Walter Rodney On Race Politics 1976



"You see, we have had too much of this foolishness of race. I'm not going to attempt to allocate the blame one way or another. I think more than one political party has been responsible for the crisis of race relations in this country.



I think our leadership has failed us on that score. I think external intervention was important in bringing the races against each other from the fifties and particularly in the early sixties. But I'm concerned with the present. If we made that mistake once, we cannot afford to be misled on that score today. No ordinary Afro-Guyanese, no ordinary Indo-Guyanese can today afford to be misled by the myth of race.

Time and time again it has been our undoing."



"Does it have anything to do with race that the cost of living far outstrips the increase in wages? Does it have anything to do with race that there are no goods in the shops? Does it have anything to do with race when the original lack of democracy as exemplified in the national elections is reproduced at the level of local government elections? Does it have anything to do with race when the bauxite workers cannot elect their own union leadership? Does it have anything to do with race when, day after day, whether one is Indian or African, without the appropriate party credentials, one either gets no employment, loses one's employment, or is subject to lack of promotion?"



"It is clear that we must get beyond that red herring and recognise that it is intended to divide, that it is not intended in the interest of the common African and Indian people in this country. Those who manipulated in the 1960s, on both sides, were not the sufferers. They were not the losers. The losers were those who participated, who shared blows and who got blows. And they are the losers today."



"It is time that we understand that those in power are still attempting to maintain us in that mentality - maintain us captive in that mentality where we are afraid to act or we act injudiciously because we believe that our racial interests are at stake. Surely we have to transcend the racial problems? Surely we have to find ways and means of ensuring that there is racial justice in this society?



"Because, as I said before, you start with one thing, you end with another. The system doesn't stop at racial discrimination. Because it is a system of class oppression, it only camouflages its class nature under a racial cover. And in the end, it will move against anyone irrespective of colour. In the end, they will move even against their own. Because, don't believe if you are a member of that party today, that you will be protected tomorrow from the injustices. Because when a monster grows, it grows out of control. It eats up even those who created the monster. And it's time that our people understood that."



Walter Rodney,

quote:

Originally posted by bird:
....The system doesn't stop at racial discrimination. Because it is a system of class oppression, it only camouflages its class nature under a racial cover.....

Astute.

Was Burnham the Monster he was talking about?

quote:

Was Burnham the Monster he was talking about?

Rama, Burnham was the monster,king kong and midas in reverse according to Dr Rodney.

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Originally posted by Ireton:

quote:

Was Burnham the Monster he was talking about?

Rama, Burnham was the monster,king kong and midas in reverse according to Dr Rodney.

I think that Walter Rodney was trying to become the President by whatever means necessary. He was an intellectual who thought that the indians would have have become the best ally to his benefit.. After he was kicked out of jamaica and africa, burnham saw him as a trouble maker.. What Rodney didn't know was that Burnham was smarter than him.

quote:

I think that Walter Rodney was trying to become the President by whatever means necessary. He was an intellectual who thought that the indians would have have become the best ally to his benefit.. After he was kicked out of jamaica and africa, burnham saw him as a trouble maker.. What Rodney didn't know was that Burnham was smarter than him.

Smarter or more cunning than him.Rodney saw Burnham for what he was and was prepared to take him on by any means necessary.Thus, Burnham was more than willing to tell them that "his sword was sharper than their," no of them believe him, and in the end he paid the ultimate price in pursuit of that goal.

quote:

Originally posted by Ramakant_p:

quote:

Originally posted by Ireton:

quote:

Was Burnham the Monster he was talking about?

Rama, Burnham was the monster,king kong and midas in reverse according to Dr Rodney.

I think that Walter Rodney was trying to become the President by whatever means necessary. He was an intellectual who thought that the indians would have have become the best ally to his benefit.. After he was kicked out of jamaica and africa, burnham saw him as a trouble maker.. What Rodney didn't know was that Burnham was smarter than him.

WHAT absurdity!!! you are indeed irrational.

