Jeffrey Masko
Jul 20, 2017 · 1 min read

Truth is I can’t say much about SURJ because of the implied threats that that they could sue me, but the social/activist isolation that they practice when critiqued is enough to comment on as well as their class politics. The chapter I was involved with had no tolerance for class politics; I was eventually silenced away from even the working class conference calls and kicked out of the local. I can only assume it was not only the critique, but the fact that I consider an anti-capitalist position and critique necessary to understand the connection between racism and class exploitation. More than that, I refused to maintain a professional middle class attitude so common among those professional white activists. Many anti-racists groups still rely on an education model that situates racism in the disposition of white skinned people instead of understanding white supremacy as an institution and structure that cannot be educated away. Sad thing is groups like SURJ are drawing loads of people and money without a clear way to take action, other than guilt trips and symbolic shows of solidarity that do not threaten the (their) status quo. Going to be hard to confront the racism Black people face when the racism/classism within the white community isn’t recognized.

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    Jeffrey Masko

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