Issued: n.d. [July 1980].
Transcription, Editing and Markup: Paul Saba
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It is extremely important for the OC to recognize and sum-up the racist and white chauvinist errors that were made in the OC relative to the NMM-LC. It is also extremely important for us to ensure that a correct process for identifying and correcting these errors is developed.
In this regard the campaign against white chauvinism conceived and launched by the SC presents the clear danger that a positive and necessary struggle against racism will be replaced by an unprincipled and ultra-“left” campaign of unfounded accusations and ritualized criticism/self-criticism. This danger is reinforced by the fact that the SC has taken as its model the disastrous and ultra-“left” campaign against white chauvinism which was unleashed in the Communist Party, USA in the 1949-1953 period.
The notion of a white chauvinist conspiracy among communists, put forward at this conference, is clear proof that the SC1 has abandoned Marxism-Leninism in the course of this campaign. This conspiracy theory has all the ear-marks of the “white skin privilege” line that has been decisively repudiated by our tendency.
The correct and necessary struggle against racism, to be effective, should proceed in the following manner.
1. It should unfold in the context of correct criticism/self-criticism: a) unity-struggle-unity; and b) “cure the disease to save the patient.”
2. The campaign must be waged against racism, not racists. It must be a political struggle, not a struggle against persons.
3. The charge of racism is a serious one, and must not be raised lightly. It can never be used as a form of retaliation against criticism or opposing views.
4. In targetting racism we must always keep in mind that the source of racism within the communist movement is the racist ideology and practices of capitalist society, which then find their reflection in the communist movement. This relationship must be taken into account if white chauvinist errors in the communist movement are to be clearly and objectively identified. All subjectivism should be avoided and a principled and comradely approach should be employed at all times.
5. Once racist errors are identified, the real process of their rectification should not proceed through ritualized and public self-flagellation. Instead comrades can truly rectify their errors only in practice, the practice of actively participating in the production of the necessary theory and politics with which to combat racism, and in the concrete anti-racist struggle itself.
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:
That the SC abandon its ultra-“left” campaign against white chauvinism which, if continued, can only seriously damage any genuine effort to combat white chauvinism and racism, as well as discredit the OC within the Communist movement.
That the SC take up the correct method of struggling against racism and white chauvinism.
That the notion of a white chauvinist conspiracy among communists is alien to Marxism-Leninism and MUST BE RETRACTED BY THE STEERING COMMITEEE. A self-criticism for this flagrant abandonment of Marxism-Leninism is also in order.