A riveting story about the student strike that changed the face of higher…
Finally Got the News
- Description
- Reviews
- Citation
- Cataloging
- Transcript
FINALLY GOT THE NEWS is a forceful, unique documentary that reveals the activities of the League of Revolutionary Black Workers inside and outside the auto factories of Detroit. Through interviews with the members of the movement, footage shot in the auto plants, and footage of leafleting and picketing actions, the film documents their efforts to build an independent black labor organization that, unlike the UAW, will respond to worker's problems, such as the assembly line speed-up and inadequate wages faced by both black and white workers in the industry.
Beginning with a historical montage, from the early days of slavery through the subsequent growth and organization of the working class, FINALLY GOT THE NEWS focuses on the crucial role played by the black worker in the American economy. Also explored is the educational 'tracking' system for both white and black youth, the role of African American women in the labor force, and relations between white and black workers.
'A classic and legendary film, and its new edition by Icarus Films is absolutely welcome and fantastic news. ...It is a very valuable and interesting piece of American urban history, and thus this film would be very interested to watch not only for those interested in the United States, race relations, but also for students of urban studies. It documents a pivotal moment in the history of American cities and given the fact that many places in the world, and especially in the global south, have experienced an industrial revolution much greater in scale than the one in Europe and North America a century ago, it is not as distant from the problem we face in contemporary that one may think at first glance.' -Anthropology Review Database, December 2011
'Although most histories of the Civil Rights and Black Power movements give greater attention to [other groups]... the League [of Revolutionary Black Workers] was in many respects the most significant expression of black radical thought and activism in the 1960s. The League took the impetus for Black Power and translated it into a fighting program focusing on industrial workers.' -Manning Marable, Director, Institute for Research in African-American Studies, Professor of History, Columbia University
'A classic! Rather than the lock-stepped, black-bereted, leather-jacketed Panther units of other films, FINALLY shows rather ordinary people becoming very angry with the system. Ideological in the best sense: it is a film about ideas [and] presents a serious strategy for mass working class action... It speaks of a specific time and specific experiences in terms that will remain relevant as long as working people are not able to control their own lives.' -Dan Georgakas, for Cineaste
'[The League of Revolutionary Black Workers]... was one of the most important radical movements of our century - a movement led by black revolutionaries whose vision of emancipation for all is sorely needed today.' -Professor Robin D.G. Kelley, New York University
Citation
Main credits
Bird, Stewart (filmmaker)
Gessner, Peter (filmmaker)
Lichtman, René (filmmaker)
Louis, John (filmmaker)
Morrison, Jim (participant)
Other credits
Filmmakers: Stewart Bird, Peter Gessner, René Lichtman, John Louis, Jim Morrison.
Distributor subjects
African American Studies; American Studies; Civil Rights; Detroit; Economic Sociology; Economics; Education; History (U.S.); Labor Studies; Politics; Racism; Social Movements; Urban StudiesKeywords
Stewart Bird; Rene Lichtman; Peter Gessner; League of Revolutionary Black Workers; union; film ; video; documentary; 1960's; black radical; black power; auto plants; automobile; Detroit; UAW; United Auto Workers; Manning Marable; activism; Professor Robin D.G. Kelley; "Finally Got the News"; Icarus Films,doc,clad; history
WEBVTT
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[MUSIC PLAYING]
00:00:03.493 --> 00:04:29.780 align:middle line:90%
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Black workers have historically
been the foundation stone
00:04:35.950 --> 00:04:38.702 align:middle line:84%
upon which the American
industrial empire has
00:04:38.702 --> 00:04:41.050 align:middle line:90%
been built and sustained.
00:04:41.050 --> 00:04:44.740 align:middle line:84%
It began with slavery
over 400 years ago,
00:04:44.740 --> 00:04:50.077 align:middle line:84%
when black people were captured
on the west coast of Africa,
00:04:50.077 --> 00:04:51.660 align:middle line:84%
shipped to the United
States-- shipped
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to what was then the
colonies, and used
00:04:55.420 --> 00:04:56.940 align:middle line:90%
to produce surplus value.
00:04:56.940 --> 00:05:00.520 align:middle line:84%
Under slavery, the
amount of surplus
00:05:00.520 --> 00:05:05.180 align:middle line:84%
which was extracted from
black people was enormous.
00:05:05.180 --> 00:05:07.920 align:middle line:84%
Because of the fact that the
only thing that they got back
00:05:07.920 --> 00:05:11.620 align:middle line:84%
for it was food, a
minimal amount of shelter,
00:05:11.620 --> 00:05:14.840 align:middle line:84%
and a minimal
amount of clothing--
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just enough to
procreate, to produce
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another generation of slaves.
00:05:18.710 --> 00:05:22.570 align:middle line:84%
That is, the capital which
was used to build industry
00:05:22.570 --> 00:05:24.550 align:middle line:84%
in Europe and
America essentially
00:05:24.550 --> 00:05:28.300 align:middle line:84%
came out of the cotton trade,
out of the textile industry
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in the 17th and 18th centuries.
00:05:31.360 --> 00:05:33.605 align:middle line:84%
And from the basis
of that industry,
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you know, railroads
developed, steel developed,
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and all the various
other elements
00:05:38.220 --> 00:05:41.290 align:middle line:84%
that went into the development
of the modern economy.
00:05:41.290 --> 00:05:45.271 align:middle line:84%
The process of the
extraction of surplus value
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has continued in this country,
and it\'s been especially hard
00:05:47.770 --> 00:05:49.060 align:middle line:90%
on black people.
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Just as it was in the
beginning of the development
00:05:51.695 --> 00:05:53.540 align:middle line:84%
of capitalism, not
only in America,
00:05:53.540 --> 00:05:56.280 align:middle line:84%
but throughout the
world, black people
00:05:56.280 --> 00:05:58.350 align:middle line:90%
provided the foundation stone.
00:05:58.350 --> 00:06:00.420 align:middle line:84%
You\'ll find throughout
the history of America
00:06:00.420 --> 00:06:03.140 align:middle line:84%
that black people have
been in that same position.
00:06:03.140 --> 00:06:05.530 align:middle line:90%
You find that that\'s true today.
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You don\'t find too many black
people as white collar workers.
00:06:08.986 --> 00:06:10.570 align:middle line:84%
You don\'t find too
many black people
00:06:10.570 --> 00:06:12.159 align:middle line:90%
who are skilled tradesman.
00:06:12.159 --> 00:06:13.784 align:middle line:84%
You find other kinds
of cats, you know,
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who are sitting in factories,
who are actually converting
00:06:17.950 --> 00:06:21.040 align:middle line:84%
raw materials into
finished products
00:06:21.040 --> 00:06:23.037 align:middle line:84%
through their own
sweat and blood.
00:06:23.037 --> 00:06:24.620 align:middle line:84%
I mean, that\'s
essentially what it is.
00:06:24.620 --> 00:06:26.895 align:middle line:84%
It\'s the transformation
of sweat and blood,
00:06:26.895 --> 00:06:30.380 align:middle line:84%
literally, into
finished products.
00:06:30.380 --> 00:06:33.270 align:middle line:84%
So when you think about this
in terms of black power,
00:06:33.270 --> 00:06:35.910 align:middle line:84%
in terms of the kind of
power that black people
00:06:35.910 --> 00:06:38.990 align:middle line:84%
have as a people
inside of this country.
00:06:38.990 --> 00:06:41.340 align:middle line:84%
You know, you get all the
arguments that, well, they\'re
00:06:41.340 --> 00:06:43.660 align:middle line:84%
only 10%, they
would be wiped out.
00:06:43.660 --> 00:06:45.710 align:middle line:84%
You can\'t wipe out the
hand that\'s feeding you.
00:06:45.710 --> 00:06:49.290 align:middle line:84%
We\'re essential and key
to continual operation
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and continual smooth functioning
of a highly industrialized,
00:06:53.180 --> 00:06:55.800 align:middle line:90%
highly complicated machine.
00:06:55.800 --> 00:06:57.490 align:middle line:84%
And we can use that
power, you know,
00:06:57.490 --> 00:06:59.822 align:middle line:84%
if we ever get ourselves
organized more,
00:06:59.822 --> 00:07:02.800 align:middle line:84%
to destroy that machine,
or to take it over.
00:07:02.800 --> 00:07:08.080 align:middle line:84%
There\'s certain groups which
could just stop work tomorrow,
00:07:08.080 --> 00:07:11.320 align:middle line:84%
and it might cause some
kind of minor disruption
00:07:11.320 --> 00:07:14.769 align:middle line:84%
in terms of the overall
running of the society.
00:07:14.769 --> 00:07:16.185 align:middle line:84%
But there are
certain other groups
00:07:16.185 --> 00:07:18.840 align:middle line:84%
that if they stopped
working tomorrow,
00:07:18.840 --> 00:07:22.970 align:middle line:84%
the whole system is going
to cease to function.
00:07:22.970 --> 00:07:29.490 align:middle line:84%
Bus drivers, mailmen, truck
drivers, workers of steel,
00:07:29.490 --> 00:07:31.680 align:middle line:84%
workers in
[? Harlem. ?] People who
00:07:31.680 --> 00:07:34.210 align:middle line:84%
play a crucial role
in the money flow,
00:07:34.210 --> 00:07:38.340 align:middle line:84%
and the flow of commodities,
and the flow of raw materials,
00:07:38.340 --> 00:07:41.720 align:middle line:84%
and the creation of
finished products
00:07:41.720 --> 00:07:43.640 align:middle line:90%
throughout the entire society.
00:07:43.640 --> 00:07:46.710 align:middle line:84%
And by and large, black
people are overwhelmingly
00:07:46.710 --> 00:07:49.025 align:middle line:90%
employed in those kinds of jobs.
00:07:49.025 --> 00:07:59.150 align:middle line:90%
00:07:59.150 --> 00:08:01.118 align:middle line:90%
[DOG BARKING]
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[MUSIC JOE LEE CARTER, \"PLEASE,
MR. FOREMAN\"]
00:08:17.685 --> 00:10:35.350 align:middle line:90%
00:10:35.350 --> 00:10:37.410 align:middle line:84%
This motherfucker\'s got
to go to that goddamn job
00:10:37.410 --> 00:10:40.870 align:middle line:84%
every single motherfucking
day of his goddamn life.
00:10:40.870 --> 00:10:43.820 align:middle line:84%
And you go to that brother
and say what do you want,
00:10:43.820 --> 00:10:45.195 align:middle line:84%
and he\'s gonna
say, motherfucker,
00:10:45.195 --> 00:10:49.720 align:middle line:84%
I want to get off this goddamn,
motherfucking dirty ass line.
00:10:49.720 --> 00:10:51.600 align:middle line:84%
And you see yourself
in the shop, you know,
00:10:51.600 --> 00:10:52.391 align:middle line:90%
you\'re a young guy.
00:10:52.391 --> 00:10:54.080 align:middle line:90%
You\'re 24, 25 years old.
00:10:54.080 --> 00:10:58.350 align:middle line:84%
And you see these
older guys, 45 and 50,
00:10:58.350 --> 00:11:00.600 align:middle line:84%
and they\'ve gotten
to the point where
00:11:00.600 --> 00:11:04.454 align:middle line:84%
they have to work overtime
just to have a free weekend
00:11:04.454 --> 00:11:05.370 align:middle line:90%
every once in a while.
00:11:05.370 --> 00:11:08.476 align:middle line:84%
To take a two week vacation,
they have to save up for that.
00:11:08.476 --> 00:11:10.945 align:middle line:84%
And you start to wonder to
yourself, what the hell is
00:11:10.945 --> 00:11:11.570 align:middle line:90%
this all about.
00:11:11.570 --> 00:11:19.990 align:middle line:90%
00:11:19.990 --> 00:11:23.620 align:middle line:84%
We work in gasoline all day,
and right down the line,
00:11:23.620 --> 00:11:24.660 align:middle line:90%
there was a welder.
00:11:24.660 --> 00:11:28.670 align:middle line:84%
One day, we were working, and
I was in over by the trucks,
00:11:28.670 --> 00:11:30.570 align:middle line:84%
and a spark came
from the welder,
00:11:30.570 --> 00:11:33.430 align:middle line:84%
and there was a big
explosion, and two guys really
00:11:33.430 --> 00:11:34.870 align:middle line:90%
got burnt bad.
00:11:34.870 --> 00:11:37.480 align:middle line:84%
And they took them
away to the hospital.
00:11:37.480 --> 00:11:41.090 align:middle line:84%
I mean, safety conditions
don\'t even exist.
00:11:41.090 --> 00:11:44.330 align:middle line:84%
I\'ve seen the chains
on the line snap.
00:11:44.330 --> 00:11:46.770 align:middle line:84%
This would propel the
entire line at something
00:11:46.770 --> 00:11:48.754 align:middle line:90%
like 40 or 50 miles an hour.
00:11:48.754 --> 00:11:50.420 align:middle line:84%
Last time it happened
while I was there,
00:11:50.420 --> 00:11:52.920 align:middle line:84%
a foreman was unfortunate
enough to be caught
00:11:52.920 --> 00:11:55.035 align:middle line:84%
in between the line,
and both his legs
00:11:55.035 --> 00:11:57.860 align:middle line:90%
were cut off below the knee.
00:11:57.860 --> 00:12:01.710 align:middle line:84%
He lost his finger at the second
knuckle and he got $3,000.
00:12:01.710 --> 00:12:04.790 align:middle line:84%
Like, they wanted him to come
back to work two days later.
00:12:04.790 --> 00:12:06.380 align:middle line:84%
They wanted him
back on that press,
00:12:06.380 --> 00:12:09.785 align:middle line:84%
two days later, producing which
the bandages and the whole bit.
00:12:09.785 --> 00:12:21.280 align:middle line:90%
00:12:21.280 --> 00:12:23.730 align:middle line:84%
There\'d be many
days we\'d get stock
00:12:23.730 --> 00:12:27.556 align:middle line:84%
in that had been
rained on and be rusty,
00:12:27.556 --> 00:12:29.220 align:middle line:90%
and they\'d tell you to run it.
00:12:29.220 --> 00:12:30.950 align:middle line:84%
They haven\'t done
anything for you.
