Black Marxism facts for kids

Black Marxism: The Making of the Black Radical Tradition is an important book by scholar Cedric Robinson. It was first published in 1983 and then again in 2000. Robinson was inspired by many Black thinkers from the 1800s.

In his book, Robinson looks closely at a way of thinking called Marxism. He also examines how it connects to ideas that mostly came from Europe. The book doesn't just repeat Marxist ideas. Instead, it adds the idea of race to how we understand history and society.

What is Black Marxism About?

Black Marxism has three main parts. These parts help Robinson look at Marxism and how it sometimes relies too much on things being "meant to happen." The book's main ideas are about something called racial capitalism and the Black radical tradition.

Understanding Racial Capitalism

The book starts by explaining racial capitalism. This is a way of getting social and economic value from someone's racial identity. Robinson created this term to explain what he thought Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels missed. They believed that European society would make social relationships fair.

Robinson argues that racism, or "racialism," is a strong force. He says it has always been a part of how capitalism works. He uses the term "racial capitalism" to show that all capitalism creates unfairness between different groups of people. This means that capitalism is always shaped by race.

The Black Radical Tradition

Besides racial capitalism, Black Marxism also explains the Black radical tradition. This tradition includes a long history of resistance. It shows how Black people have fought for freedom in the past, present, and future.

Robinson shares many examples of this resistance. These include communities of formerly enslaved people in the 1600s. It also includes fights for freedom in the 1900s. He looks at scholars like W. E. B. Du Bois and C. L. R. James to show what this tradition means.

When Was Black Marxism Published?

Black Marxism was first published in 1983 by Zed Books. It was published again in 2000 by the University of North Carolina Press. The second edition included a new introduction by Robin D. G. Kelley. This second edition received both good reviews and some criticism.

Why is Black Marxism Important Today?

Many writers have shown how Black Marxism is still important for issues we face in the 21st century.

Impact on Black Lives Matter

The Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement uses the idea of racial capitalism to understand unfairness against Black people. For example, the Movement for Black Lives (M4BL) mentioned racial capitalism in its 2020 policy plan. It's important that BLM still uses ideas from Black Marxism. This shows that the book's theories are very meaningful for Black movements, both past and present.

Many scholars also praise Black Marxism. They say it clearly shows the connection between unfair treatment of Black people today and historical systems of oppression.

Influence on Black Studies

The book has also shaped what is studied in Africana studies. It has changed how people define "radicalism" in Black scholarship. The Black radical tradition gives a lot of ideas for future challenges in Africana studies. It helps academics understand the words used by thinkers and activists. These people study the link between race and social class. The book also helps find ideas to change the world for the better.

See also

In Spanish: Marxismo negro. La formación de la tradición radical negra para niños