Rodney risked and gave his life for a better Guyana and had the courage, few others had, to challenge Burnham and the PNC.

quote:

Originally posted by Nippy:

quote:

Originally posted by Ramakant_p:

quote:

Originally posted by Ireton:

quote:

Was Burnham the Monster he was talking about?

Rama, Burnham was the monster,king kong and midas in reverse according to Dr Rodney.

I think that Walter Rodney was trying to become the President by whatever means necessary. He was an intellectual who thought that the indians would have have become the best ally to his benefit.. After he was kicked out of jamaica and africa, burnham saw him as a trouble maker.. What Rodney didn't know was that Burnham was smarter than him.

WHAT absurdity!!! you are indeed irrational.

Rodney risked and gave his life for a better Guyana and had the courage, few others had, to challenge Burnham and the PNC.

Under the circumstances which the man died, I would say that he wasn't too smart..

quote:

Originally posted by Ramakant_p:

quote:

Originally posted by Ireton:

quote:

Was Burnham the Monster he was talking about?

Rama, Burnham was the monster,king kong and midas in reverse according to Dr Rodney.

I think that Walter Rodney was trying to become the President by whatever means necessary. He was an intellectual who thought that the indians would have have become the best ally to his benefit.. After he was kicked out of jamaica and africa, burnham saw him as a trouble maker.. What Rodney didn't know was that Burnham was smarter than him.

Why do you think that? My Jamaicain friends have great respect for him. Rodney has been the only politician in the history of Guyana to make an progress in uniting the races.
Your comments are unwarranted.

quote:

Originally posted by antabanta:

quote:

Originally posted by Ramakant_p:

quote:

Originally posted by Ireton:

quote:

Was Burnham the Monster he was talking about?

Rama, Burnham was the monster,king kong and midas in reverse according to Dr Rodney.

I think that Walter Rodney was trying to become the President by whatever means necessary. He was an intellectual who thought that the indians would have have become the best ally to his benefit.. After he was kicked out of jamaica and africa, burnham saw him as a trouble maker.. What Rodney didn't know was that Burnham was smarter than him.

Why do you think that? My Jamaicain friends have great respect for him. Rodney has been the only politician in the history of Guyana to make an progress in uniting the races.
Your comments are unwarranted.

I think that because Rodney was using the Indians, who were demoralized and neutralized by Burnham. by Burnham. That when Rodney decided to ally himself with the Indians. Why do you think the PPP didn't trust the WPA?

quote:

Originally posted by Ramakant_p:
I think that because Rodney was using the Indians, who were demoralized and neutralized by Burnham. by Burnham. That when Rodney decided to ally himself with the Indians. Why do you think the PPP didn't trust the WPA?

Comeon now... Your comments are bordering on the stupid. It would be difficult to unite a nation without allying yourself to the majority race. Isn't it obvious that the PPP would try to disparage any threat to themselves?
You're saying that anyone who came along, other than Indian, and tried to unite the country would be using the Indians. You're making it difficult for anyone else other than Indian to do anything. That's discrimination to the max.

quote:

Originally posted by Ramakant_p:

quote:

Originally posted by antabanta:

quote:

Originally posted by Ramakant_p:

quote:

Originally posted by Ireton:

quote:

Was Burnham the Monster he was talking about?

Rama, Burnham was the monster,king kong and midas in reverse according to Dr Rodney.

I think that Walter Rodney was trying to become the President by whatever means necessary. He was an intellectual who thought that the indians would have have become the best ally to his benefit.. After he was kicked out of jamaica and africa, burnham saw him as a trouble maker.. What Rodney didn't know was that Burnham was smarter than him.

Why do you think that? My Jamaicain friends have great respect for him. Rodney has been the only politician in the history of Guyana to make an progress in uniting the races.
Your comments are unwarranted.

I think that because Rodney was using the Indians, who were demoralized and neutralized by Burnham. by Burnham. That when Rodney decided to ally himself with the Indians. Why do you think the PPP didn't trust the WPA?

rama lack of political astuteness if reflective of the political backwardness of the PPP under CBJ , JJ and now BJ ...a lot of J's seem to run the PPP and J is for jacka55.