00:12:30.950 --> 00:12:33.890 align:middle line:84%
They\'ve only done reform
things, but they haven\'t really
00:12:33.890 --> 00:12:35.770 align:middle line:84%
changed the
oppressive conditions
00:12:35.770 --> 00:12:37.380 align:middle line:90%
that the factories have.
00:12:37.380 --> 00:12:39.420 align:middle line:90%
10 hours, seven days a week.
00:12:39.420 --> 00:12:41.820 align:middle line:84%
Not even saying that
a worker has any
00:12:41.820 --> 00:12:44.160 align:middle line:84%
say so of whether or not he
wants to work this overtime.
00:12:44.160 --> 00:12:46.530 align:middle line:90%
It\'s compulsory overtime.
00:12:46.530 --> 00:12:49.560 align:middle line:84%
And you just say,
oh, we\'re working on.
00:12:49.560 --> 00:12:52.520 align:middle line:84%
Management and the union
have gotten to the point
00:12:52.520 --> 00:12:53.770 align:middle line:90%
where they\'re almost the same.
00:12:53.770 --> 00:12:56.720 align:middle line:84%
I mean, you hear the same
rhetoric from both of them.
00:12:56.720 --> 00:12:58.950 align:middle line:84%
The superintendents
or the management
00:12:58.950 --> 00:13:03.126 align:middle line:84%
is exclusively white at
Hamtramck, Hamtramck assembly
00:13:03.126 --> 00:13:05.215 align:middle line:90%
being 85% black.
00:13:05.215 --> 00:13:09.120 align:middle line:84%
At Cooper Avenue,
it\'s almost 95% black.
00:13:09.120 --> 00:13:11.960 align:middle line:90%
I took three tests now.
00:13:11.960 --> 00:13:15.620 align:middle line:84%
One of the math tests I took,
I didn\'t do too well on.
00:13:15.620 --> 00:13:17.470 align:middle line:84%
The fellow who was
running the test
00:13:17.470 --> 00:13:20.000 align:middle line:84%
said, well, I\'ll tell you
what, you go home and study up
00:13:20.000 --> 00:13:22.499 align:middle line:84%
on this a little bit, and come
back and see me in a week.
00:13:22.499 --> 00:13:24.665 align:middle line:84%
And I know goddamn well he
wasn\'t going to tell that
00:13:24.665 --> 00:13:25.540 align:middle line:90%
to any colored boy.
00:13:25.540 --> 00:13:27.360 align:middle line:84%
You go out there,
man, [INAUDIBLE]
00:13:27.360 --> 00:13:30.700 align:middle line:84%
with red helmets and steel-toed
motherfucking boots, man.
00:13:30.700 --> 00:13:33.030 align:middle line:84%
[INAUDIBLE] in the
motherfucking pits, the BOP,
00:13:33.030 --> 00:13:35.270 align:middle line:84%
the basic oxygen plant, the
open [INAUDIBLE] furnace,
00:13:35.270 --> 00:13:37.447 align:middle line:84%
I worked all over
that motherfucker man.
00:13:37.447 --> 00:13:39.280 align:middle line:84%
Man, you come out of
that motherfucker, man,
00:13:39.280 --> 00:13:41.113 align:middle line:84%
with them flakes of
steel that\'s in the air.
00:13:41.113 --> 00:13:43.140 align:middle line:84%
If it\'s ever going
to stop like this,
00:13:43.140 --> 00:13:45.210 align:middle line:84%
then it would have
to be the workers
00:13:45.210 --> 00:13:47.200 align:middle line:90%
gained control of the plants.
00:13:47.200 --> 00:13:49.940 align:middle line:84%
But if they don\'t
maintain control of it,
00:13:49.940 --> 00:13:52.286 align:middle line:84%
then, seeing as
the way it is now,
00:13:52.286 --> 00:13:54.040 align:middle line:84%
then the workers are
going to steadily
00:13:54.040 --> 00:13:59.310 align:middle line:84%
be losing life and limb, and the
company doesn\'t lose anything.
00:13:59.310 --> 00:14:02.100 align:middle line:84%
They give you little bullshit
amounts of money for working,
00:14:02.100 --> 00:14:05.000 align:middle line:84%
wages and so forth, and then
they steal all that shit
00:14:05.000 --> 00:14:07.910 align:middle line:84%
back from you, in terms of where
he got his other thing set up.
00:14:07.910 --> 00:14:09.940 align:middle line:84%
This whole credit
giving society, man.
00:14:09.940 --> 00:14:12.696 align:middle line:84%
Consumer credit, buy
shit, buy shit on credit.
00:14:12.696 --> 00:14:15.320 align:middle line:84%
He give you a little bit of shit
to cool your ass off, and then
00:14:15.320 --> 00:14:16.850 align:middle line:84%
steal all that shit
back, with shit
00:14:16.850 --> 00:14:19.180 align:middle line:84%
called interest--
the price of money.
00:14:19.180 --> 00:14:22.600 align:middle line:84%
Motherfuckers are non-producing,
nonexistent industries,
00:14:22.600 --> 00:14:24.097 align:middle line:84%
motherfuckers who
deal with paper.
00:14:24.097 --> 00:14:26.680 align:middle line:84%
There\'s a cat who will stand up
and say to you he\'s in mining,
00:14:26.680 --> 00:14:29.710 align:middle line:84%
and he sits in an office,
man, on the 199th floor
00:14:29.710 --> 00:14:31.830 align:middle line:84%
in some motherfucking
building on Wall Street,
00:14:31.830 --> 00:14:33.160 align:middle line:90%
and he\'s in mining.
00:14:33.160 --> 00:14:36.255 align:middle line:84%
And he has paper certificate,
which they embroider and shit,
00:14:36.255 --> 00:14:40.240 align:middle line:84%
you know, stocks, bonds,
debentures, obligations.
00:14:40.240 --> 00:14:41.830 align:middle line:90%
He\'s in mining.
00:14:41.830 --> 00:14:43.690 align:middle line:84%
And he\'s sitting
up in Wall Street,
00:14:43.690 --> 00:14:46.148 align:middle line:84%
his fingernails ain\'t been
dirty in his motherfucking life.
00:14:46.148 --> 00:14:48.930 align:middle line:84%
He went to Philips Andover or
Exeter, he went to Harvard,
00:14:48.930 --> 00:14:50.400 align:middle line:84%
he went to Yale, he went to
the Wharton School of Business,
00:14:50.400 --> 00:14:51.482 align:middle line:90%
and he\'s in mining?
00:14:51.482 --> 00:14:53.440 align:middle line:84%
And the motherfuckers
who deal with intangibles
00:14:53.440 --> 00:14:56.110 align:middle line:84%
are the motherfuckers who
are rewarded in this society.
00:14:56.110 --> 00:14:58.450 align:middle line:84%
The more abstract and
intangible your shit is.
00:14:58.450 --> 00:14:59.715 align:middle line:90%
Stocks, what is stock?
00:14:59.715 --> 00:15:02.090 align:middle line:84%
A stock certificate is evidence
of ownership in something
00:15:02.090 --> 00:15:02.710 align:middle line:90%
that\'s real.
00:15:02.710 --> 00:15:04.390 align:middle line:90%
Ownership.
00:15:04.390 --> 00:15:06.790 align:middle line:84%
He owns and controls,
and therefore
00:15:06.790 --> 00:15:09.470 align:middle line:90%
receives the benefit from.
00:15:09.470 --> 00:15:11.070 align:middle line:90%
That\'s what they call profit.
00:15:11.070 --> 00:15:12.535 align:middle line:84%
He\'s fucking with
shit in Bolivia.
00:15:12.535 --> 00:15:14.660 align:middle line:84%
He\'s fucking with shit,
and shit, he\'s [INAUDIBLE].
00:15:14.660 --> 00:15:16.470 align:middle line:90%
He\'s Anaconda.
00:15:16.470 --> 00:15:17.800 align:middle line:90%
He\'s United Fruit.
00:15:17.800 --> 00:15:19.280 align:middle line:90%
He\'s in mining.
00:15:19.280 --> 00:15:20.340 align:middle line:90%
He\'s in what?
00:15:20.340 --> 00:15:22.410 align:middle line:84%
He ain\'t never in
his life do shit.
00:15:22.410 --> 00:15:27.350 align:middle line:84%
Investment bankers,
stockbrokers, insurance men,
00:15:27.350 --> 00:15:30.130 align:middle line:84%
it\'s motherfuckers
who don\'t do nothing.
00:15:30.130 --> 00:15:34.730 align:middle line:84%
We see that this whole
society, man, exists and rests
00:15:34.730 --> 00:15:37.580 align:middle line:84%
upon workers, and that
this whole motherfucking
00:15:37.580 --> 00:15:40.230 align:middle line:84%
society controlled
by this ruling clique
00:15:40.230 --> 00:15:42.910 align:middle line:84%
is parasitic, vulturistic,
cannibalistic,
00:15:42.910 --> 00:15:44.999 align:middle line:84%
and is sucking and
destroying, man, the life
00:15:44.999 --> 00:15:46.040 align:middle line:90%
of motherfucking workers.
00:15:46.040 --> 00:15:47.748 align:middle line:84%
And we have to stop
it because it\'s evil.
00:15:47.748 --> 00:15:52.700 align:middle line:90%
00:15:52.700 --> 00:15:56.680 align:middle line:84%
The League of
Revolutionary Black Workers
00:15:56.680 --> 00:16:00.690 align:middle line:84%
came out of a consolidation
of organizations
00:16:00.690 --> 00:16:03.640 align:middle line:84%
such as [INAUDIBLE],
Dodge Revolutionary Union
00:16:03.640 --> 00:16:07.200 align:middle line:84%
Movement, ELRUM, which
is the Eldon Avenue Gear
00:16:07.200 --> 00:16:10.050 align:middle line:84%
and Axle, which is Eldon
Revolutionary Union Movement.
00:16:10.050 --> 00:16:13.960 align:middle line:84%
FRUM, which is Ford
Revolutionary Union Movement,
00:16:13.960 --> 00:16:17.426 align:middle line:84%
comes out of the
Ford Rouge complex.
00:16:17.426 --> 00:16:21.110 align:middle line:84%
And UPRUM, which is United
Parcel Revolutionary Union
00:16:21.110 --> 00:16:21.960 align:middle line:90%
Movement.
00:16:21.960 --> 00:16:24.660 align:middle line:84%
Basically, Dodge
Revolutionary Union Movement
00:16:24.660 --> 00:16:29.040 align:middle line:84%
was the beginning of the League
of Revolutionary Black Workers.
00:16:29.040 --> 00:16:33.550 align:middle line:84%
DRUM started from a grievance
that the black workers had.
00:16:33.550 --> 00:16:37.110 align:middle line:84%
At the time, they were running
56 units or automobiles an hour
00:16:37.110 --> 00:16:37.910 align:middle line:90%
on the line.
00:16:37.910 --> 00:16:39.720 align:middle line:90%
There was no additional help.
00:16:39.720 --> 00:16:43.450 align:middle line:84%
Workers were doing almost
twice as much work.
00:16:43.450 --> 00:16:46.450 align:middle line:84%
Well, one day, as they were
doing the day before, you know,
00:16:46.450 --> 00:16:48.590 align:middle line:84%
the foreman on the line,
he has an obligation
00:16:48.590 --> 00:16:50.420 align:middle line:84%
to see that his
section runs smoothly.
00:16:50.420 --> 00:16:54.320 align:middle line:84%
And a lot of times, they\'ll
notice defective automobiles
00:16:54.320 --> 00:16:55.430 align:middle line:90%
going down the line.
00:16:55.430 --> 00:16:58.070 align:middle line:84%
All he wanted to do is get
it the hell out of his area,
00:16:58.070 --> 00:17:02.340 align:middle line:84%
get that car out on the
street, by any means necessary.
00:17:02.340 --> 00:17:05.619 align:middle line:84%
This is when we began to realize
we were in a twofold struggle.
00:17:05.619 --> 00:17:08.589 align:middle line:84%
We soon started making
demands that they
00:17:08.589 --> 00:17:10.089 align:middle line:84%
were saying the UAW
should have been
00:17:10.089 --> 00:17:13.910 align:middle line:84%
making, such as the demands
on the production standards,
00:17:13.910 --> 00:17:15.030 align:middle line:90%
overtime.
00:17:15.030 --> 00:17:16.960 align:middle line:84%
Workers were
beginning to question
00:17:16.960 --> 00:17:20.849 align:middle line:84%
just who did the UAW represent,
the workers or the corporation?
00:17:20.849 --> 00:17:25.280 align:middle line:84%
September of 1967,
a brother had been
00:17:25.280 --> 00:17:29.562 align:middle line:84%
fired for no reason at
all, and the result of it
00:17:29.562 --> 00:17:32.790 align:middle line:84%
was that most of the blacks on
the line supported the brother
00:17:32.790 --> 00:17:36.950 align:middle line:84%
and walked out of
the plant, and what
00:17:36.950 --> 00:17:39.800 align:middle line:84%
started was a series
of wildcat strikes.
00:17:39.800 --> 00:17:42.080 align:middle line:84%
And there hadn\'t been
any strikes at Hamtramck
00:17:42.080 --> 00:17:44.320 align:middle line:90%
in 14 years.
00:17:44.320 --> 00:17:48.930 align:middle line:84%
So the next morning, we
got up, came to the plant
00:17:48.930 --> 00:17:51.015 align:middle line:84%
with our picket
signs and bullhorns.
00:17:51.015 --> 00:17:53.390 align:middle line:84%
What happened, the brothers
just honored our picket line,
00:17:53.390 --> 00:17:56.160 align:middle line:84%
and the strike was
really just a success.
00:17:56.160 --> 00:17:57.750 align:middle line:84%
With not having
any kind of plan,
00:17:57.750 --> 00:18:01.510 align:middle line:84%
we had like 3,000 black workers
standing outside the plant,
00:18:01.510 --> 00:18:04.759 align:middle line:84%
and really didn\'t know what
to do with it at the time.
