Principles of Unity

 

The Black Radical Congress convened to establish a "center  without walls" for transformative politics that focuses  on the conditions of Black working and poor people.

 

 Recognizing contributions from diverse tendencies within Black  Radicalism — including socialism, revolutionary nationalism  and feminism — we are united in opposition to all forms of oppression, including class exploitation, racism, patriarchy, homophobia,  anti-immigration prejudice and imperialism. 

 

 We began with a gathering on June 19-21, 1998. From there we are  identifying proposals for action and establishing paths forward. 

 

 The Black Radical Congress does not intend to replace or displace existing  organizations, parties or campaigns but will contribute to  mobilizing unaffiliated individuals, as well as organizations, around  common concerns. 

 

1. We recognize the diverse historical tendencies in the Black  radical tradition including revolutionary nationalism, feminism  and socialism.

 

 2. The technological revolution and capitalist globalization  have changed the economy, labor force and class formations that  need to inform our analysis and strategies. The increased class  polarization created by these developments demands that we, as  Black radicals, ally ourselves with the most oppressed sectors  of our communities and society.

 

 3. Gender and sexuality can no longer be viewed solely as personal  issues but must be a basic part of our analyses, politics and  struggles.

 

 4. We reject racial and biological determinism, Black patriarchy  and Black capitalism as solutions to problems facing Black people.

 

 5. We must see the struggle in global terms.

 

 6. We need to meet people where they are, taking seriously identity  politics and single issue reform groups, at the same time that  we push for a larger vision that links these struggles.

 

 7. We must be democratic and inclusive in our dealings with  one another, making room for constructive criticism and honest  dissent within our ranks. There must be open venues for civil  and comradely debates to occur.

 

 8. Our discussions should be informed not only by a critique  of what now exists, but by serious efforts to forge a creative  vision of a new society.

 

 9. We cannot limit ourselves to electoral politics — we  must identify multiple sites of struggles.

 

 10. We must overcome divisions within the Black radical forces,  such as those of generation, region, and occupation. We must forge  a common language that is accessible and relevant.

 

 11. Black radicals must build a national congress of radical  forces in the Black community to strengthen radicalism as  the legitimate voice of Black working and poor people, and to  build organized resistance

 

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