The Unfair Labeling of Black Lives Matter as a Marxist Movement

The first thing we have to ask ourselves is “What is Marxism?” I would venture to guess that most people who would throw around this claim regarding Black Lives Matter don’t even understand Marxism. We are programmed to conjure up fear of Communism and Russian invasion at the mere mention of Karl Marx and the Marxist Philosophy.

I have been doing some reading to educate myself on Marxist Philosophy. In general I am making a concerted effort to pull back and educate myself before posting online. I wish more people would do this. It would lead to more educated and thoughtful conversations. Many people would actually open their minds and learn something to boot. Imagine that! I digress.

First of all we have to understand that “there is currently no single definitive Marxist theory." (Marxism) At its core Marxism seems to focus on the means of production and class struggle. It seems in general that a marxist would argue that capitalism exploits the worker (the proletariat) to the benefit of those who “own the means of production.” (the bourgeoisie)  (Marxism) The belief is that this imbalance is unsustainable and eventually leads to heightened class struggle and revolution. 

Based on the core of this definition I can see the parallel one might draw. Black Lives Matter could be seen to push the narrative that the black community in America is the proletariat. They are the exploited working class that works to produce for the benefit of he bourgeoisie, our white controlled system. Our country was certainly founded under this principle. 

The difference is that I do not see any indication that Black Lives Matter is claiming that capitalism doesn’t work. What the movement seems to be seeking is equity. They want representation in the bourgeoisie. The conditions that generated this exploited working class have existed since the inception of our country and now we are seeing the signs of revolution to pull power from the bourgeoisie. If you are going to subscribe to this interpretation then you have to acknowledge the class in our society that owns the means of production. The numbers for racial imbalance of this class are not hard to find. Only about 3.2% of this class is black.

The real problem with labeling Black Lives Matter is that the conversation stops there. It is a tactic from the institution that is working to maintain the status quo and uphold white supremacy. Delving deeper into that conversation would force you to face the claim that there is an exploited working class. That is hard to defend given the statistics of racial imbalance in the controlling class that makes up the executives of production and our governing bodies. 

Claiming Black Lives Matter is Marxist is a fear tactic used to label the movement as a danger to America. It’s the same tactic that has been used for many years to label black men as dangerous and violent. It is the same tactic that has programmed the minds and reflexes of our peace keepers to default to shooting first and asking question later when faced with a person of color. This claim of Marxism is not based in sound political or economic theory. It is a racist claim that is working to keep America white.

Please Challenge my Racism

It is far too easy for me to sit on my “enlightened” pedestal and challenge the racist world around me from on high. My ability to do this is in and of itself an example of white privilege. 

I also worry about my part in externalizing the forces of systemic racism without looking internally. If I only focus outside myself I am really creating a microcosm of a protected white system that maintains the status quo. By linking my innocence to the greater system I help to reinforce the current white power structure.

What I would like to do is open up the challenge for those who have noticed and do notice things that I say and do that are a problem. My first inclination is to say that I don’t want to hear from white people on this but I’m not sure if that is what I should do. I want to work to enable the black voice. Honestly, I think that the only true way forward is to really listen to the group that has been subjugated for so long. However, I don’t want to close off conversation. If there is a white ally who can speak to a problem where a black voice doesn’t feel comfortable then I don’t want to shut that down. That white voice must actually be speaking for the black community though. I have no interest in listening to any claims of reverse racism. That’s simply another tactic to maintain white supremacy. 

What I will commit to though is that if I am challenged by a white voice I will verify the issue with the black community. It is their perspective, pain, guidance, and wisdom that is truly important right now. I want their recommendation on a path forward and not the recommendation of the white community. As a community in power the white perspective is way too skilled at proposing a course of action that seems to honor the black community while keeping the power exactly where it has been for hundreds of years. 

That’s it. Please challenge me. If I say or do something that you think is problematic please let me know. Also, if you have a memory of something I may have done in the past I invite that too. If I have done something or not done something in the past that has stuck with you I would like to be made aware so that I can face it and seek reconciliation.

There is plenty of judgement, accusation, and apology in our world today. What we need a lot more of is active reconciliation. 

Feel free to reach out to me and I will do my best to approach what you say with an open mind. 

Evangelicals and Racial Equality

John 14:6

"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

I was recently given this verse as the defacto word of Jesus promoting color blindness in his followers. My interpretation of the reason is that Jesus says that it doesn’t matter who you are. Jesus will love you and accept you into the fold and grant you eternal life as long as you come to God through him. Jesus says this regardless of race, gender, or nationality. As the followers of Jesus are called to be more Christ-like they are also called to accept all others as brothers and sisters in Christ regardless of who they are or what they look like. 

On the surface this seems like a kind and inclusive view of the followers of Christ accepting everyone. The problem here is that a leap of scriptural interpretation is made. That leap is that the differences aren’t worthy of perception. You could just as easily read this to mean that we should honor and respect the differences of all coming to God through Christ. You could say that those differences are to be celebrated as we weave a tapestry of different people together in the love of Christ. 

There have been many interpretations of the Bible in the past that have served to harm so many people justified by the inspired word of God. I think this is one of them. 

To sum up, Jesus said differences don’t matter for inclusion but did he say to ignore them or to celebrate them?

Another argument under this umbrella of color blindness is Philippians 4:13.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” 

If you try to say that humans cannot be 100% objective and can’t help but notice differences and build internal bias you can be shut down with this verse. It’s building on the assumption made in the first scripture and then backing it up with the power and obvious will of the Father.

The final argument for someone so ingrained in their interpretation of the Bible over may years is that they are simply right and that the Devil is using my words as his instrument. Honestly there is nothing I can do but turn by back on this level of hubris and intolerance. I can’t combat someone who thinks God is speaking obvious truth directly through them. They are closed off to conversation and any suggestion that they could possibly be wrong. 

These are dangerous tactics utilized by so many evangelicals who can justify that they have no place in racism while simultaneously using this strategy of denial to maintain the status quo and keep the money and power where it has been for so many years. I’m not saying most of them do this consciously or maliciously. However, most of them sit in all or almost all white churches claiming they are not racist. Of course they would accept a black family that came through the door to worship. However, they don’t look internally and ask what are we doing and how can we change so that a black family feels comfortable coming into our church to worship?

It is this inward look that we are all being asked to take right now. As my Mother once told me, “The first step in fixing a problem is realizing that it exists.” We have to all recognize and accept that at some level we ALL have a problem that needs attention. Don’t hide it with the Bible.