THE LATEST black sections bulletin is just out. LINDA BELLOS' article, which we reproduce from it, talks about women in black sections and their plan of action for the national black sections conference, which took place this weekend. FROM THE first national conference of black sections of the Labour Party Birmingham 1984, black women raised a central issue to the campaign, Lue neeo lo ensure that all black people were represented by black tions. When many of us looked at the platform arranged by the steering saw men. Black women usual were left off the agenda. individuals, and collectively.
When the 2nd national held was London in March 1985, an important constitutiulial change was made to ensure that 50 per cent of national committee members should be black women.
Another step forward Two reports on the causes of the Handsworth riots was the of chair vicewOllidi chair. But what some men felt at the time was piece of sheer chicanery, tant issue, not so much about representation, but more importantly about politics.
now can back sed tions ensure that the tradi tonal sexism of political organisations, the Labour Party in particular, can be challenged reversed?
How can we ensure that the experience black women is integral to our of black peoples' experience in this country? I believe that the only answer to tills Issuc Is to ensure that women have Аск an organised voice within black sections where can articulate our experience.
As a nationa commit. tee we have developed policies on a wide range of issues, many of these have included black perspectives. But not all. As more and more of us become active black women, rather than simply as black people within the campaign, it will be less a matter of chance whether our ideas are included in vul Dollies This last point is of crucial importance. Black people, or black men and women? Many men women nave arguca Wal ll is divisive for women to sebalalc as worthl not see themselves as just people. But bitter perience has also taught us to be wary of this reductionist approach. The white left are frequently encouraging us to forget think only of ourselves as working class.
The same is often the Case question or gender.
While we clearly acknowledge that our col lective HALCICOUS as vlack people lies in building uniwe must not sweep under the carpet, the fact that gender and inposed to each other This posed to each other. does not mean that distinctive groups within the struggle cannot ever work On the contrary, the brief history of black sections has demonstrated that men and women, people of African and Asian descent, can and do work logerner successiully. _Bu this does not mean that we have experience to "sameness'. We are united by our common experience of racism, and collective dividual commitment fight it, but we still need to recognise and respect the differences that exist between us.
As white members of the Party have begun respect, sometimes fear, black sections, there has ; been the growing use by ine wolte male left ir particular, to black oldy wollici against black men. When positions within the party structure are being fought over we are increasingly seeing women versus blacks, in other words, 1) To ensure that the black women's caucus elect two representatives annually to ensure that black womens view are represented on the nationa committee of black sections.
2) These two reps. to have the following functions:
La. Liaison on national committee. b. National organiser of black women in black sections.
3) To draw up a programme of action to ensure a high profile of issues of relevance to black women, such as health, childcare, employment and housing, and to ensure that these issues are taken up by lne nationai commilice 4) To draw up a programme of action for intervention within the women's section of the Labour Party, at an individual and collective level.
white women versus black people.
This Lullice about because the white male left reluctantly recognise that equal opportunities within the party should exist but then seek to retain their owl. moroooly ot by pitting black candidates against white women, to compete tor one place only guard practice by ensuring that we do not replicate the sexism in the wider party, and as black women by ensuring that our voice is heard within the ranks of 'women' the so that we do not allow ourselves to be used by white in their power games to retain control of the Labour Party, by divide and rule. can also be called upon to use them in neighbouring areas cople in Handsworth know what is at stake. As one black youth explained Guarata! last November "There is close co-octation between black youths and we have discussed the issue plastic bullets. We prepared to tackle any such moves by the govern.
press our grievances. not just unemployment. We're regarded as third class citizens and we're not prepared to be treated like that any longer • The 'A Dif ferent Reality' was com missioned the Relations & Équal Oppor : Committee of the WMCC It was prepared Coke, Paul Gilroy, Stuari Hall, Herman Ouseley and Keith Vaz.
The report of the in dependent enquiry cmmis career: Birmingham an wis prepared by Ja.as Saverman
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Plan of action: Black Women in Black Sections