00:18:04.759 --> 00:18:06.800 align:middle line:84%
Hell, right after the
strike, one of the trustees
00:18:06.800 --> 00:18:09.510 align:middle line:90%
at the plant died.
00:18:09.510 --> 00:18:13.680 align:middle line:84%
So it was a special election
set for the month of September.
00:18:13.680 --> 00:18:17.440 align:middle line:84%
And when we came
back in, we decided
00:18:17.440 --> 00:18:21.760 align:middle line:84%
that we would run
our own candidate
00:18:21.760 --> 00:18:25.850 align:middle line:84%
independent of the existing
UAW political machines
00:18:25.850 --> 00:18:27.740 align:middle line:90%
inside the plant.
00:18:27.740 --> 00:18:29.830 align:middle line:84%
DRUM\'s candidate
became Ron March.
00:18:29.830 --> 00:18:33.160 align:middle line:84%
Most of the old line blacks
were telling us, well, you
00:18:33.160 --> 00:18:34.050 align:middle line:90%
can\'t possibly win.
00:18:34.050 --> 00:18:36.200 align:middle line:90%
You can\'t defeat them.
00:18:36.200 --> 00:18:40.110 align:middle line:84%
And you don\'t have
the experience
00:18:40.110 --> 00:18:41.069 align:middle line:90%
that these people have.
00:18:41.069 --> 00:18:43.568 align:middle line:84%
And the brothers ain\'t going
to turn out for your candidate,
00:18:43.568 --> 00:18:46.200 align:middle line:84%
because he ain\'t got no
platform, no program,
00:18:46.200 --> 00:18:48.920 align:middle line:90%
all such crap as that.
00:18:48.920 --> 00:18:49.970 align:middle line:90%
So we went on anyway.
00:18:49.970 --> 00:18:51.850 align:middle line:84%
We said, well, we\'ve
decided to do it,
00:18:51.850 --> 00:18:53.410 align:middle line:90%
and we\'re going to do it.
00:18:53.410 --> 00:18:55.060 align:middle line:84%
And the end results
of the election
00:18:55.060 --> 00:18:59.490 align:middle line:84%
was that Ron had
pulled 563 votes,
00:18:59.490 --> 00:19:03.750 align:middle line:84%
and the next leading
candidate was a white worker,
00:19:03.750 --> 00:19:07.600 align:middle line:84%
the name Joe Eliot, and
he had 521 votes, so there
00:19:07.600 --> 00:19:09.940 align:middle line:90%
was a run off election.
00:19:09.940 --> 00:19:13.170 align:middle line:84%
You know, there had to be a
run off election next week.
00:19:13.170 --> 00:19:17.074 align:middle line:84%
What happened immediately after
the results of the election
00:19:17.074 --> 00:19:21.780 align:middle line:84%
were given to the people, the
Hamtramck Police Department
00:19:21.780 --> 00:19:25.325 align:middle line:84%
started moving in a much
more open way after that.
00:19:25.325 --> 00:19:27.290 align:middle line:84%
About 50 of us go back
to the union hall,
00:19:27.290 --> 00:19:31.070 align:middle line:84%
which is right across the
street from the police station.
00:19:31.070 --> 00:19:34.360 align:middle line:84%
And we\'re sitting there,
and here comes the mayor
00:19:34.360 --> 00:19:36.130 align:middle line:90%
and the police commissioner.
00:19:36.130 --> 00:19:40.290 align:middle line:84%
And the police commissioner
had a gun in one hand
00:19:40.290 --> 00:19:41.800 align:middle line:84%
and a can of mace
in the other hand,
00:19:41.800 --> 00:19:43.460 align:middle line:90%
and the mayor had his gun.
00:19:43.460 --> 00:19:46.100 align:middle line:84%
And they were standing
there telling us,
00:19:46.100 --> 00:19:50.040 align:middle line:84%
like, you guys have been
causing all kinds of trouble.
00:19:50.040 --> 00:19:51.820 align:middle line:84%
[INAUDIBLE] but all
we were trying to do
00:19:51.820 --> 00:19:56.020 align:middle line:84%
is get a candidate elected
to the office of trustee.
00:19:56.020 --> 00:19:58.770 align:middle line:84%
[INAUDIBLE] to them how
they hadn\'t bothered
00:19:58.770 --> 00:20:02.520 align:middle line:84%
to harass any of the
other cars, or, you know,
00:20:02.520 --> 00:20:05.385 align:middle line:84%
give tickets to people who were
supporting other candidates.
00:20:05.385 --> 00:20:07.760 align:middle line:84%
We\'re standing here arguing
with the mayor and the police
00:20:07.760 --> 00:20:12.267 align:middle line:84%
commissioner, and
we look up, and in
00:20:12.267 --> 00:20:15.090 align:middle line:84%
come about 50 rollers
through the door,
00:20:15.090 --> 00:20:18.380 align:middle line:84%
[? macing ?] and swinging
axe handles, and, you know,
00:20:18.380 --> 00:20:20.270 align:middle line:84%
just generally
going for a fight.
00:20:20.270 --> 00:20:23.630 align:middle line:90%
00:20:23.630 --> 00:20:28.630 align:middle line:84%
So it showed us the
kind of repression
00:20:28.630 --> 00:20:34.600 align:middle line:84%
that black workers would
receive after trying to come up
00:20:34.600 --> 00:20:37.330 align:middle line:84%
with some kind of militant
revolutionary black workers
00:20:37.330 --> 00:20:38.910 align:middle line:90%
organization.
00:20:38.910 --> 00:20:42.036 align:middle line:84%
Really addressing themselves to
the grievance of black workers.
00:20:42.036 --> 00:20:45.204 align:middle line:84%
And it kind of tipped us off
to maybe the kind of power
00:20:45.204 --> 00:20:46.870 align:middle line:84%
that we could have
by trying to organize
00:20:46.870 --> 00:20:49.800 align:middle line:84%
an independent black
labor struggle.
00:20:49.800 --> 00:20:54.675 align:middle line:84%
And this has led us to where we
are today, more or less, still
00:20:54.675 --> 00:20:56.550 align:middle line:84%
trying to organize an
independent black labor
00:20:56.550 --> 00:20:57.795 align:middle line:90%
organization.
00:20:57.795 --> 00:21:01.360 align:middle line:84%
And we see this is a vital
part of the black revolution
00:21:01.360 --> 00:21:03.080 align:middle line:90%
within America.
00:21:03.080 --> 00:21:06.370 align:middle line:84%
You see, I understood that DRUM
was not an organization that
00:21:06.370 --> 00:21:08.340 align:middle line:84%
came in from the community,
in the beginning,
00:21:08.340 --> 00:21:12.420 align:middle line:84%
to organize workers inside
of Hamtramck Assembly.
00:21:12.420 --> 00:21:15.110 align:middle line:90%
I work at Hamtramck Assembly.
00:21:15.110 --> 00:21:18.650 align:middle line:84%
And I was a part
of organizing DRUM,
00:21:18.650 --> 00:21:25.030 align:middle line:84%
but not as a necessity,
[INAUDIBLE] a new organization.
00:21:25.030 --> 00:21:27.345 align:middle line:84%
What I\'m trying to
say is that there
00:21:27.345 --> 00:21:31.030 align:middle line:84%
were a lot of organizations
in the plant that organized,
00:21:31.030 --> 00:21:35.470 align:middle line:84%
because workers were
aware before, say, I was,
00:21:35.470 --> 00:21:38.170 align:middle line:90%
of the conditions in the plant.
00:21:38.170 --> 00:21:42.630 align:middle line:84%
What we did do, upon
organizing DRUM,
00:21:42.630 --> 00:21:46.430 align:middle line:84%
was give these other
organizations leadership
00:21:46.430 --> 00:21:50.730 align:middle line:84%
and our knowledge of
what the conditions are,
00:21:50.730 --> 00:21:54.460 align:middle line:84%
and what could be done to
correct these conditions.
00:21:54.460 --> 00:22:01.572 align:middle line:84%
We [INAUDIBLE] organized to
show management and the union
00:22:01.572 --> 00:22:03.030 align:middle line:84%
that the workers
would not tolerate
00:22:03.030 --> 00:22:06.030 align:middle line:90%
these type of conditions.
00:22:06.030 --> 00:22:08.341 align:middle line:90%
So we organized the workers.
00:22:08.341 --> 00:22:12.130 align:middle line:84%
And we found that
in the areas-- we\'ll
00:22:12.130 --> 00:22:14.920 align:middle line:84%
say the hot areas-- that
the workers in these areas
00:22:14.920 --> 00:22:17.310 align:middle line:90%
would be 99% black.
00:22:17.310 --> 00:22:22.330 align:middle line:84%
So as a result, we
organized the black workers.
00:22:22.330 --> 00:22:26.530 align:middle line:84%
And looking into the fact
of the white workers,
00:22:26.530 --> 00:22:29.685 align:middle line:84%
we found that all
white workers were
00:22:29.685 --> 00:22:31.060 align:middle line:84%
working in areas
where there were
00:22:31.060 --> 00:22:34.500 align:middle line:84%
no troubles, such as
the inspection area,
00:22:34.500 --> 00:22:40.660 align:middle line:90%
such as [? soft ?] areas.
00:22:40.660 --> 00:22:44.980 align:middle line:84%
This is one reason--
just one reason-- why
00:22:44.980 --> 00:22:49.132 align:middle line:90%
DRUM is a black organization.
00:22:49.132 --> 00:22:52.195 align:middle line:84%
The white workers are
constantly trying to support us,
00:22:52.195 --> 00:22:55.970 align:middle line:84%
want to support us, but
we found that management
00:22:55.970 --> 00:22:59.500 align:middle line:84%
knew how to deal directly
with integrated groups.
00:22:59.500 --> 00:23:02.040 align:middle line:84%
So we informed the whites
that they should organize
00:23:02.040 --> 00:23:05.180 align:middle line:84%
themselves, and
once they organized,
00:23:05.180 --> 00:23:08.720 align:middle line:84%
they were going to work
on a coalition basis.
00:23:08.720 --> 00:23:12.280 align:middle line:84%
But as of this day, I know
of no white organizations
00:23:12.280 --> 00:23:15.010 align:middle line:84%
in the plant that
have organized.
00:23:15.010 --> 00:23:15.850 align:middle line:90%
Black power.
00:23:15.850 --> 00:23:17.329 align:middle line:90%
[INAUDIBLE] inequality.
00:23:17.329 --> 00:23:19.794 align:middle line:90%
[INAUDIBLE] equality.
00:23:19.794 --> 00:23:21.273 align:middle line:90%
[INAUDIBLE] for free.
00:23:21.273 --> 00:23:22.752 align:middle line:90%
[INAUDIBLE] for free.
00:23:22.752 --> 00:23:24.724 align:middle line:90%
[INAUDIBLE] black power.
00:23:24.724 --> 00:23:26.203 align:middle line:90%
[INAUDIBLE] black power.
00:23:26.203 --> 00:23:27.682 align:middle line:90%
[INAUDIBLE] black power.
00:23:27.682 --> 00:23:30.640 align:middle line:90%
[INAUDIBLE] black power.
00:23:30.640 --> 00:23:33.105 align:middle line:90%
Black workers\' power.
00:23:33.105 --> 00:23:34.091 align:middle line:90%
Black workers\' power.
00:23:34.091 --> 00:23:35.570 align:middle line:90%
Black workers\' power.
00:23:35.570 --> 00:23:37.049 align:middle line:90%
Black workers\' power.
00:23:37.049 --> 00:23:39.021 align:middle line:90%
Black workers\' power.
00:23:39.021 --> 00:23:42.030 align:middle line:90%
Black workers\' power.
00:23:42.030 --> 00:23:44.644 align:middle line:84%
You ain\'t nothing to
me if you ain\'t white.
00:23:44.644 --> 00:23:46.435 align:middle line:84%
You ain\'t nothing to
me if you ain\'t white.
00:23:46.435 --> 00:23:49.405 align:middle line:84%
You ain\'t nothing to
me if you ain\'t white.
00:23:49.405 --> 00:23:51.385 align:middle line:84%
You ain\'t nothing to
me if you ain\'t white.
00:23:51.385 --> 00:23:53.365 align:middle line:84%
You ain\'t nothing to
me if you ain\'t white.
00:23:53.365 --> 00:23:54.850 align:middle line:84%
You ain\'t nothing to
me if you ain\'t white.
00:23:54.850 --> 00:23:56.335 align:middle line:84%
You ain\'t nothing to
me if you ain\'t white.
00:23:56.335 --> 00:23:58.315 align:middle line:84%
You ain\'t nothing to
me if you ain\'t white.
00:23:58.315 --> 00:23:59.800 align:middle line:90%
[INAUDIBLE] black power.
00:23:59.800 --> 00:24:01.285 align:middle line:90%
[INAUDIBLE] black power.
00:24:01.285 --> 00:24:02.770 align:middle line:90%
[INAUDIBLE]
00:24:02.770 --> 00:24:03.459 align:middle line:90%
[INAUDIBLE]
00:24:03.459 --> 00:24:04.750 align:middle line:90%
Freedom, justice, and equality.
00:24:04.750 --> 00:24:06.730 align:middle line:90%
Freedom, justice, and equality.
00:24:06.730 --> 00:24:08.700 align:middle line:90%
Long live the League.
00:24:08.700 --> 00:24:10.010 align:middle line:90%
Long live the League.
00:24:10.010 --> 00:24:12.430 align:middle line:90%
Long live the League.
00:24:12.430 --> 00:24:13.882 align:middle line:90%
Long live the League.
00:24:13.882 --> 00:24:15.818 align:middle line:90%
Long live the League.
00:24:15.818 --> 00:24:17.270 align:middle line:90%
Long live the League.
00:24:17.270 --> 00:24:19.340 align:middle line:90%
Long live the League.
00:24:19.340 --> 00:24:21.595 align:middle line:90%
Long live the League.
00:24:21.595 --> 00:24:23.399 align:middle line:90%
Long live the League.
00:24:23.399 --> 00:24:25.020 align:middle line:90%
Long live the League.
00:24:25.020 --> 00:24:26.908 align:middle line:90%
Long live the League.
00:24:26.908 --> 00:24:29.740 align:middle line:90%
Long live the League.
