First Published: Unity, Vol. 3, No. 6, March 14-27, 1980.
Transcription, Editing and Markup: Paul Saba
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In February, the League of Revolutionary Struggle (M-L) held public programs celebrating the merger of the Revolutionary Communist League and the League of Revolutionary Struggle in Detroit, Chicago, Pittsburgh and St. Louis. The Midwest tour followed a successful program held in New York on January 26.
The merger programs consisted of speeches and cultural presentations by the League of Revolutionary Struggle as well as presentations by other cultural workers. A dynamic program was given in St. Louis, for example, featuring music by Proletarian Ensemble (Infra Red Funk) and poetry reading by Bobby Norfolk and Amiri Baraka. In Detroit, Sharifa, Ayana and Val read poetry by Langston Hughes and Amiri Baraka. The programs were revolutionary in spirit and strong in revolutionary content.
The League speakers talked about the history of the U.S. and told of the struggle of the people for a better life. They talked about the need for revolutionary struggle and for a single, vanguard communist party to lead the revolutionary struggle. Speaking on the party building movement, the League laid out some of its history in how it was able to unite several organizations who have united to form the League, and it also talked about the requirements of party building today.
The League speaker stated: “The question of uniting Marxist-Leninists in one party must be put at the top of our agenda. In order to do this, the League sees that some basic things must happen.
“1) The development of a Marxist-Leninist line and the demarcation of this line with opportunism; 2) The unification of genuine Marxist-Leninists around this line as expressed in the party program; and 3) The establishment of strong ties with the working and oppressed masses by practicing this line.”
The other major presentation was on the Afro-American national question. This was followed with a slide show on the history of the Congress of Afrikan Peoples/Revolutionary Communist League, showing its rich history in the Black Liberation Movement.
During the question and answer periods, many of the people in attendance were particularly interested in the League’s view on the Afro-American national question, party building and the process by which the League has been able to unite Marxist-Leninists. The discussions were lively and in the spirit of unity.
Those who attended the programs agreed they were both educational and inspirational. Sala Udin, the director of a drug program in Pittsburgh said, “I think the program was very inspiring . . . The merger reflects an important step towards recognizing the spirit and power of the Black Liberation Movement and making a genuine connect between the Black Liberation Movement and the struggle for socialist revolution.” An activist in Science for the People in Chicago commented that the presentations were “clear and dynamic. The explanation of the three periods of Afro-American struggle (Reconstruction, the 1920’s and 1930’s, and the 1960’s – ed.) put everything in perspective. It helped me understand the relationship between what the Klan is doing today and its origins in Reconstruction.”
A Black auto worker at the St. Louis program commented, “The merger program was positive. It raised my consciousness of how Marxist-Leninists concretely unite. The merger of RCL and LRS is a positive move made possible because both organizations saw the need to come together to struggle to work out their differences. 1 think other Marxist-Leninists should try to learn from this merger.”
Overall, the programs have been positive and have helped to reach many people and clarify some of the League’s views on the movement today. There are additional programs planned for Atlanta, Georgia, and the West Coast.