAD]%IP4 

,:Y DID Y\ DECIDE TO /OP 9DU/RIALIZ+8 

  

,I NEV] DID4 ,I WORK$ 9 ! PLANT #c YE>S & AM N[ RETIR$4 ,I CONT9UE TO ATT5D UNION RETIREE EV5TS1 SOCIALIZE ) FRI5DS & 7N[ DIVORC$ & BACK ACTIVE AGA97 9VITE !M TO RADICAL GA!R+S1 PICKET L9ES1 MEET+S1 ETC4 

,:AT1 9 RETROSPECT1 DO Y\ ?9K W]E SOME ( ! GREAT /R5G?S ( 9DU/RIALIZ+ AS A =M ( POLITICAL PRACTICE8 ,:AT AB\T ITS LIMITS8 ,:AT W\LD Y\ SAY Y\ P]SONALLY ACCOMPLI%$ :ILE 9DU/RIALIZ+8 

  

,! GREATE/ /R5G? ( 9DU/RIALIZ+ IS ?AT IT PUTS ! REVOLUTION>Y 9 DAY TO DAY CONTACT ) ! WORK+ CLASS4 ,%E OR HE IS WORK+ ALONGSIDE O!R WORK]S1 %>+ ! PA9S1 9DIGNITIES & ANG] ALONG ) ! COOP]ATION & SOLID>ITY ?AT SU* AN 5VIRONM5T 5TAILS4 ,! LIMIT IS 9 ?9K+ ?AT WORK+ CLASS P] SE MAKES ONE REVOLUTION>Y4 ,:5 & IF ! WORK+ CLASS MOVES T[>D REVOLUTION1 ITS EXP]I5CE 9 WORK+ TOGE!R GIVES ! CLASS A DYNAMIC EXP]TIZE4 ,ITS RELATION%IP TO ! MEANS ( PRODUCTION MEANS IT CAN DRAMATICALLY AFFECT ! CAPITALI/ PRODUCTION SY/EM1 /OP IT 9 ITS TRACKS4 ,WORK]S >E ALI5AT$ FROM !IR LABOR1 AL?\< MANY TAKE PRIDE 9 A JOB WELL DONE4 ,!Y >E NOT ALI5AT$ FROM ONE ANO!R2 9 FACT ! COOP]ATION & HELPFULNESS AMONG WORK]S /&S \T 9 MY EXP]I5CE4 ,!Y W]E ALWAYS EXCE$+LY G5]\S TO ME P]SONALLY & TO EA* O!R1 :5 9 NE$4 ,!Y ALSO HAVE A C]TA9 SOPHI/ICATION AB\T ! WORLD1 BO? FROM ! VET]AN EXP]I5CE AS WELL AS WORK+ ) PEOPLE FROM A V>IETY ( CULTURES4 ,!Y BR+ ?IS BACK TO !IR COMMUNITIES & >E WELL POSITION$ TO COMBAT FE> & IGNORANCE4 

,ONCE Y\ 0DE-9DU/RIALIZ$10 DID Y\ CEASE POLITICAL ACTIVITY ALTOGE!R1 OR DID Y\ F9D O!R WAYS ( MILITAT+8 ,:AT WAS ! 0TRANSITION0 \T ( 9DU/RIALIZ+ LIKE8 

  

,SOON AFT] ,I RETIR$ FROM ! PLANT1 ,I BEGAN TO GO TO DEMON/RATIONS CALL$ BY ,AUT[ORK] ,C>AVAN1 L$ BY ! SAME ,MAOI/ :O HAD DISS$ ME E>LI]4 ,! ,OCCUPY MOVEM5T DEVELOP$ & ,I WAS V]Y EXCIT$ BY ?AT1 SEE+ A W9D[ ( OPPORTUNITY OP5 ?AT A NEW & Y\NG] G5]ATION MI<T LE>N FROM ,TAHRIR ,SQU>E 9 ,EGYPT & BUILD MOVEM5T TO TAKE CONTROL ( !IR LIVES1 FI<T 9JU/ICE1 *ALL5GE ! SY/EM4 

,:I* WORK]S 7WOM51 M9ORITIES1 0UNSKILL$10 VET]ANS1 :ITES1 ETC47 SEEM$ TO BE ! MO/ RECEPTIVE TO A4 Y\R EF=TS TO ORGANIZE AT ! PO9T ( PRODUCTION1 B4 Y\R SOCIALI/ IDEAS8 

  

,! ,AFRICAN-,AM]ICAN WORK]S W]E MO/ RECEPTIVE TO ! WID] RANGE ( POLITICAL IDEAS1 :ILE ! Y\NG :ITE VETS W]E MORE 9TO PO9T ( PRODUCTION ORGANIZ+4 ,! ,R,S,L MILIEU WAS L>GELY GAY1 ,BLACK1 BO? M5 & WOM51 WORK]S1 S+LE WOM5 RAIS+ *ILDR54 ,WE DEALT ) ALL ! ISSUES ?AT COME UP FROM TRY+ TO LIVE ) OPPRESSION & REPRESSION1 HAD A /RONG FI<T BACK E?IC1 & M]G$ MANY ( ! /RUGGLES & ISSUES WE ORGANIZ$ >\ND4 

,WAS !RE ANY DISCUSSION AB\T 0DE9DU/RIALIZATION08 ,W]E Y\ AW>E ?IS WAS HAPP5+8 ,DID Y\ 9V5T /RATEGIES TO COMBAT ?IS8 ,DO Y\ ?9K !RE WAS ANY WAY TO /OP IT8 