00:24:29.740 --> 00:24:33.370 align:middle line:84%
Our big contract is
with the UAW-CIO.
00:24:33.370 --> 00:24:37.070 align:middle line:84%
This is Mr. Walter
Reuther\'s big union.
00:24:37.070 --> 00:24:40.690 align:middle line:84%
As far as the revolutionary
union movement is concerned,
00:24:40.690 --> 00:24:44.490 align:middle line:84%
we know that it
exists, but as far
00:24:44.490 --> 00:24:47.820 align:middle line:84%
as knowing any of the
details, how strong they are,
00:24:47.820 --> 00:24:50.310 align:middle line:84%
how many members it
is, what have you,
00:24:50.310 --> 00:24:52.430 align:middle line:90%
we haven\'t bothered with that.
00:24:52.430 --> 00:24:56.880 align:middle line:84%
Certainly, we have a
contract with the UAW-CIO,
00:24:56.880 --> 00:24:59.870 align:middle line:84%
and these are the
people we deal with.
00:24:59.870 --> 00:25:01.355 align:middle line:90%
Black workers\' power.
00:25:01.355 --> 00:25:02.840 align:middle line:90%
Black workers\' power.
00:25:02.840 --> 00:25:04.820 align:middle line:90%
Black workers\' power.
00:25:04.820 --> 00:25:05.810 align:middle line:90%
Black workers\' power.
00:25:05.810 --> 00:25:07.790 align:middle line:90%
Black workers\' power.
00:25:07.790 --> 00:25:09.275 align:middle line:90%
Black workers\' power.
00:25:09.275 --> 00:25:10.760 align:middle line:90%
Black workers\' power.
00:25:10.760 --> 00:25:12.740 align:middle line:90%
Black workers\' power.
00:25:12.740 --> 00:25:14.720 align:middle line:90%
Black workers\' power.
00:25:14.720 --> 00:25:16.205 align:middle line:90%
Black workers\' power.
00:25:16.205 --> 00:25:17.690 align:middle line:90%
Black workers\' power.
00:25:17.690 --> 00:25:18.710 align:middle line:90%
Black workers\' power.
00:25:18.710 --> 00:25:22.126 align:middle line:84%
We\'ve had a lot
of flack, I guess
00:25:22.126 --> 00:25:25.292 align:middle line:84%
you would say, from
management and union.
00:25:25.292 --> 00:25:27.500 align:middle line:84%
Not because we\'re organizing,
but because of the fact
00:25:27.500 --> 00:25:29.820 align:middle line:84%
that they don\'t want the
conditions of the plant
00:25:29.820 --> 00:25:30.320 align:middle line:90%
exposed.
00:25:30.320 --> 00:25:32.000 align:middle line:84%
The management says
write agreements,
00:25:32.000 --> 00:25:36.080 align:middle line:84%
and the union said they\'ll
make phone calls [INAUDIBLE].
00:25:36.080 --> 00:25:38.075 align:middle line:84%
There\'s been evidence
that management
00:25:38.075 --> 00:25:42.530 align:middle line:84%
has, as of this date,
is working directly
00:25:42.530 --> 00:25:45.610 align:middle line:84%
with the local policy-making
body, which is considered
00:25:45.610 --> 00:25:48.110 align:middle line:84%
the executive board,
which is another violation
00:25:48.110 --> 00:25:51.030 align:middle line:84%
of the contract, because
the stewards in the plants
00:25:51.030 --> 00:25:52.990 align:middle line:84%
and plant committee
within the plants,
00:25:52.990 --> 00:25:56.450 align:middle line:84%
are supposed to
represent the workers.
00:25:56.450 --> 00:26:00.560 align:middle line:84%
I don\'t think there\'s any doubt
that over a period of years,
00:26:00.560 --> 00:26:05.160 align:middle line:84%
the management and unions
have become just a bit closer
00:26:05.160 --> 00:26:06.170 align:middle line:90%
together.
00:26:06.170 --> 00:26:09.770 align:middle line:84%
I worked at Ford
prior to the unions,
00:26:09.770 --> 00:26:14.240 align:middle line:84%
and in the original days,
it was a hectic thing.
00:26:14.240 --> 00:26:17.780 align:middle line:84%
But over the past years
now, seemingly, there\'s
00:26:17.780 --> 00:26:20.740 align:middle line:90%
a getting together of the minds.
00:26:20.740 --> 00:26:23.720 align:middle line:84%
Certainly there are
problems, disagreements,
00:26:23.720 --> 00:26:26.200 align:middle line:84%
but on the other
hand, I think it\'s
00:26:26.200 --> 00:26:31.530 align:middle line:84%
safe to say that management and
union are growing up together.
00:26:31.530 --> 00:26:34.290 align:middle line:84%
Another black
worker in the plant
00:26:34.290 --> 00:26:38.788 align:middle line:84%
had his finger
caught in a machine,
00:26:38.788 --> 00:26:41.800 align:middle line:84%
and he lost his finger,
his small finger, index,
00:26:41.800 --> 00:26:43.300 align:middle line:90%
plus part of another finger.
00:26:43.300 --> 00:26:46.400 align:middle line:90%
00:26:46.400 --> 00:26:49.876 align:middle line:84%
This also was crushed
by management and union.
00:26:49.876 --> 00:26:51.520 align:middle line:84%
There seems to be
no place you can
00:26:51.520 --> 00:26:56.190 align:middle line:84%
turn for any type of
restitution [INAUDIBLE]
00:26:56.190 --> 00:27:00.520 align:middle line:84%
agreements are concerned,
because of this coalition
00:27:00.520 --> 00:27:02.670 align:middle line:90%
between union and management.
00:27:02.670 --> 00:27:05.200 align:middle line:84%
When you have this
getting along,
00:27:05.200 --> 00:27:08.960 align:middle line:84%
naturally it serves to eliminate
some of the labor problems
00:27:08.960 --> 00:27:12.870 align:middle line:84%
that we were faced with back
in the early years of unionism.
00:27:12.870 --> 00:27:15.430 align:middle line:84%
And with the elimination
of those problems,
00:27:15.430 --> 00:27:17.960 align:middle line:90%
it means for regular working.
00:27:17.960 --> 00:27:21.250 align:middle line:84%
You don\'t have the wall
cat stoppages, the strikes,
00:27:21.250 --> 00:27:22.730 align:middle line:90%
and what have you.
00:27:22.730 --> 00:27:25.080 align:middle line:84%
I don\'t think there\'s
any doubt about the fact
00:27:25.080 --> 00:27:28.510 align:middle line:84%
that, as the automotive
industry goes,
00:27:28.510 --> 00:27:30.690 align:middle line:90%
so goes the city of Detroit.
00:27:30.690 --> 00:27:33.170 align:middle line:84%
So goes this country,
more or less.
00:27:33.170 --> 00:27:36.500 align:middle line:84%
Naturally, we lose money
when we are not working.
00:27:36.500 --> 00:27:40.230 align:middle line:90%
So it\'s the best.
00:27:40.230 --> 00:27:42.990 align:middle line:84%
Getting along
certainly eliminates
00:27:42.990 --> 00:27:46.380 align:middle line:84%
the lost time that
is not necessary,
00:27:46.380 --> 00:27:48.460 align:middle line:90%
as far as we\'re concerned.
00:27:48.460 --> 00:28:01.780 align:middle line:90%
[CHANTING]
00:28:01.780 --> 00:28:05.250 align:middle line:84%
The first time in
our memory, the UAW\'s
00:28:05.250 --> 00:28:07.360 align:middle line:84%
having a special
convention here.
00:28:07.360 --> 00:28:09.110 align:middle line:84%
It was supposed to be
yesterday and today,
00:28:09.110 --> 00:28:12.370 align:middle line:84%
but it seems they\'ve
called it off.
00:28:12.370 --> 00:28:14.840 align:middle line:84%
Our purpose was to
protest this convention.
00:28:14.840 --> 00:28:16.870 align:middle line:84%
They\'re raising
our dues-- they\'re
00:28:16.870 --> 00:28:21.480 align:middle line:84%
raising our dues under the guise
of raising strike benefits.
00:28:21.480 --> 00:28:25.450 align:middle line:84%
And to raise the other issue
they never addressed themselves
00:28:25.450 --> 00:28:27.275 align:middle line:84%
to, the issue of speed
up, issue of safety,
00:28:27.275 --> 00:28:28.691 align:middle line:84%
and certainly the
issue of racism.
00:28:28.691 --> 00:28:32.074 align:middle line:84%
And we had hoped to
be able to confront
00:28:32.074 --> 00:28:36.816 align:middle line:84%
the racism at the convention,
but apparently they fled.
00:28:36.816 --> 00:28:39.390 align:middle line:84%
I think also our concern
is with the working
00:28:39.390 --> 00:28:42.484 align:middle line:84%
conditions in the plant, rather
than the economical gains
00:28:42.484 --> 00:28:46.329 align:middle line:84%
that the worker wants
to try and push through
00:28:46.329 --> 00:28:47.620 align:middle line:90%
on this [INAUDIBLE] convention.
00:28:47.620 --> 00:28:50.490 align:middle line:84%
We\'re more concerned
about control of the plant
00:28:50.490 --> 00:28:51.190 align:middle line:90%
by local level.
00:28:51.190 --> 00:28:54.830 align:middle line:84%
We want a clean and
honest election.
00:28:54.830 --> 00:28:58.410 align:middle line:84%
The black workers of the
plants have been discriminated
00:28:58.410 --> 00:29:00.610 align:middle line:90%
against [INAUDIBLE].
00:29:00.610 --> 00:29:03.165 align:middle line:84%
We\'re here now to protest
that and let it be known
00:29:03.165 --> 00:29:07.350 align:middle line:90%
how we feel about [INAUDIBLE].
00:29:07.350 --> 00:29:13.050 align:middle line:84%
Furthermore, just last
night at the plant,
00:29:13.050 --> 00:29:14.853 align:middle line:84%
police came on the
plant property,
00:29:14.853 --> 00:29:17.939 align:middle line:84%
they were arresting workers,
throwing handcuffs on them,
00:29:17.939 --> 00:29:19.230 align:middle line:90%
maced, right on plant property.
00:29:19.230 --> 00:29:21.158 align:middle line:84%
And this is not supposed
to happen, merely
00:29:21.158 --> 00:29:23.450 align:middle line:90%
because they\'re black workers.
00:29:23.450 --> 00:29:25.916 align:middle line:84%
And we are asking the
UAW, along with our local,
00:29:25.916 --> 00:29:27.290 align:middle line:84%
to help us with
these conditions.
00:29:27.290 --> 00:29:30.750 align:middle line:84%
To no avail, though,
and so, that\'s primarily
00:29:30.750 --> 00:29:33.700 align:middle line:84%
one of the reasons
we\'re down here also.
00:29:33.700 --> 00:29:37.200 align:middle line:90%
[CHANTING]
00:29:37.200 --> 00:30:02.698 align:middle line:90%
00:30:02.698 --> 00:30:05.686 align:middle line:90%
[MUSIC PLAYING]
00:30:05.686 --> 00:31:48.274 align:middle line:90%
00:31:48.274 --> 00:31:52.250 align:middle line:84%
There\'s nobody out here but DRUM
slaves. [INAUDIBLE], completely
00:31:52.250 --> 00:31:53.805 align:middle line:84%
[? subsidized ?]
by black people.
00:31:53.805 --> 00:31:54.930 align:middle line:90%
[? You want ?] [INAUDIBLE]?
00:31:54.930 --> 00:31:56.790 align:middle line:90%
Black people did this.
00:31:56.790 --> 00:31:59.540 align:middle line:84%
Black people talking about
[INAUDIBLE] for your need,
00:31:59.540 --> 00:32:03.466 align:middle line:90%
[INAUDIBLE] silly ass profits.
00:32:03.466 --> 00:32:07.321 align:middle line:84%
DRUM, baby, DRUM, baby, DRUM,
baby, DRUM, baby, DRUM, baby,
00:32:07.321 --> 00:32:10.712 align:middle line:90%
DRUM, baby, DRUM.
00:32:10.712 --> 00:32:12.680 align:middle line:90%
[CHANTING]
00:32:12.680 --> 00:32:19.076 align:middle line:90%
00:32:19.076 --> 00:32:22.520 align:middle line:84%
We finally got the
news on [INAUDIBLE].
00:32:22.520 --> 00:32:26.724 align:middle line:90%
Be mad, be mad, be mad, be mad.
00:32:26.724 --> 00:32:29.190 align:middle line:84%
If you ain\'t mad, how
come you ain\'t mad?
00:32:29.190 --> 00:32:32.202 align:middle line:84%
You can\'t do nothing
if you ain\'t mad.
00:32:32.202 --> 00:32:44.040 align:middle line:90%
[SHOUTING]
00:32:44.040 --> 00:32:48.730 align:middle line:84%
Past election, DRUM suspected
the union machine had to cheat.
00:32:48.730 --> 00:32:50.614 align:middle line:84%
In order not to repeat
past experiences,
00:32:50.614 --> 00:32:52.030 align:middle line:84%
DRUM arranged to
have a challenger
00:32:52.030 --> 00:32:53.800 align:middle line:90%
for each of its candidates.
00:32:53.800 --> 00:32:56.330 align:middle line:84%
The screams of election
fraud from black workers,
00:32:56.330 --> 00:32:58.960 align:middle line:84%
because the election
machines refused to record
00:32:58.960 --> 00:33:00.750 align:middle line:90%
votes of DRUM candidates.
00:33:00.750 --> 00:33:02.300 align:middle line:84%
DRUM challengers
found themselves
00:33:02.300 --> 00:33:04.690 align:middle line:84%
fighting a toe-to-toe
battle which
00:33:04.690 --> 00:33:07.250 align:middle line:84%
local union officials, just
to ensure that there would
00:33:07.250 --> 00:33:08.930 align:middle line:90%
be a halfway fair election.
00:33:08.930 --> 00:33:11.020 align:middle line:84%
But when the local
realized that it could not
00:33:11.020 --> 00:33:13.310 align:middle line:84%
steal enough votes
to win, it called
00:33:13.310 --> 00:33:14.840 align:middle line:90%
in the International Union.
