Larry Pinkney

“The revolution is not an apple that falls when it is ripe. You have to make it fall.” -Ernesto ‘Che’ Guevara

“We want education for our people that exposes the true nature of this decadent American society. We want education that teaches us our true history and our role in the present-day society.”

- From Point #5 of the Ten-Point Platform & Program of the Black Panther Party (October, 1966)

It is October of the year 2010, and there is something earth-shaking taking place, with and among, many college / university students throughout this nation. The Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), whose organizational roots and history run deep, are once again on the move. Don’t expect to be intelligently informed about this by the corporate-stream media. But pay close attention to what these courageous students are in the process of doing today.

Do not be confused by the word ‘Democratic’ used in the SDS organizational name. It is not referring to the so-called Democratic Party. It is referring to economic, social, and political democracy—with a special emphasis upon students. In other words, it is referring to struggling for and attaining genuine democracy of, for, and by everyday people. SDS is an organization of primarily student organizers who understand that the term ‘radical’ means root. And they practice that understanding.

This writer was honored and privileged to have been among those in attendance at the national SDS convention in Milwaukee, on October 23-24, 2010. Present were radical SDS organizers (and their allies) from around the nation including, but not limited to, Wisconsin, Florida, Oklahoma, Illinois, California, Vermont, Arizona, New Jersey, Maryland, Tennessee , Minnesota, Massachusetts, and Texas. It was a glorious and empowering sight to behold!

SDS is a predominantly White radical political organization with (I’m pleased to report) a strong and ever-growing number of ‘people of color’ active within its ranks. Indeed, it was for example, stunningly wonderful to witness the Chicago SDS contingent proudly walk in, who were all save one, organizers of color. By seriously recognizing and addressing the color, class, and gender, etc. challenges, differences, and (and to some extent) contradictions; I saw first-hand SDS demonstrate an honesty and commitment that is all too rare these days. These important issues were boldly and honestly addressed by those young SDSers (who are in fact mature and insightful far beyond their physical ages). The SDSers seemed to almost innately recognize that it is this filthy, hypocritical capitalist system that perpetrates and perpetuates these differences to keep us divided and powerless. Nevertheless, despite some pain and discomfort caused by addressing these realities, these SDSers Black, White, Brown, Red, and Yellow refused to play the despicable liberal game of sweeping them under the rug, and I trust they will continue to creatively and forthrightly address them. After all, comfortable people do not make change.

Linking the Issues & Fighting for Systemic Change

The topics presented and addressed at the national SDS convention in Milwaukee, dealt with specific actions on the part of SDS chapters nationwide pertaining to the many “militant struggles against the effects of the latest capitalist crisis and the rise of racist right wing attacks.” Also, mutual information was shared, and encouragement given, with respect to the SDS “chapters across the country [who] have organized against FBI raids, cuts to education, sexism, homophobia, occupations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine and Columbia, the Qur’an burning in Florida, and the anti-immigrant laws in Arizona” etc. COINTELPRO , which is the infamous and ongoing U.S. government’s Counter Intelligence Program to intimidate, disrupt, discredit, frame, imprison and/or murder political activists and other dissenters, was also discussed at length at the SDS convention.

As a veteran political organizer, there were many times at that SDS gathering that it was incredibly difficult for me to hold back the tears of joy for those SDS comrades, emanating from the deep respect that I have for them collectively. The words of the late great Bob Marley, kept flowing through my mind: “Get up! Stand up!... Stand Up for your rights! Get up! Stand up! Don’t give up the fight!..”

What We Must Do

It is not enough to sit back and applaud the efforts of SDS. We must actively, in word and deed support their struggle—for it is also our own struggle. This does not mean being patronizing towards these organizers. It means respecting them for what they are doing, learning from them, working with them as equals, and if asked—offering whatever insights we might possess.

Remember that COINTELPRO is continuing today, and the government and insidious corporate-stream “news” media will engage in every vile and vicious tactic (both blatant and subtle) at their disposal to disrupt, discredit, and neutralize SDS and its allies. We, the everyday Black, White, Brown, Red and Yellow people must not and will not allow this to happen.

As a young woman SDSer was making her presentation to the convention, I remember sitting there and thinking of the poignant words contained in the Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young protest song, ‘OHIO’ re the brutal murders of White students by the U.S. military at Kent State University in Ohio: “…What if you knew her and found her dead on the ground…How many more?” Let us also remember the Black students who were also horribly massacred at Jackson State University in Mississippi, for daring to protest racist injustice. We must know and understand our history, and make sure to learn from it. We must take a moment to sit down, study, educate ourselves, and prepare for the present and future conflicts in this most important continuing people’s struggle.

It is now the year 2010, and we MUST NOT LET THESE VALIANT SDSers STAND ALONE! We must stand shoulder to shoulder with them, for their fight is our fight! Now, more than ever is SDS both relevant and important in the over-all people’s struggle for economic, social, and political justice and human rights at home and abroad. Keep in mind that there is committed, much-needed political organizing taking place throughout this nation, and the Students For A Democratic Society (SDS) are an integral part of it.

As the late (South African) university student leader Steven Biko put it, “The most potent weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed.” SDS grasps this point. Do you?

Onward then, my sisters and brothers! Onward!

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BlackCommentator.com Editorial Board Member, Larry Pinkney, is a veteran of the Black Panther Party, the former Minister of Interior of the Republic of New Africa, a former political prisoner and the only American to have successfully self-authored his civil/political rights case to the United Nations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. In connection with his political organizing activities in opposition to voter suppression, etc., Pinkney was interviewed in 1988 on the nationally televised PBS NewsHour, formerly known as TheMacNeil/LehrerNewsHour. For more about Larry Pinkney see the book, Saying No to Power: Autobiography of a 20th Century Activist and Thinker, by William Mandel [Introduction by Howard Zinn]. (Click here to read excerpts from the book). Click here to contact Mr. Pinkney.