C. L. R. James on the 'Negro Question'[ C. L. R. JAMES ON THE 'NEGRO QUESTION' ] by McLemee, Scott (Author ) on Aug-01-1996 Paperback

by Scott McLemee

The first collection of writings on African-American topics by this internationally influential pan-African thinker

Genres: Theory, Politics

Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

Reviews

[Eric Marcy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid collection of CLR James' writings on the historical situating and oppression of black Americans in US society and contemporary politics. Includes an excellent introduction/biographical context from McLemee. Notable for James' biting satire of FDR's fireside chats, his elaboration of the plight of slaves in the Civil War (caught in the throes of white economic logics), and his repeated assertions that black interests/rights/movements must be privileged in and of themselves, and not sublimated to specific Marxist movements and parties (though, of course, he views black Americans as essential to the eventual reorganization of US society along socialist lines). Much of this collection is written strategically for Marxist organizations themselves, as during this period James was working underground in the US with political organizers and Marxist groups that had broken with Russian communism under Stalinism. This makes certain essays a bit more unapproachable/ "inside-baseball" than others.

[Miles · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been reading this book for almost 8 months (deepest apologies to the Oakland Public Library, I'mma be there in 5 minutes...). It felt like a good use of time mainly because reading a collection of essays as dense as James's requires a level of patience and attention to detail that, reading them all once in a shorter span I would feel as though I hadn't grasped all of the information. Instead, I feel as though—unable to clearly remember the intimate details of, say, the first essay—that I have been sitting with his general praxes and philosophies I have been otherwise living my life.

It is both acutely interesting and terrifying how *similar* the times in which we live today mirror the times in which James wrote. His suggestions for what needs to happen to overthrow capitalism and finally, mercifully, bring about a world in which the terrorization and oppression of Black peoples has ceased: also terrifyingly similar to what many Black activists, scholars, and regular ass Black people know has to happen today. There is an indescribable feeling of kinship that provides, but so too does it make the feeling that the inevitable cyclical nature of time will mean that there is no breaking the circle, but rather only room to make dings in the chain. You should read because you should read the things that C.L.R. James writes, but also because it is imperative to realize that we don't have to continue doing all the same political work every 30-40 years if we have the patience and humility to look behind us.

[Brian Bean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential.

[Owen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent collection. 'Revolutionary Answer' is a tour de force.