00:33:14.840 --> 00:33:17.700 align:middle line:84%
A guy named Joe [? Morrelli, ?]
UAW regional director,
00:33:17.700 --> 00:33:20.600 align:middle line:84%
stormed into the union
hall with his entire 50 man
00:33:20.600 --> 00:33:21.420 align:middle line:90%
regional staff.
00:33:21.420 --> 00:33:23.540 align:middle line:84%
These men were armed,
and they were also
00:33:23.540 --> 00:33:25.890 align:middle line:84%
accompanied by the
Hamtramck police department.
00:33:25.890 --> 00:33:28.740 align:middle line:84%
Together, they forcibly evicted
the workers from the union hall
00:33:28.740 --> 00:33:30.690 align:middle line:84%
and occupied the
local overnight.
00:33:30.690 --> 00:33:33.536 align:middle line:84%
The voting machines hadn\'t
even been sealed yet.
00:33:33.536 --> 00:33:35.160 align:middle line:84%
The next day, union
officials announced
00:33:35.160 --> 00:33:38.630 align:middle line:84%
that Ron March had come
in third with 946 votes.
00:33:38.630 --> 00:33:41.290 align:middle line:84%
The local president didn\'t even
have to face a runoff election.
00:33:41.290 --> 00:33:44.060 align:middle line:84%
Of 35 DRUM candidates,
only two were
00:33:44.060 --> 00:33:46.030 align:middle line:90%
elected as alternate delegates.
00:33:46.030 --> 00:33:48.490 align:middle line:84%
A week before, at the
Chrysler Eldon Avenue plant,
00:33:48.490 --> 00:33:50.410 align:middle line:84%
the ELRUM brothers
had been defeated
00:33:50.410 --> 00:33:52.050 align:middle line:84%
in an election in
which the ballot
00:33:52.050 --> 00:33:55.250 align:middle line:84%
boxes were held overnight in
the police precinct station.
00:33:55.250 --> 00:33:57.490 align:middle line:84%
The election demonstrated
clearly to the workers
00:33:57.490 --> 00:34:00.270 align:middle line:84%
that the UAW bureaucracy
was willing to risk
00:34:00.270 --> 00:34:02.620 align:middle line:84%
outright scandal rather
than allow blacks
00:34:02.620 --> 00:34:04.130 align:middle line:90%
to control their own union.
00:34:04.130 --> 00:34:07.345 align:middle line:84%
It didn\'t matter whether
DRUM legally won or lost
00:34:07.345 --> 00:34:09.290 align:middle line:90%
in the case of this election.
00:34:09.290 --> 00:34:12.110 align:middle line:84%
What counted was the
very process of struggle.
00:34:12.110 --> 00:34:14.600 align:middle line:84%
Where the enemy loses
by arousing the anger
00:34:14.600 --> 00:34:16.530 align:middle line:84%
and raising the
consciousness of thousands
00:34:16.530 --> 00:34:18.553 align:middle line:90%
and thousands of black workers.
00:34:18.553 --> 00:34:19.969 align:middle line:84%
Of course, you
know, black workers
00:34:19.969 --> 00:34:21.510 align:middle line:84%
haven\'t been the
only people who\'ve
00:34:21.510 --> 00:34:24.204 align:middle line:84%
been exploited in
American society.
00:34:24.204 --> 00:34:25.620 align:middle line:84%
In this country,
you know, they\'ve
00:34:25.620 --> 00:34:28.266 align:middle line:84%
been like the
foundation stone of it.
00:34:28.266 --> 00:34:30.099 align:middle line:84%
The vast majority of
people in this country,
00:34:30.099 --> 00:34:33.230 align:middle line:84%
the vast majority of white
people in this country,
00:34:33.230 --> 00:34:35.770 align:middle line:84%
are workers,
overwhelming majority.
00:34:35.770 --> 00:34:39.350 align:middle line:84%
And they\'re exploited
similarly to black people.
00:34:39.350 --> 00:34:42.159 align:middle line:84%
You know, they may not work as
hard, the exploitation may not
00:34:42.159 --> 00:34:46.060 align:middle line:84%
be as intense, but they\'re
still the same, being exploited.
00:34:46.060 --> 00:34:49.056 align:middle line:84%
And generally, they know
that they\'re being exploited.
00:34:49.056 --> 00:34:51.546 align:middle line:90%
[MUSIC PLAYING]
00:34:51.546 --> 00:35:26.352 align:middle line:90%
00:35:26.352 --> 00:35:28.185 align:middle line:84%
I worked in all these
factories around here.
00:35:28.185 --> 00:35:33.820 align:middle line:84%
For Chrysler\'s, Dodge
main, diesels, Fords.
00:35:33.820 --> 00:35:36.290 align:middle line:84%
Frankly, all of the
shops here in Detroit.
00:35:36.290 --> 00:35:38.790 align:middle line:84%
All I got out of
it was a living,
00:35:38.790 --> 00:35:41.310 align:middle line:84%
and that\'s about all
any man can get out
00:35:41.310 --> 00:35:43.710 align:middle line:84%
of working by the
day [INAUDIBLE].
00:35:43.710 --> 00:35:47.750 align:middle line:84%
I got a job at Cadillac,
on the assembly line,
00:35:47.750 --> 00:35:50.510 align:middle line:84%
and I was swinging this
rear end of a Cadillac,
00:35:50.510 --> 00:35:51.660 align:middle line:90%
under those springs.
00:35:51.660 --> 00:35:55.460 align:middle line:84%
42 an hour, and I quit smoking,
because I didn\'t have time
00:35:55.460 --> 00:35:56.262 align:middle line:90%
to light one.
00:35:56.262 --> 00:35:57.470 align:middle line:90%
I was a steward at that time.
00:35:57.470 --> 00:35:59.902 align:middle line:84%
And they\'d have the line
speed up on one floor,
00:35:59.902 --> 00:36:01.610 align:middle line:84%
you go up there, you
talk to the foreman.
00:36:01.610 --> 00:36:02.875 align:middle line:90%
He\'d slow it down.
00:36:02.875 --> 00:36:05.609 align:middle line:84%
You go down, turn your back,
go downstairs, come back up,
00:36:05.609 --> 00:36:07.400 align:middle line:84%
in ten minutes, he had
it speeded up again.
00:36:07.400 --> 00:36:08.460 align:middle line:90%
What are you going to do?
00:36:08.460 --> 00:36:10.210 align:middle line:84%
They just wanted to
run that thing the way
00:36:10.210 --> 00:36:11.570 align:middle line:90%
they wanted to run themselves.
00:36:11.570 --> 00:36:14.600 align:middle line:84%
But the ownership
benefits by it.
00:36:14.600 --> 00:36:16.420 align:middle line:90%
The ownership only.
00:36:16.420 --> 00:36:19.720 align:middle line:84%
And I said, you take that
goddamn job and shove it.
00:36:19.720 --> 00:36:20.760 align:middle line:90%
I walked out of there.
00:36:20.760 --> 00:36:22.676 align:middle line:84%
I can\'t never work for
General Motors anymore.
00:36:22.676 --> 00:36:24.790 align:middle line:84%
They got that on
my record, I guess.
00:36:24.790 --> 00:36:28.930 align:middle line:84%
I left Huntington, West Virginia
in 1942, and came to Detroit.
00:36:28.930 --> 00:36:30.520 align:middle line:84%
I came up to Detroit
because there
00:36:30.520 --> 00:36:34.220 align:middle line:84%
was no much work in the south,
in Huntington, West Virginia.
00:36:34.220 --> 00:36:35.977 align:middle line:84%
So I come up here
for better wages.
00:36:35.977 --> 00:36:37.310 align:middle line:90%
Hear about the South being poor.
00:36:37.310 --> 00:36:37.890 align:middle line:90%
You talk about the North.
00:36:37.890 --> 00:36:40.140 align:middle line:84%
Go through the South, and
see some of them people
00:36:40.140 --> 00:36:41.630 align:middle line:90%
living up in the hills.
00:36:41.630 --> 00:36:43.240 align:middle line:90%
Down South, you didn\'t make it.
00:36:43.240 --> 00:36:44.680 align:middle line:84%
Work six days a
week, [INAUDIBLE]
00:36:44.680 --> 00:36:48.430 align:middle line:84%
[? carrying hide, ?] ten
bricklayers, you make $19.80.
00:36:48.430 --> 00:36:51.730 align:middle line:84%
1940, you made $50 up
here washing dishes.
00:36:51.730 --> 00:36:52.930 align:middle line:90%
It was a lot of money.
00:36:52.930 --> 00:36:54.850 align:middle line:84%
Most money I\'ve ever
seen in my life.
00:36:54.850 --> 00:36:56.440 align:middle line:84%
Far as I\'m concerned,
the poor man\'s
00:36:56.440 --> 00:37:00.060 align:middle line:84%
been poor all of his life,
and the rich man\'s had it.
00:37:00.060 --> 00:37:02.567 align:middle line:84%
So you can\'t take it
away from the rich man.
00:37:02.567 --> 00:37:04.150 align:middle line:84%
Well, he got it all
from the poor man.
00:37:04.150 --> 00:37:07.530 align:middle line:84%
That\'s the reason why they
got all the riches they got.
00:37:07.530 --> 00:37:09.820 align:middle line:90%
They work you for nothing.
00:37:09.820 --> 00:37:12.300 align:middle line:84%
That\'s the reason why
they got all the money.
00:37:12.300 --> 00:37:15.190 align:middle line:84%
And to this day, we\'ll
still be on [INAUDIBLE]
00:37:15.190 --> 00:37:17.290 align:middle line:84%
if something ain\'t
done about it.
00:37:17.290 --> 00:37:20.050 align:middle line:84%
Everybody is almost in
revolt in this country,
00:37:20.050 --> 00:37:22.139 align:middle line:84%
and I just think were
entitled to more money.
00:37:22.139 --> 00:37:24.180 align:middle line:84%
We should get it, just
the same as everybody else
00:37:24.180 --> 00:37:25.580 align:middle line:84%
is getting their
share of the loot.
00:37:25.580 --> 00:37:27.955 align:middle line:84%
Well, certain groups are,
there\'s no question about that.
00:37:27.955 --> 00:37:33.630 align:middle line:84%
Colored, for one, and ADC,
and so forth and so on.
00:37:33.630 --> 00:37:35.860 align:middle line:84%
Oh, there\'s a lot of confusion
amongst white people,
00:37:35.860 --> 00:37:38.060 align:middle line:84%
especially amongst white
workers in this country,
00:37:38.060 --> 00:37:39.650 align:middle line:90%
about who the enemy is.
00:37:39.650 --> 00:37:41.660 align:middle line:84%
The same contradictions
of overproduction,
00:37:41.660 --> 00:37:44.370 align:middle line:84%
the same contradictions
of increasing production,
00:37:44.370 --> 00:37:47.360 align:middle line:84%
are prevalent within
the white working class,
00:37:47.360 --> 00:37:52.340 align:middle line:84%
but because of the immense
resources of propaganda,
00:37:52.340 --> 00:37:57.770 align:middle line:84%
publicity, radio, television,
journals, magazines,
00:37:57.770 --> 00:38:00.604 align:middle line:84%
and so on and so forth,
which can be drawn upon,
00:38:00.604 --> 00:38:02.520 align:middle line:84%
white people tend to get
a little bit confused
00:38:02.520 --> 00:38:04.300 align:middle line:90%
about who the enemy is.
00:38:04.300 --> 00:38:08.420 align:middle line:84%
You take a look at
white workers in Flint,
00:38:08.420 --> 00:38:12.338 align:middle line:84%
for instance, in the automobile
industry, who are pretty hard
00:38:12.338 --> 00:38:16.680 align:middle line:84%
pressed, because the Buick plant
up there is whipping their ass,
00:38:16.680 --> 00:38:19.170 align:middle line:84%
and it\'s whipping their ass
about twice as hard today
00:38:19.170 --> 00:38:20.900 align:middle line:90%
as it was five years ago.
00:38:20.900 --> 00:38:22.670 align:middle line:84%
But who do they
think the enemy is?
00:38:22.670 --> 00:38:26.180 align:middle line:84%
You know, the nigger
on the street.
00:38:26.180 --> 00:38:28.600 align:middle line:84%
Crime on the streets,
you know, is a problem.
00:38:28.600 --> 00:38:30.730 align:middle line:84%
Black people moving
into our neighborhood,
00:38:30.730 --> 00:38:33.110 align:middle line:84%
causing housing
prices to decline,
00:38:33.110 --> 00:38:36.540 align:middle line:84%
and threatening to wait for
our wives and daughters.
00:38:36.540 --> 00:38:41.500 align:middle line:84%
And as a result, you get a
cat like George Wallace who
00:38:41.500 --> 00:38:44.500 align:middle line:84%
comes along, and
George Wallace is not
00:38:44.500 --> 00:38:47.360 align:middle line:84%
the first of the populous
fascists in this country.
00:38:47.360 --> 00:38:48.970 align:middle line:84%
And George Wallace
talks about how
00:38:48.970 --> 00:38:53.430 align:middle line:84%
the big fat cats of Wall Street
are messing up the country.
00:38:53.430 --> 00:38:55.700 align:middle line:84%
It\'s the little man
that\'s suffering because
00:38:55.700 --> 00:39:00.700 align:middle line:84%
of the big, rich financial
bears of Wall Street
00:39:00.700 --> 00:39:04.750 align:middle line:84%
in conjunction and in
alliance with the niggers.
00:39:04.750 --> 00:39:06.960 align:middle line:84%
And the white folks,
the white workers,
00:39:06.960 --> 00:39:08.222 align:middle line:90%
tend to buy that shit up.
00:39:08.222 --> 00:39:09.180 align:middle line:90%
They tend to eat it up.
00:39:09.180 --> 00:39:10.570 align:middle line:90%
They tend to love it.
00:39:10.570 --> 00:39:13.240 align:middle line:84%
That\'s not in Birmingham,
Alabama that I\'m talking about.
00:39:13.240 --> 00:39:14.360 align:middle line:90%
That\'s in Flint, Michigan.