Rodney was not seeking to use the Indians , he was presenting a case which was long presented at a time when Guyanese were trying to set the stage for political independence which Jagan derailed with his PPP socialism . The country cannot move forward until and unless the peoples are able to share a common vision and work towards it .

Let me remind you that the PPP and the Indians who support the PPP failed to seize the opportunity Rodney presented to bring down the PNC Dictatorship and since then you PPP folks have been bytching like bytches . The PPP misses every opportunity when presented them ...they are a55backwards !

Rodney's problem was lack of organizational ability . The WPA came into being at a treacherous time , they are the only political party since the Jagan Burnham Split of the PPP to win over significant numbers of afro and indos sympathizers as well as , afro supporters from the PNC . It was a great opportunity for the PPP and their indians supporters to bring down the PNC. Last elections we again saw significant numbers of afro Guyanese abandon the PNC for the AFC yet , no one seizes these opportunities nor capitalizes on them ...the PPP thinks only about themselves and F everyone else , they are shallow , and insecure and lack political savvy .

quote:

Originally posted by antabanta:

quote:

Originally posted by Ramakant_p:
I think that because Rodney was using the Indians, who were demoralized and neutralized by Burnham. by Burnham. That when Rodney decided to ally himself with the Indians. Why do you think the PPP didn't trust the WPA?

Comeon now... Your comments are bordering on the stupid. It would be difficult to unite a nation without allying yourself to the majority race. Isn't it obvious that the PPP would try to disparage any threat to themselves?
You're saying that anyone who came along, other than Indian, and tried to unite the country would be using the Indians. You're making it difficult for anyone else other than Indian to do anything. That's discrimination to the max.

I am only talking about one man and that is Walter Rodney.. The people had nobody to turm to and they found the invocation of a glorified opportunist a safe haven..

quote:

Originally posted by Ramakant_p:

quote:

Originally posted by antabanta:

quote:

Originally posted by Ramakant_p:
I think that because Rodney was using the Indians, who were demoralized and neutralized by Burnham. by Burnham. That when Rodney decided to ally himself with the Indians. Why do you think the PPP didn't trust the WPA?

Comeon now... Your comments are bordering on the stupid. It would be difficult to unite a nation without allying yourself to the majority race. Isn't it obvious that the PPP would try to disparage any threat to themselves?
You're saying that anyone who came along, other than Indian, and tried to unite the country would be using the Indians. You're making it difficult for anyone else other than Indian to do anything. That's discrimination to the max.

I am only talking about one man and that is Walter Rodney.. The people had nobody to turm to and they found the invocation of a glorified opportunist a safe haven..

That makes no sense. Why do you chose to describe him as a glorified opportunist? Your rationale would apply to anyone throughout history who were in the right place and the right time and became a change catalyst.
What is your reason for describing him as a glorified opportunist?

quote:

"In the end, they will move even against their own. Because, don't believe if you are a member of that party today, that you will be protected tomorrow from the injustices. Because when a monster grows, it grows out of control. It eats up even those who created the monster. And it's time that our people understood that."

PPP or PNC take you pick ... this statement is relevant to both parties.

quote:

Originally posted by BLACKBEARD:

quote:

"In the end, they will move even against their own. Because, don't believe if you are a member of that party today, that you will be protected tomorrow from the injustices. Because when a monster grows, it grows out of control. It eats up even those who created the monster. And it's time that our people understood that."

PPP or PNC take you pick ... this statement is relevant to both parties.

Perhaps Nagamottoo, Ramjattan and O'Lall are just h'orderves on Jagdeo's & Ramoutar's platter

quote:

Walter Rodney On Race Politics 1976

It's 2008 and his commentary is sadly still very relevant.

After reading that piece attributed to Walter Rodney and posted by 'bird' ( why no verifiable source cited?), it is like as though the man is giving an interview in 2008.