  

,SOME ( ! PEOPLE :O W5T 9TO ! PLANTS LEFT ( !IR [N VOLITION4 ,SOME /AY$ ) ,R,S,L & GOT DIFF]5T TYPES ( WORK2 O!RS LEFT POLITICS ALTOGE!R4 ,WE DID NOT DISCUSS ?IS AS A POLICY4 

,:AT WAS ! G5]AL SOCIAL COMPOSITION ( ?OSE :O 9DU/RIALIZ$8 7RACE1 G5D]1 AGE1 $UCATION78 

  

,! PEOPLE :O 9DU/RIALIZ$ FROM ! ,R,S,L W]E M51 WOM51 MO/LY ?\< NOT ALL :ITE1 SOME ,AFRICAN-,AM]ICAN1 E>LY TO MID #bS 9 AGE & G5]ALLY COLLEGE $UCAT$4 ,:5 ,I W5T TO WORK 9 ! PLANT ,I HAD GRADUAT$ HI< S*OOL & HAD AB\T #b YE>S ( COLLEGE ) NO DEGREES4 

,:I* TEXTS 9 P>TICUL> HELP$ 9=M Y\R MOVE 9TO 9DU/RY OR Y\R ORGANIZ+ ONCE !RE 7HI/ORIES1 AU?ORS1 CLASSICAL !ORETICAL WORKS1 ETC478 

  

,WE READ ,F>RELL ,DOBBS ,TEAM/] ,P[] & ,TEAM/] ,POLITICS1 ,MELV9 ,DUB(SKY'S ,HI/ORY ( ! ,I,W,W4 ,WE US$ ,TROTSKY'S WRIT+S ON ! UNIT$ FRONT AS A WAY ( UND]/&+ TRANSITIONAL DEM&S1 ,M>X ON WAGE LABOR & CAPITAL & ,L59 ON ! ROLE ( ! /ATE1 >MY & GOV]NM5T4 

,H[ DID Y\R WORK ORGANIZ+ AT ! PO9T ( PRODUCTION 9T]SECT ) O!R /RUGGLES ( ! TIME 7WOM5'S LIB]ATION1 BLACK P[]1 ETC478 

  

,WE M]G$ /RUGGLES3 WE ORGANIZ$ ! CASE TO FREE ,K>5 ,NORMAN 7AN ,AFRICAN ,AM]ICAN WOMAN *>G$ ) KILL+ H] RAPI/_/BOYFRI5D7 PRIM>ILY 9 ! PLANTS4 ,WE WAG$ ! /RUGGLE AGA9/ AP>!ID & 9 SOLID>ITY ) ,S\? ,AFRICAN REVOLUTION PRIM>ILY 9 ! PLANTS4 ,WE PROMOT$ ! IDEA ?AT NO ONE IS FREE UNLESS EV]YONE IS FREE1 REVOLUTION IS NECESS>Y TO *ANGE ! SY/EM4 ,WE W]E /RONG PROPON5TS ( GAY & LESBIAN LIB]ATION AS WELL AS WOM5'S LIB]ATION4 ,WE 5C\RAG$ SOLID>ITY ) ALL /RUGGLE4 

,= ?OSE 9 ! ,S,W,P7,U4,S473 ,! PROGRAM LAID \T 9 0,LEAD+ ! ,P>TY 9TO ,9DU/RY0 79 ! VOLUME ,! ,*ANG+ ,FACE ( ,U,S ,POLITICS7 ADVOCATES 0FOOTLOOSE0 9DU/RIALIZ]S RA!R ?AN MILITANTS :O E/ABLI% !MSELVES = LONG P]IODS ( TIME 7:I* SEEMS TO BE PROMOT$ 9 MU* ( ! ,MAOI/ LIT]ATURE74 ,DID ,S,W,P 9DU/RIALIZ+ ACTUALLY TAKE ?IS 0MOBILE0 =M 7MEAN+1 ,S,W,P]S QUICKLY MOV+ FROM ONE HOT SPOT TO ANO!R78 

  

,WE W]E NOT 9 ! ,S,W,P1 BUT3 WE 5C\RAG$ \R PEOPLE TO /AY = LONG P]IODS ( TIME4 ,WE VALU$ ! TIME SP5T GETT+ TO KN[ PEOPLE & ALL[+ PEOPLE TO GET TO KN[ US4 ,ALSO1 BY ! LATE #a#i#gS ! E>LI] MILITANCY EXP]I5C$ BY ORGANIZ]S WAS BEG9N+ TO EBB & FOOTLOOSE 9DU/RIALIZ]S W]E NOT AS SUCCESSFUL4 ,! FOOTLOOSE ME?OD WAS ALSO US$ BY ! ,COMMUNI/ ,P>TY 9 ! #a#i#cS & #a#i#dS ESPECIALLY :5 ORGANIZ+ UNIONS4 

.<#a.> ,! ,R,S,L WAS AN UNUSUAL ,TROTSKYI/ GR\P ?AT OV] TIME CRITICIZ$ & AB&ON$ FIR/ OR?ODOX ,TROTSKYISM1 !N ,L59ISM1 & BEGAN QUE/ION+ ,M>X4 ,! ,R,S,L DISSOLV$ 9 #aihi ) SEV]AL =M] MEMB]S HELP+ F\ND ! AN>*I/ NETWORK ,LOVE @& ,RAGE4 -- ,K 

7,S\RCE3 ,RETRIEV$ ON #e? ,MAY #bb FROM LIBCOM4ORG47 

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

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