00:39:14.360 --> 00:39:16.241 align:middle line:84%
As a result of
that kind of thing,
00:39:16.241 --> 00:39:18.490 align:middle line:84%
millions and millions of
white workers in this country
00:39:18.490 --> 00:39:20.850 align:middle line:84%
just don\'t understand
what\'s going down,
00:39:20.850 --> 00:39:22.810 align:middle line:84%
and end up becoming
counter-revolutionary,
00:39:22.810 --> 00:39:25.357 align:middle line:84%
even though the contradictions
which they face every day
00:39:25.357 --> 00:39:26.940 align:middle line:84%
would say that they
should be the most
00:39:26.940 --> 00:39:29.500 align:middle line:90%
staunch revolutionaries.
00:39:29.500 --> 00:39:32.590 align:middle line:84%
Black people represent the
most forward, and progressive,
00:39:32.590 --> 00:39:35.490 align:middle line:84%
and militant movement
inside the plant.
00:39:35.490 --> 00:39:38.370 align:middle line:84%
Which are calling,
not for-- in reality,
00:39:38.370 --> 00:39:40.200 align:middle line:84%
they ain\'t calling
for the destruction
00:39:40.200 --> 00:39:43.210 align:middle line:90%
of the white working class.
00:39:43.210 --> 00:39:45.205 align:middle line:84%
The demands which
should be presented
00:39:45.205 --> 00:39:48.860 align:middle line:84%
are demands which are calling
for an uplifting of the working
00:39:48.860 --> 00:39:50.425 align:middle line:90%
class as a whole.
00:39:50.425 --> 00:39:51.800 align:middle line:84%
And the actual
fact of the matter
00:39:51.800 --> 00:39:53.750 align:middle line:84%
is that the movement
of black workers
00:39:53.750 --> 00:39:56.020 align:middle line:84%
is a class movement
that\'s calling
00:39:56.020 --> 00:39:58.900 align:middle line:84%
for a total change in the
relationship between workers
00:39:58.900 --> 00:40:01.190 align:middle line:90%
and owners all together.
00:40:01.190 --> 00:40:04.080 align:middle line:84%
And what it\'s saying is, that
certainly, with all the shitty,
00:40:04.080 --> 00:40:05.580 align:middle line:84%
and lowest paying
jobs in the plant,
00:40:05.580 --> 00:40:08.380 align:middle line:84%
certainly we don\'t want to
be the most exploited people
00:40:08.380 --> 00:40:09.205 align:middle line:90%
in the plant.
00:40:09.205 --> 00:40:11.652 align:middle line:84%
But we aren\'t calling for
anybody to be exploited.
00:40:11.652 --> 00:40:13.820 align:middle line:84%
We\'re calling for the
elimination of exploitation
00:40:13.820 --> 00:40:15.469 align:middle line:90%
in the plants.
00:40:15.469 --> 00:40:17.260 align:middle line:84%
We\'re calling for the
elimination of racism
00:40:17.260 --> 00:40:18.655 align:middle line:90%
in the plants.
00:40:18.655 --> 00:40:20.030 align:middle line:84%
We\'re calling for
the elimination
00:40:20.030 --> 00:40:22.960 align:middle line:84%
of any kind of conditions
inside of the plants
00:40:22.960 --> 00:40:29.060 align:middle line:84%
which are bad for the basic
health and enjoyment of life.
00:40:29.060 --> 00:40:31.320 align:middle line:84%
We are not calling
for the replacement
00:40:31.320 --> 00:40:34.070 align:middle line:84%
of the black proletariat
with white workers
00:40:34.070 --> 00:40:37.040 align:middle line:84%
who happen to be at a
higher stage in the ladder.
00:40:37.040 --> 00:40:38.950 align:middle line:84%
We are not calling
for a situation
00:40:38.950 --> 00:40:40.920 align:middle line:84%
in which white
oppressors would be
00:40:40.920 --> 00:40:43.520 align:middle line:90%
replaced by black oppressors.
00:40:43.520 --> 00:40:46.347 align:middle line:84%
We\'re calling for the ending
of repression all together.
00:40:46.347 --> 00:40:48.430 align:middle line:84%
You know, basically the
reason that they\'re racist
00:40:48.430 --> 00:40:49.888 align:middle line:84%
is because of the
fact that they\'re
00:40:49.888 --> 00:40:52.660 align:middle line:84%
afraid that the little bit of
niche they got in the society
00:40:52.660 --> 00:40:53.640 align:middle line:90%
is going to be harmed.
00:40:53.640 --> 00:40:55.990 align:middle line:84%
But ain\'t nobody been trying
to demonstrate to them
00:40:55.990 --> 00:40:59.190 align:middle line:84%
that rather than being
against the black movement,
00:40:59.190 --> 00:41:01.990 align:middle line:84%
and being enemies of
the black movement,
00:41:01.990 --> 00:41:04.802 align:middle line:84%
that they should be in favor of
the black movement, supporters
00:41:04.802 --> 00:41:06.510 align:middle line:84%
of the black movement,
because the things
00:41:06.510 --> 00:41:08.740 align:middle line:84%
that the black movement is
doing inside of industry
00:41:08.740 --> 00:41:10.600 align:middle line:84%
are basically in
their interests.
00:41:10.600 --> 00:41:13.180 align:middle line:84%
The kinds of demands and
the kinds of movements
00:41:13.180 --> 00:41:16.185 align:middle line:84%
which black people are
making inside the plants
00:41:16.185 --> 00:41:20.780 align:middle line:84%
are not inimical to the interest
of the average white worker.
00:41:20.780 --> 00:41:23.630 align:middle line:84%
My father works for
Chrysler, and he\'s
00:41:23.630 --> 00:41:25.070 align:middle line:90%
worked for the big three.
00:41:25.070 --> 00:41:28.020 align:middle line:84%
And when I was younger, I
didn\'t see him too much,
00:41:28.020 --> 00:41:29.660 align:middle line:84%
because he was
working afternoons,
00:41:29.660 --> 00:41:32.630 align:middle line:84%
and to support the family,
he had to work two jobs.
00:41:32.630 --> 00:41:35.656 align:middle line:84%
See, that\'s one of the things,
is compulsive overtime.
00:41:35.656 --> 00:41:37.780 align:middle line:84%
If the company wants you
to work seven days a week,
00:41:37.780 --> 00:41:40.300 align:middle line:84%
12 hours a day,
you have to work.
00:41:40.300 --> 00:41:42.590 align:middle line:90%
And he has to do this.
00:41:42.590 --> 00:41:45.640 align:middle line:84%
So, I don\'t know,
you know, he\'s tired.
00:41:45.640 --> 00:41:47.600 align:middle line:84%
And you can see
the strain on him.
00:41:47.600 --> 00:41:49.520 align:middle line:84%
Even if the work
ain\'t that bad, it\'s
00:41:49.520 --> 00:41:51.670 align:middle line:84%
the monotony of it
that gets to you.
00:41:51.670 --> 00:41:55.210 align:middle line:84%
I don\'t think a human being\'s
made to do the same repetitive
00:41:55.210 --> 00:42:00.550 align:middle line:84%
tasks, 2, 3,000 times a
day, every day for 40 years.
00:42:00.550 --> 00:42:03.370 align:middle line:84%
And a lot of these
guys drink in there.
00:42:03.370 --> 00:42:06.730 align:middle line:84%
And I don\'t think a lot of them
care whether they live or die,
00:42:06.730 --> 00:42:07.680 align:middle line:90%
really.
00:42:07.680 --> 00:42:09.890 align:middle line:84%
The program here at
McComb is designed
00:42:09.890 --> 00:42:13.550 align:middle line:84%
to take a student with the
average high school education,
00:42:13.550 --> 00:42:17.180 align:middle line:84%
take this young man, and bring
him up to a technical level
00:42:17.180 --> 00:42:20.490 align:middle line:84%
so that he is employable
within his community.
00:42:20.490 --> 00:42:22.620 align:middle line:84%
Those who wish to
leave when they get
00:42:22.620 --> 00:42:25.800 align:middle line:84%
done, and many of the students
leave before they are done,
00:42:25.800 --> 00:42:29.020 align:middle line:84%
these we call continuing
education or terminal education
00:42:29.020 --> 00:42:30.030 align:middle line:90%
students.
00:42:30.030 --> 00:42:32.800 align:middle line:84%
These young people come
in, they need a job,
00:42:32.800 --> 00:42:36.730 align:middle line:84%
maybe the job is to be a silver
braiser at a factory that pays
00:42:36.730 --> 00:42:39.510 align:middle line:90%
approximately $3.50 an hour.
00:42:39.510 --> 00:42:41.670 align:middle line:84%
They need this job to
support themselves.
00:42:41.670 --> 00:42:43.810 align:middle line:84%
They\'ll come in,
they\'ll take the course
00:42:43.810 --> 00:42:47.380 align:middle line:84%
on oxyacetylene welding, and
we\'ll never see them again.
00:42:47.380 --> 00:42:48.580 align:middle line:90%
This got them a job.
00:42:48.580 --> 00:42:52.135 align:middle line:84%
It got them on the payrolls
of society, shall we say,
00:42:52.135 --> 00:42:53.520 align:middle line:90%
and they\'re happy.
00:42:53.520 --> 00:42:55.680 align:middle line:84%
The reason I\'m
attending this McComb
00:42:55.680 --> 00:42:59.390 align:middle line:84%
is because I wouldn\'t be
accepted at any other place.
00:42:59.390 --> 00:43:02.350 align:middle line:84%
And the reason for that, is it
would go back to grade school,
00:43:02.350 --> 00:43:03.850 align:middle line:84%
to teachers, they
didn\'t think I was
00:43:03.850 --> 00:43:05.030 align:middle line:90%
going to amount to too much.
00:43:05.030 --> 00:43:07.950 align:middle line:84%
And you take these
tests, and they said,
00:43:07.950 --> 00:43:11.280 align:middle line:84%
well, you didn\'t do too good,
and you\'re a little dumb.
00:43:11.280 --> 00:43:13.340 align:middle line:84%
And one teacher actually
told me she thought
00:43:13.340 --> 00:43:15.110 align:middle line:90%
I\'d be a factory worker.
00:43:15.110 --> 00:43:16.700 align:middle line:90%
And, well, that was OK with me.
00:43:16.700 --> 00:43:20.840 align:middle line:84%
So in high school, I just took
shop courses, and shop math.
00:43:20.840 --> 00:43:23.300 align:middle line:84%
And as long as you
just get the degree,
00:43:23.300 --> 00:43:25.252 align:middle line:90%
that was an important thing.
00:43:25.252 --> 00:43:27.710 align:middle line:84%
I would have dropped out, but
my parents wanted me to stay,
00:43:27.710 --> 00:43:30.500 align:middle line:90%
so I stayed in.
00:43:30.500 --> 00:43:33.040 align:middle line:84%
When I\'m not at McComb,
I work in the factories
00:43:33.040 --> 00:43:34.610 align:middle line:90%
that are around Detroit.
00:43:34.610 --> 00:43:37.535 align:middle line:84%
And going to school
is a little better
00:43:37.535 --> 00:43:38.790 align:middle line:90%
than working in the factories.
00:43:38.790 --> 00:43:40.850 align:middle line:90%
So it\'s the worst of two evils.
00:43:40.850 --> 00:43:44.670 align:middle line:84%
Plus, you get a deferment
for it, and that\'s all right.
00:43:44.670 --> 00:43:47.950 align:middle line:84%
We at McComb have a
cooperative training program
00:43:47.950 --> 00:43:51.770 align:middle line:84%
that we are always looking for
job opportunities for students.
00:43:51.770 --> 00:43:55.450 align:middle line:84%
And I was assured by some of the
people from Ford Motor Company
00:43:55.450 --> 00:43:57.540 align:middle line:84%
that if we have some
young people who
00:43:57.540 --> 00:44:00.100 align:middle line:84%
are interested in foundry
and need a working
00:44:00.100 --> 00:44:02.570 align:middle line:84%
opportunity in this
area, that they will
00:44:02.570 --> 00:44:04.940 align:middle line:90%
provide occupational training.
00:44:04.940 --> 00:44:08.640 align:middle line:90%
00:44:08.640 --> 00:44:11.060 align:middle line:84%
You see guys in the welding
department over here,
00:44:11.060 --> 00:44:13.110 align:middle line:84%
running down how great
the welding job is,
00:44:13.110 --> 00:44:16.250 align:middle line:84%
by saying we make
all this money.
00:44:16.250 --> 00:44:18.130 align:middle line:84%
The thing is, you don\'t
make that much money,
00:44:18.130 --> 00:44:20.421 align:middle line:84%
and you don\'t get that same
security like the promises.
00:44:20.421 --> 00:44:22.430 align:middle line:84%
I mean, you get sparks
flying in your eyes,
00:44:22.430 --> 00:44:24.990 align:middle line:84%
and you know, you get
[INAUDIBLE] in your lungs.
00:44:24.990 --> 00:44:25.939 align:middle line:90%
It\'s a drag.
00:44:25.939 --> 00:44:27.980 align:middle line:84%
And like, that\'s the only
alternatives they have,
00:44:27.980 --> 00:44:29.770 align:middle line:90%
by getting better factory jobs.
00:44:29.770 --> 00:44:32.126 align:middle line:84%
I mean, the technology
thing is the only real thing
00:44:32.126 --> 00:44:34.000 align:middle line:84%
that they\'re going to
get out of this school.
00:44:34.000 --> 00:44:35.916 align:middle line:84%
The real thing is, like,
the only alternatives
00:44:35.916 --> 00:44:39.610 align:middle line:84%
they have is doing those
technology kind of jobs.
00:44:39.610 --> 00:44:41.110 align:middle line:84%
I mean-- by technology,
I don\'t mean
00:44:41.110 --> 00:44:43.700 align:middle line:84%
like smashing atoms
and that sort of job,
00:44:43.700 --> 00:44:45.570 align:middle line:84%
I mean, you know,
being a better welder
00:44:45.570 --> 00:44:48.330 align:middle line:84%
and producing 1,000
pieces of production
00:44:48.330 --> 00:44:49.720 align:middle line:90%
more than the old man could do.
