Amidst our ongoing social distancing, let's build some political unity and collectivity by studying together! For the winter and spring of 2021, we'll be holding a study of "Black Reconstruction in America" by W.E.B DuBois.
The study will be every other Thursday at 7pm, beginning on Thursday, January 28th.
Considered a foundational text for understanding Reconstruction, DuBois' account pushes back against the prevailing view of Reconstruction, emphasizing the agency and leadership of the enslaved and formerly enslaved black workers. Concepts such as the general strike of the enslaved, the psychological wages of whiteness, the revolutionary initiatives and potentials of Reconstruction, as well as the racist and ruling class backlash to those initiatives, are explored.
These concepts and lessons are of particular importance for our organizing today.
Getting the book: The book is public domain, and PDFs are available here:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1h76UXXISvUaAhjiW8xFFSZVs0s5cUdFP?usp=sharing You can get an audiobook here:
https://www.audiobooks.com/audiobook/black-reconstruction-in-america/329232 (you have to sign up for a free trial, but you get to keep the book after the trial is over).
We'll be holding the study over Zoom, which works best with a smartphone or computer and web camera, but has an option to call in by phone as well.