#reasonandrevolution

Today's question: Do you know why they use “illegal” and “alien” as identifiers for people whose primary crime is not one of ethical nor moral concerns, but the crossing of a border (an imaginary line) without proper identification? 

They implore you to call them illegals so that you may distance your relation to them as humans, people, parents, children, etc. Acknowledging them as anything other than 'alien' (the literal opposite of human) would invoke a dangerous sense of empathy, which would then promote a dangerous sense of curiosity for their plight, which would then promote a realization of similarity between you and the immigrant—similarity that goes beyond family and humanity, but of a shared struggle. A struggle of class. For example, I know of someone—a single mother with multiple children, who cleans houses as a second job. She is white. She is a Trump supporter. And last I heard, she approved of Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigrants. If I didn’t tell you her race, you’d probably assume she is of the demographic this writing is about. To that I say she is. She is precisely who this paper is about, not for her citizenship status, but for her status as a proletariat. The demographic which this paper highlights is not immigrants, but those who lack financial standing. For her fixation on citizenship status, racism, and desire for elevation, she does not recognize the likeness between herself and the immigrant cleaning lady. How dangerous it would be for the bourgeoisie, if the poor whites were to realize their camaraderie with the immigrant—realize how greatly they outnumber the bourgeoisie—and more importantly, realize the false sense of superiority they have been taught by the bourgeoisie, means nothing in the face of bills, healthcare, and other basic necessities for which they have been denied. 

Since the times of slavery, specifically the times following Bacon's rebellion, poor whites have been convinced they are in some way more deserving, to no fault of their own. They have been given small inches of greater liberties than non-whites, such as greater overall empathy, which is a most powerful thing to have bestowed. But these small liberties are just that—small. Should the attractive falsehood of white superiority be properly addressed, and at long last conquered by reason, there will be nothing preventing the white proletarians from at last realizing their likeness to all non-white, proletariat demographics. 

There will be nothing preventing unity amongst the working class. 

The Black Panther movement, I’m sure most are aware. But for those who are not…The Black Panthers was a communist political organization, particularly seeking the liberation of Black Americans, whose freedom since their introduction to this country had been trampled upon. The Black Panthers began as a defense for black people against ‘pigs’ (what they nicknamed cops). 

The Black Panthers and their history are often characterized as a militant, perhaps violent, black extremist group. 

But when did the FBI decide to assassinate one of their most crucial leaders and best orators? When he, Fred Hampton, began forming the “Rainbow Coalition.” 

This part of the Black Panthers history I have only recently learned, a token to the brilliant movie “Judas and the Black Messiah.” You see, the government had already been attempting to make their strides in debilitating the Black Panther movement, for any movement which empowered and or helped the black community was an enemy of the state. But the Rainbow Coalition was the formation of multiple socialist organizations, including the Young Patriots—a white, confederate flag bearing organization. An outwardly polar opposite of the Black Panthers. Do you know why? Because Fred Hampton acknowledged a most dangerous detail often excluded from the history books—and that was: We all have one crucial, life-changing thing in common: We are not wealthy. We are not rich. We are not the one percent. In Mr Hamptons words, “IT’S A CLASS STRUGGLE, GODDAMMIT!”