00:44:49.720 --> 00:44:53.400 align:middle line:84%
The thing about McComb is they
have this policy about phasing
00:44:53.400 --> 00:44:55.160 align:middle line:90%
out a lot of county students.
00:44:55.160 --> 00:44:56.720 align:middle line:84%
What out of county
students mean is,
00:44:56.720 --> 00:44:58.970 align:middle line:84%
that most of the out of
county students that come here
00:44:58.970 --> 00:44:59.880 align:middle line:90%
are black.
00:44:59.880 --> 00:45:01.577 align:middle line:84%
And they have last
pick of the classes,
00:45:01.577 --> 00:45:03.410 align:middle line:84%
and the only classes
that are basically open
00:45:03.410 --> 00:45:05.320 align:middle line:90%
are the technology classes.
00:45:05.320 --> 00:45:07.780 align:middle line:90%
So like, institutional racism.
00:45:07.780 --> 00:45:09.630 align:middle line:84%
It\'s like most of
the skilled trades,
00:45:09.630 --> 00:45:11.422 align:middle line:84%
like white people are
into it, black people
00:45:11.422 --> 00:45:12.796 align:middle line:84%
are sort of like
let out, they\'re
00:45:12.796 --> 00:45:14.785 align:middle line:84%
doing some other
stuff like foundry,
00:45:14.785 --> 00:45:16.860 align:middle line:90%
and sort of bogus kind of work.
00:45:16.860 --> 00:45:18.999 align:middle line:84%
It\'s like a relevant
thing that white people
00:45:18.999 --> 00:45:21.040 align:middle line:84%
should respect the black
struggle in the factory,
00:45:21.040 --> 00:45:24.300 align:middle line:84%
because black struggling
in the factory
00:45:24.300 --> 00:45:25.670 align:middle line:90%
will benefit both people.
00:45:25.670 --> 00:45:28.760 align:middle line:84%
The thing is, the League and
DRUM organizing in the factory,
00:45:28.760 --> 00:45:30.970 align:middle line:84%
they\'re working in
coordination, hoping
00:45:30.970 --> 00:45:33.350 align:middle line:84%
that a white struggle in the
factories will come about.
00:45:33.350 --> 00:45:34.850 align:middle line:84%
It\'s real important
for white people
00:45:34.850 --> 00:45:36.300 align:middle line:84%
to start organizing
white people,
00:45:36.300 --> 00:45:38.350 align:middle line:84%
and respect the black
people\'s struggle.
00:45:38.350 --> 00:45:40.110 align:middle line:90%
You know, you got Vietnam.
00:45:40.110 --> 00:45:42.360 align:middle line:90%
You got rebellions taking place.
00:45:42.360 --> 00:45:44.140 align:middle line:84%
You have more strikes
than there have ever
00:45:44.140 --> 00:45:45.370 align:middle line:90%
been before in this country.
00:45:45.370 --> 00:45:48.070 align:middle line:84%
Yet you got higher profits
than you\'ve ever had before.
00:45:48.070 --> 00:45:53.410 align:middle line:84%
The fact of the matter is
that the incessant pressures
00:45:53.410 --> 00:45:57.640 align:middle line:84%
of production on the
worker have reached
00:45:57.640 --> 00:46:00.422 align:middle line:84%
the point of productivity
which is so high--
00:46:00.422 --> 00:46:03.100 align:middle line:84%
and this is
literally the truth--
00:46:03.100 --> 00:46:08.290 align:middle line:84%
that the automobile industry
could afford to double wages
00:46:08.290 --> 00:46:12.130 align:middle line:84%
without even worrying about
very much of lost profits.
00:46:12.130 --> 00:46:14.510 align:middle line:84%
In terms of actual
real wages, when
00:46:14.510 --> 00:46:17.849 align:middle line:84%
you take into account
inflation, the level
00:46:17.849 --> 00:46:19.890 align:middle line:84%
is just a little bit above,
if it is a little bit
00:46:19.890 --> 00:46:25.350 align:middle line:84%
above, maybe because over
time, what it was 20 years ago.
00:46:25.350 --> 00:46:27.240 align:middle line:84%
And essentially,
what it is a thing
00:46:27.240 --> 00:46:30.470 align:middle line:84%
that we call the political
economy of poverty.
00:46:30.470 --> 00:46:34.520 align:middle line:84%
And what it says that if
you keep people poor enough,
00:46:34.520 --> 00:46:37.260 align:middle line:84%
not only are you starving
them, but you\'re stopping
00:46:37.260 --> 00:46:39.210 align:middle line:90%
them form having some power.
00:46:39.210 --> 00:46:42.910 align:middle line:84%
But as wages increase,
the power of the workers
00:46:42.910 --> 00:46:46.020 align:middle line:90%
to be able to resist increases.
00:46:46.020 --> 00:46:48.260 align:middle line:84%
That is, they\'re able to
save a little bit of money.
00:46:48.260 --> 00:46:50.176 align:middle line:84%
If they\'re able to save
a little bit of money,
00:46:50.176 --> 00:46:51.811 align:middle line:84%
they\'re able to
develop a strike fund.
00:46:51.811 --> 00:46:54.310 align:middle line:84%
Not only would they be able to
develop a strike fund if they
00:46:54.310 --> 00:46:55.851 align:middle line:84%
got a little bit of
extra money, they
00:46:55.851 --> 00:46:57.337 align:middle line:90%
might be able to buy some guns.
00:46:57.337 --> 00:46:59.920 align:middle line:84%
They might be able to organize
themselves a little bit better.
00:46:59.920 --> 00:47:01.920 align:middle line:84%
You know, be able to
afford to pay some dues,
00:47:01.920 --> 00:47:04.950 align:middle line:84%
through which they can
have a paid staff, which
00:47:04.950 --> 00:47:07.770 align:middle line:84%
can do all the things which
are necessary to the creation
00:47:07.770 --> 00:47:09.432 align:middle line:90%
of a revolutionary organization.
00:47:09.432 --> 00:47:12.100 align:middle line:84%
The League\'s practice,
in our judgment,
00:47:12.100 --> 00:47:14.740 align:middle line:84%
reflects a number of things
that are fairly critical.
00:47:14.740 --> 00:47:18.220 align:middle line:84%
OK, just in summary, one,
it reflects an awareness
00:47:18.220 --> 00:47:20.810 align:middle line:84%
on the part of the League that
the only kind of resolution
00:47:20.810 --> 00:47:22.300 align:middle line:84%
of the problems
facing black people
00:47:22.300 --> 00:47:24.200 align:middle line:84%
and other oppressed
people in this country
00:47:24.200 --> 00:47:26.866 align:middle line:84%
is going to have to come through
a level of revolutionary change
00:47:26.866 --> 00:47:28.350 align:middle line:90%
being induced.
00:47:28.350 --> 00:47:30.000 align:middle line:84%
The League\'s practice,
we think, also
00:47:30.000 --> 00:47:32.885 align:middle line:84%
reflects an awareness of the
fact that continued adherence
00:47:32.885 --> 00:47:34.510 align:middle line:84%
and continued reliance
on the operation
00:47:34.510 --> 00:47:36.884 align:middle line:84%
of capitalistic principles
and imperialist principles is,
00:47:36.884 --> 00:47:39.484 align:middle line:84%
of course, anathema, you know,
and the antithesis of anything
00:47:39.484 --> 00:47:41.025 align:middle line:84%
that relates to
decency, and justice,
00:47:41.025 --> 00:47:42.540 align:middle line:90%
and freedom for mankind.
00:47:42.540 --> 00:47:45.660 align:middle line:84%
So we are explicitly
Marxist Leninist.
00:47:45.660 --> 00:47:47.735 align:middle line:84%
But we are also, of
course, cognizant
00:47:47.735 --> 00:47:49.860 align:middle line:84%
of the fact that there\'s
a peculiar oppression that
00:47:49.860 --> 00:47:51.070 align:middle line:90%
affects black people.
00:47:51.070 --> 00:47:53.040 align:middle line:84%
We call ourselves the League
of Revolutionary Black Workers,
00:47:53.040 --> 00:47:54.950 align:middle line:84%
and we have to deal with
the racial component
00:47:54.950 --> 00:47:57.190 align:middle line:84%
as it operates in terms of
producing and maintaining
00:47:57.190 --> 00:47:59.450 align:middle line:84%
oppression and exploitation
in this society.
00:47:59.450 --> 00:48:03.670 align:middle line:84%
It is equally clear that
blacks objectively represent
00:48:03.670 --> 00:48:04.990 align:middle line:90%
the vanguard of the struggle.
00:48:04.990 --> 00:48:07.640 align:middle line:84%
It\'s our position
that workers represent
00:48:07.640 --> 00:48:09.630 align:middle line:84%
the vanguard of
this black vanguard
00:48:09.630 --> 00:48:12.460 align:middle line:84%
by virtue of the strategic point
in which they find themselves
00:48:12.460 --> 00:48:14.560 align:middle line:84%
located in a critical
aspect of the operation
00:48:14.560 --> 00:48:16.060 align:middle line:90%
of the capitalist system.
00:48:16.060 --> 00:48:18.199 align:middle line:84%
So it\'s our feeling
that the necessity
00:48:18.199 --> 00:48:20.240 align:middle line:84%
of developing organizations
like the organization
00:48:20.240 --> 00:48:23.675 align:middle line:84%
that we\'re trying to work
on developing is crucial,
00:48:23.675 --> 00:48:24.175 align:middle line:90%
is critical.
00:48:24.175 --> 00:48:26.360 align:middle line:84%
That it is critically
important, in terms
00:48:26.360 --> 00:48:28.087 align:middle line:84%
of trying to do the
kind of organizing
00:48:28.087 --> 00:48:29.920 align:middle line:84%
that the League, and
the DRUM, and the ELRUM
00:48:29.920 --> 00:48:31.753 align:middle line:84%
and the other organizations
have tried to do
00:48:31.753 --> 00:48:34.350 align:middle line:84%
is, that it\'s critical to
relate to other components
00:48:34.350 --> 00:48:35.870 align:middle line:90%
in the community.
00:48:35.870 --> 00:48:38.370 align:middle line:84%
The student piece-- the League
has a student component,
00:48:38.370 --> 00:48:39.629 align:middle line:90%
the black student voice.
00:48:39.629 --> 00:48:41.920 align:middle line:84%
The League is working now to
build a citywide operation
00:48:41.920 --> 00:48:44.370 align:middle line:84%
called the Black Student United
Front, because we understand
00:48:44.370 --> 00:48:45.610 align:middle line:84%
the necessity of
having their support.
00:48:45.610 --> 00:48:48.270 align:middle line:84%
We also understand the manpower
that can be made available.
00:48:48.270 --> 00:48:52.704 align:middle line:84%
The League relates concretely
to that whole familiar category
00:48:52.704 --> 00:48:54.370 align:middle line:84%
of problems [INAUDIBLE]
that one relates
00:48:54.370 --> 00:48:55.660 align:middle line:90%
to the so-called ghetto, man.
00:48:55.660 --> 00:48:57.826 align:middle line:84%
The problems of housing,
the problems of employment,
00:48:57.826 --> 00:49:00.272 align:middle line:84%
the problems of police
community relations-- police
00:49:00.272 --> 00:49:02.230 align:middle line:84%
brutality if you don\'t
want to be euphemistic--
00:49:02.230 --> 00:49:02.938 align:middle line:90%
and all the rest.
00:49:02.938 --> 00:49:10.640 align:middle line:90%
00:49:10.640 --> 00:49:12.550 align:middle line:84%
Nine-year-old Danny
Smith was waiting
00:49:12.550 --> 00:49:15.240 align:middle line:84%
for a bus with his mother
when he was stuck in the chest
00:49:15.240 --> 00:49:18.390 align:middle line:84%
by a stray bullet fired by a
Highland Park police officer.
00:49:18.390 --> 00:49:20.480 align:middle line:84%
The League and the
black community
00:49:20.480 --> 00:49:22.410 align:middle line:84%
are presently
demanding that the cops
00:49:22.410 --> 00:49:24.882 align:middle line:90%
involved be brought to justice.
00:49:24.882 --> 00:49:27.858 align:middle line:90%
[MUSIC PLAYING]
00:49:27.858 --> 00:50:11.600 align:middle line:90%
00:50:11.600 --> 00:50:14.120 align:middle line:84%
Danny\'s father had been
laid off from Ford.
00:50:14.120 --> 00:50:17.550 align:middle line:84%
His mother had just taken
a job as a nurse\'s aid.
00:50:17.550 --> 00:50:19.570 align:middle line:84%
Like the majority of
her black sisters,
00:50:19.570 --> 00:50:21.140 align:middle line:90%
Mrs. Smith has to work.
00:50:21.140 --> 00:50:23.560 align:middle line:84%
Not for any kind of
fulfillment, but because
00:50:23.560 --> 00:50:25.440 align:middle line:90%
of sheer bread and butter need.
00:50:25.440 --> 00:50:29.740 align:middle line:84%
Between the ages of 25
and 34, 57% of black women
00:50:29.740 --> 00:50:33.070 align:middle line:84%
work, as compared to
41% of white women.
00:50:33.070 --> 00:50:35.790 align:middle line:84%
We are, by and large,
relegated to positions
00:50:35.790 --> 00:50:38.260 align:middle line:90%
of low paying, temporary jobs.
00:50:38.260 --> 00:50:40.340 align:middle line:84%
Nearly half are
service workers--
00:50:40.340 --> 00:50:44.360 align:middle line:84%
chambermaids, janitrices,
floor and wall washers.
00:50:44.360 --> 00:50:48.050 align:middle line:84%
On the other hand, well over
50% of white women who work
00:50:48.050 --> 00:50:49.740 align:middle line:90%
hold white collar jobs.
00:50:49.740 --> 00:50:52.280 align:middle line:84%
They are secretaries and
clerks in the offices
00:50:52.280 --> 00:50:55.650 align:middle line:84%
that black women clean after
these people go home at night.
00:50:55.650 --> 00:50:58.580 align:middle line:84%
Secret labor studies show
that increasing numbers
00:50:58.580 --> 00:51:02.120 align:middle line:84%
of black women will be entering
factory production work.
