SINCE the national black section conference a few weeks ago Bob Lee has taken up a lot of space in the Militant newspaper denouncing the idea of the black section the Labour Party.
In this article, MIKE WONGSAM, a member of the black section steering mittee Manchester, takes up some of the Militant's arguments.
IN TRYING to unleash a scathing criticism of the movement to set up black sections, BOD Lee In laci ties himself into the most amazing TOSCA COuLU.Tarxest me thod ing Lvis. the Marxist method contradictions he ¿laims to be a Marxist), he instead uses a contradic:ory method.
Deep-rooted He starts by identifying black people as the victims of deep-rooted specific type of oppression (double oppression, as ne 10 transform the victim inio the criminal simply daring to do something about that oppression.
For make no mistake, cedes that black people have actually to struggle inside the party in order to make it responsive to the needs and concerns of the black community.
An example of Bob Lee's reasoning is when he says: 'Many of the filthy prejudices that thrive the cess-pool of capitalism constantly played and reinforced by a powerful media must evitably rub off on some workers. The labuul movement, however, by its very nature, does not base itself on these prejudices, but stands implacably opposed to them.' Loyalty And yet earlier he has admitted: 'But the loyalty of black workers has not Deen returned in kind by the leadership. The right wing of the party have always demonstrated a disgraceful complacency in regard to the special needs of black workers and their lack of involvement in the movement.
little later: 'Labour's 1968 Immigration Act was actually more discriminatory UEaIO the previous laws passed by It has been this fundamental failure of governments combat the rising tide of racism, along with all the other problems that has created tremendous discontent among blacks.
Why didn't the labour MOVCiicil. very nature' is 'implacably which opposed' pIcjudice call its leaders to account? Why didn't white workers complain of the Not involvement black people in the labod movenncit despite the loyalty of black workers?
Our eminent Marxist is at a loss for answers to these questions. Indeed, all that he is able to offer black people is the all too familiar Militant tendency phrasemongering:
'The basic solution to the problems faced by the blacks therefore lies in the movement Delle committed to implement socialist policies.
Presumably our victims COT conole OoDIession' must endure philo. cobalcav me sucu unc as the benevolent Militant tendency gains the leadership of the Labour Party.
the meantime 'restless natives' who ac tually constructively challenge the existing quo must be subslalus jected to searing criticism and violently denounced For we are treated to the following: Traditions 'The advocates of this idea (black sections) openly flout the traditions of class unity by demandıng the right for blacks to have self-determination Wit ll the Marxists, however, must Illl placably opposed to the proposal for the establishment of national oreasatol special But ne adds: 'As down-trodden, •oDesection of the oppressea working black workers who have been forced even during the boom period of the fifties and sixties, have developed a much higher level of class consciousness than other sections of the workers.'
Socialist Action 6 July 1984