Unbiased minds (no, not you Rama; you need a mind transplant...if that is at all possible) can discern that this scholarly son of the soil was not only ahead of the game, but his elevated bird's eye view that captured a picture of what is happening on the ground aptly describes for us what is still happening on the ground 32 years later.

I read a book ten years or more ago, "Walter Rodney speaks," in which Rodney gave what was supposed to be the first in a series of interviews in Massachusetts, and one of the things he said about race was that he refused to join either PPP or PNC because they both pandered shamelessly to their racial groups for support and votes, but once the leaders got the votes, the leaders moved into a class structure system of governance. Even the ethnic support base that put them there gets left out or behind.

Looking at the Jagdeo PPP government, we can see this has been happening since 1999. Indians keep voting PPP, but the leaders keep extending the class gap between them and their support base.

Rodney also observed in that interview that the racial tension started after the white plantation owners brought in greater numbers of Indians as indentured servants to outnumber freed slaves who were agitating (striking) for better working conditions. That disparity in number greatly diminished the effects of the strike action and started competition between imported servants and freed slaves for scarce jobs on the plantation.

The PPP and PNC have successfully managed to extend that competition into the political arena, pandering to both races on the basis of insecurity and fear to gain recognition and poitical power at the ballot box. IT HAS NOT WORKED and will not work, as Rodney rightly observed. Other than Rodney's WPA, the AFC is the only alternative that comes disticntly close to representing the people's (Indians and blacks) aspirations for racial harmony and national development.

Today, we still need black and Indian political leaders who are brave enough to revisit that early post-slavery era via discussions with a view to taking a united approach to healing the racial hurts, bridging the racial divide and building the nation to narrow the class gap.

quote:

Originally posted by Communicator:

Rodney also observed in that interview that the racial tension started after the white plantation owners brought in greater numbers of Indians as indentured servants to outnumber freed slaves who were agitating (striking) for better working conditions. That disparity in number greatly diminished the effects of the strike action and started competition between imported servants and freed slaves for scarce jobs on the plantation.

.

Interesting observation from some one who deeply studied the labor situation of Guyana in the 19th century. Others would have us belive that lazy black people abandoned agriculture so Indians had to be brought into save us.

I see the truth is more complex than that.

quote:

Originally posted by Communicator:
Other than Rodney's WPA, the AFC is the only alternative that comes disticntly close to representing the people's (Indians and blacks) aspirations for racial harmony and national development.

.

where did the AFC get most of their votes from?

quote:

Originally posted by caribj:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Communicator:
Other than Rodney's WPA, the AFC is the only alternative that comes disticntly close to representing the people's (Indians and blacks) aspirations for racial harmony and national development.

.[/QUOTE)
where did the AFC get most of their votes from?

Caribj,

The AFC got most of their votes from the black community or from the traditional PNC base. However, the AFC did not go out campaigning for blacks the way the PNC went for blacks and the the way the PPP went for Indians. The AFC went out campaigning as the party of CHANGE (somewhat like Obama's CHANGE mantra) from race-based voting.

That a small percentage of blacks shifted their support to the AFC merely reflected greater readiness by blacks than Indians to start the process of moving away from voting for a party based on race. It might also be argued that blacks felt Robert Corbin was no Forbes Burnham or Desmond Hoyte to adequately represent their interests before the PPP government, hence their shifting in support and votes.

Indians obviously will take a longer time to wake up, because for 28 years they watched as their symbolic hope, the PPP, languished in the wilderness, so they were not prepared to let this symbolic power sharing with the PPP go for an unknown political quantity/commodity in the AFC.

We have to wait and see what will happen in 2012 to determine whether the black shift to the AFC was temporary or if it is permanent and can be built on.

We also have to wait and see if Indians will also come out in even a small percentage for the AFC in 2012. Should this happen, the AFC is making slow but substantive inroads in a symbolic niche cornered by the PPP and PNC.

Rodney understood the class struggle in Guyana. Burnham could only get rid of him because Burnham used the machinery of the State to do so. Rodney used to tell us in those bottom house classes that Burnham would do that to progressive minds. Isnt that what the South Afrcan Govt did to Steve Biko?