00:51:02.120 --> 00:51:04.400 align:middle line:84%
Employers may hire
black women, expecting
00:51:04.400 --> 00:51:07.000 align:middle line:84%
that because of our desperate
need for decent jobs,
00:51:07.000 --> 00:51:10.860 align:middle line:84%
we will be less militant
in pressing for our rights.
00:51:10.860 --> 00:51:12.930 align:middle line:84%
But black women understand
better than anyone
00:51:12.930 --> 00:51:15.930 align:middle line:84%
else how much work goes
into every pound of bacon
00:51:15.930 --> 00:51:17.700 align:middle line:90%
and to every slice of bread.
00:51:17.700 --> 00:51:20.150 align:middle line:84%
We, more than anyone
else in the workforce,
00:51:20.150 --> 00:51:21.970 align:middle line:90%
know what it is to be laid off.
00:51:21.970 --> 00:51:24.830 align:middle line:84%
We, more than anyone
else in the workforce,
00:51:24.830 --> 00:51:26.820 align:middle line:84%
know what it means
to be looking, always
00:51:26.820 --> 00:51:28.200 align:middle line:90%
looking, for work.
00:51:28.200 --> 00:51:30.820 align:middle line:84%
We have the highest unemployment
rate and the lowest wage
00:51:30.820 --> 00:51:31.710 align:middle line:90%
scales.
00:51:31.710 --> 00:51:34.650 align:middle line:84%
In spite of our need to
work, we are the last hired,
00:51:34.650 --> 00:51:36.360 align:middle line:90%
the first fired.
00:51:36.360 --> 00:51:39.300 align:middle line:84%
We\'ve had to devise means
of dealing concretely
00:51:39.300 --> 00:51:42.460 align:middle line:84%
with the problem of what do
you do when workers are fired
00:51:42.460 --> 00:51:44.770 align:middle line:84%
for organizational
activity, and you\'re not
00:51:44.770 --> 00:51:46.490 align:middle line:90%
in a position to feed them.
00:51:46.490 --> 00:51:48.930 align:middle line:84%
You\'re not in a position to
force the man to give them
00:51:48.930 --> 00:51:49.676 align:middle line:90%
their jobs back.
00:51:49.676 --> 00:51:51.050 align:middle line:84%
You\'re not in a
position, really,
00:51:51.050 --> 00:51:52.880 align:middle line:84%
to speak concretely
to any of their needs.
00:51:52.880 --> 00:51:55.250 align:middle line:84%
You\'re confronted with
incredible tactical questions.
00:51:55.250 --> 00:51:56.950 align:middle line:84%
You\'re confronted with
questions of, what do you do,
00:51:56.950 --> 00:51:58.962 align:middle line:84%
try to force the union
to get the jobs back,
00:51:58.962 --> 00:52:00.670 align:middle line:84%
and if the union
succeeds, that of course
00:52:00.670 --> 00:52:03.390 align:middle line:84%
strengthens the union, and
diminishes your influence
00:52:03.390 --> 00:52:04.200 align:middle line:90%
in that plant.
00:52:04.200 --> 00:52:06.700 align:middle line:84%
On the other hand, if
make no response to that,
00:52:06.700 --> 00:52:09.230 align:middle line:84%
then you\'re in the position
of having led black workers
00:52:09.230 --> 00:52:11.000 align:middle line:84%
out there, based
upon your analysis,
00:52:11.000 --> 00:52:13.140 align:middle line:84%
based upon your anti-racist,
anti-imperialist,
00:52:13.140 --> 00:52:15.252 align:middle line:84%
anti-capitalist line, then
you got him out there,
00:52:15.252 --> 00:52:17.340 align:middle line:84%
and the man cracks him,
and you don\'t do anything.
00:52:17.340 --> 00:52:20.460 align:middle line:84%
We have had to deal,
throughout the year,
00:52:20.460 --> 00:52:22.850 align:middle line:84%
with all of those
concrete problems.
00:52:22.850 --> 00:52:24.960 align:middle line:84%
And basically, in
spite of all of that,
00:52:24.960 --> 00:52:26.920 align:middle line:84%
we still exist as
an organization.
00:52:26.920 --> 00:52:28.756 align:middle line:84%
We have gotten stronger
as an organization.
00:52:28.756 --> 00:52:29.630 align:middle line:90%
We\'ve gotten a house.
00:52:29.630 --> 00:52:30.463 align:middle line:90%
We\'ve got equipment.
00:52:30.463 --> 00:52:32.800 align:middle line:84%
We\'re trying to
revitalize the organ.
00:52:32.800 --> 00:52:35.250 align:middle line:84%
We dealt with a whole host
of very concrete problems
00:52:35.250 --> 00:52:37.690 align:middle line:84%
within the light
of international,
00:52:37.690 --> 00:52:39.650 align:middle line:84%
even, political
ramifications that have
00:52:39.650 --> 00:52:41.120 align:middle line:90%
come to the state of Detroit.
00:52:41.120 --> 00:52:44.720 align:middle line:84%
Moreover, the League\'s practice
appreciates the necessity
00:52:44.720 --> 00:52:47.440 align:middle line:84%
of labor being divided
on a certain level,
00:52:47.440 --> 00:52:51.150 align:middle line:84%
and we\'re very much into
persons having to work.
00:52:51.150 --> 00:52:54.080 align:middle line:84%
Persons having to develop
skills that relate concretely
00:52:54.080 --> 00:52:56.340 align:middle line:84%
to the maintenance of a
revolutionary organization,
00:52:56.340 --> 00:52:58.930 align:middle line:84%
in addition to simply making
proclamations, and clenching
00:52:58.930 --> 00:53:01.970 align:middle line:84%
the fist, and espousing the
line that we all agree with,
00:53:01.970 --> 00:53:02.840 align:middle line:90%
at least we say.
00:53:02.840 --> 00:53:04.365 align:middle line:84%
For example, we
took the South End,
00:53:04.365 --> 00:53:06.030 align:middle line:84%
and we ran entire
issues that were
00:53:06.030 --> 00:53:08.140 align:middle line:84%
related to the problems
of organizing workers.
00:53:08.140 --> 00:53:10.271 align:middle line:84%
We ran entire issues,
and got press runs,
00:53:10.271 --> 00:53:12.770 align:middle line:84%
and picked up the press runs,
and did not put that paper out
00:53:12.770 --> 00:53:14.500 align:middle line:84%
on Wayne State
University campus,
00:53:14.500 --> 00:53:16.407 align:middle line:84%
but we took that
paper to the plants.
00:53:16.407 --> 00:53:17.990 align:middle line:84%
We used-- I mean,
the fact John Watson
00:53:17.990 --> 00:53:19.573 align:middle line:84%
was called the editor
of the South End
00:53:19.573 --> 00:53:21.976 align:middle line:84%
did not belie the fact that
John Watson was operating
00:53:21.976 --> 00:53:24.600 align:middle line:84%
as a member of the central staff
of the League of Revolutionary
00:53:24.600 --> 00:53:27.250 align:middle line:84%
Black Workers, and the South
End represented a resource
00:53:27.250 --> 00:53:29.750 align:middle line:84%
that was being employed by the
League of Revolutionary Black
00:53:29.750 --> 00:53:31.660 align:middle line:84%
Workers to assist it
in organizing workers.
00:53:31.660 --> 00:53:36.640 align:middle line:84%
But we spent an entire year
withstanding the kinds of blows
00:53:36.640 --> 00:53:38.740 align:middle line:84%
that the man will
mete out to you if you
00:53:38.740 --> 00:53:40.620 align:middle line:84%
are serious about the
business of organizing
00:53:40.620 --> 00:53:41.960 align:middle line:90%
a revolutionary organization.
00:53:41.960 --> 00:53:44.400 align:middle line:84%
There\'s a man at Chrysler
is attacked in Hamtramck,
00:53:44.400 --> 00:53:46.914 align:middle line:84%
Chrysler pushes a button
and gets the Hamtramck pigs,
00:53:46.914 --> 00:53:49.330 align:middle line:84%
the Hamtramck police department,
and the whole little city
00:53:49.330 --> 00:53:50.420 align:middle line:90%
governmental structure.
00:53:50.420 --> 00:53:52.200 align:middle line:84%
Just as you could see
Ford do if you begin
00:53:52.200 --> 00:53:53.850 align:middle line:84%
to deal at the Ford
Rouge plant, you\'re
00:53:53.850 --> 00:53:55.450 align:middle line:84%
dealing with the
city of Dearborn.
00:53:55.450 --> 00:53:59.540 align:middle line:84%
The fact that we closed down the
Dodge main plant, the Hamtramck
00:53:59.540 --> 00:54:01.920 align:middle line:84%
assembly plant, which
is the main assembly
00:54:01.920 --> 00:54:05.710 align:middle line:84%
plant for Chrysler operations
in this entire country.
00:54:05.710 --> 00:54:06.910 align:middle line:90%
They were closed down.
00:54:06.910 --> 00:54:08.210 align:middle line:90%
We caught a response from that.
00:54:08.210 --> 00:54:11.144 align:middle line:84%
Chrysler hooked up with a super
law firm, got an injunction,
00:54:11.144 --> 00:54:12.560 align:middle line:84%
came back out with
that injunction
00:54:12.560 --> 00:54:16.210 align:middle line:84%
and tried to destroy our
organizational efforts, tried
00:54:16.210 --> 00:54:17.590 align:middle line:90%
to rip off some of our leaders.
00:54:17.590 --> 00:54:19.010 align:middle line:90%
They tried to get General Baker.
00:54:19.010 --> 00:54:21.560 align:middle line:84%
They had Chuck [INAUDIBLE],
he was named as a defendant.
00:54:21.560 --> 00:54:24.143 align:middle line:84%
Most of the central staff of the
League of Revolutionary Black
00:54:24.143 --> 00:54:26.850 align:middle line:84%
Workers has been a defendant
in one case or another
00:54:26.850 --> 00:54:29.130 align:middle line:90%
sometime in the year of 1969.
00:54:29.130 --> 00:54:31.000 align:middle line:84%
The League of
Revolutionary Black Workers
00:54:31.000 --> 00:54:34.510 align:middle line:84%
has been engaged in some
concrete struggles here
00:54:34.510 --> 00:54:38.180 align:middle line:84%
in this area, and the fact of
the League having been involved
00:54:38.180 --> 00:54:41.040 align:middle line:84%
in some concrete struggles
here in this area
00:54:41.040 --> 00:54:43.160 align:middle line:84%
has produced some
concrete repressive
00:54:43.160 --> 00:54:45.260 align:middle line:90%
responses from the system.
00:54:45.260 --> 00:54:48.450 align:middle line:84%
And what\'s beautiful, and what\'s
important about the League,
00:54:48.450 --> 00:54:51.300 align:middle line:84%
is that we contend that
organizationally we\'ve
00:54:51.300 --> 00:54:54.457 align:middle line:84%
been able to basically maintain
ourselves as an organization,
00:54:54.457 --> 00:54:56.540 align:middle line:84%
and basically preserve our
revolutionary integrity
00:54:56.540 --> 00:54:59.410 align:middle line:84%
as an organization,
by relying upon,
00:54:59.410 --> 00:55:01.766 align:middle line:90%
essentially, our own resources.
00:55:01.766 --> 00:55:03.718 align:middle line:90%
[MUSIC PLAYING]
00:55:03.718 --> 00:55:19.860 align:middle line:90%
00:55:19.860 --> 00:55:21.570 align:middle line:84%
The League of
Revolutionary Black Workers
00:55:21.570 --> 00:55:24.890 align:middle line:84%
recognizes that our struggle
is not an isolated one.
00:55:24.890 --> 00:55:26.940 align:middle line:84%
We have common cause
with other black workers
00:55:26.940 --> 00:55:30.000 align:middle line:84%
in this racist land, and with
the exploited and oppressed
00:55:30.000 --> 00:55:31.435 align:middle line:90%
of the entire world.
00:55:31.435 --> 00:55:34.050 align:middle line:84%
Our ultimate intention is
to organize black workers
00:55:34.050 --> 00:55:37.010 align:middle line:84%
as a whole, as a class
in the United States.
00:55:37.010 --> 00:55:40.000 align:middle line:84%
And proceeding from that
basic mass organization,
00:55:40.000 --> 00:55:42.470 align:middle line:84%
to expand the revolutionary
black organization
00:55:42.470 --> 00:55:44.200 align:middle line:90%
throughout the community.
00:55:44.200 --> 00:55:47.950 align:middle line:84%
It is incumbent upon us to
foster, join with, initiate,
00:55:47.950 --> 00:55:51.070 align:middle line:84%
organize, and lead other black
workers in our common struggle.
00:55:51.070 --> 00:55:53.650 align:middle line:84%
By being in the forefront of
this revolutionary struggle,
00:55:53.650 --> 00:55:56.040 align:middle line:84%
we must act swiftly
to help organize
00:55:56.040 --> 00:55:57.850 align:middle line:84%
ground-type organizations
wherever there
00:55:57.850 --> 00:56:00.730 align:middle line:84%
are black workers, be they
in Henry Ford\'s kitchen,
00:56:00.730 --> 00:56:02.810 align:middle line:84%
the White House, white
tower restaurants,
00:56:02.810 --> 00:56:07.000 align:middle line:84%
at Ford Rouge, Mississippi
delta, the plains of Wyoming,
00:56:07.000 --> 00:56:10.310 align:middle line:84%
the mines of Bolivia, the
rubber plantations of Indochina,
00:56:10.310 --> 00:56:12.890 align:middle line:84%
the oil fields of
Biafra, or the Chrysler
00:56:12.890 --> 00:56:14.720 align:middle line:90%
plants in South Africa.
00:56:14.720 --> 00:56:17.170 align:middle line:90%
[MUSIC PLAYING]
00:56:17.170 --> 00:56:27.720 align:middle line:90%
Distributor: Icarus Films
Length: 55 minutes
Date: 1970
Genre: Expository
Language: English
Grade: 10-12, College, Adult
Color/BW:
/ 
Closed Captioning: Available
Interactive Transcript: Available
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