Economic Update with Richard D. Wolff

EU Extra: Black Socialists of America (BSA)

Date: October 1, 2018

Episode Overview

In this Economic Update Extra, Richard D. Wolff is joined by Z and Sean from Black Socialists of America (BSA) for a candid and nuanced conversation about the organization’s rapid growth, goals, and vision. The discussion explores contemporary movements for black socialism, coalition-building, challenges in organizing, and the significance of empowering poor and working-class black Americans. The tone is optimistic yet grounded, emphasizing the urgency and excitement surrounding the current moment for leftist organizing in the U.S.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. BSA’s Recent Growth and Support

• Grassroots Momentum:

  • The organization reports being "quite literally overwhelmed" (C, 00:50) by the level of national interest, with hundreds of volunteers and a platform reaching over 33,000 people in just a few months.
  • Support includes not only volunteers but also artists, celebrities, and creatives eager to amplify BSA’s mission and promote socialism (C, 00:56–01:40).

• Alliances and Partnerships:

  • Partnerships with organizations such as Cooperation Jackson and Symbiosis have been formalized:
    • Cooperation Jackson is highlighted as a predominantly Black-owned cooperative network in Jackson, Mississippi, serving as an inspiring model for building "dual power at the municipal level" (C, 02:17–03:14).
    • Symbiosis works on connecting co-ops and other alternative democratic enterprises to build a "congress of municipal movements," promoting international socialism from a grassroots, working-class perspective (C, 03:15–04:18).
  • Other leftist groups, especially the Libertarian Socialist Caucus, have contributed support and technical resources.

2. The Changing Political Climate

• Rising Interest in Socialism:

  • Richard Wolff observes a dramatic cultural shift: “Something really has changed in the United States… there’s something going on the other direction too, that creates the kind of response to you that you just described that is really remarkable” (A, 04:25).

• From Margins to Momentum:

  • Previous efforts lacked support, but now there is growing excitement and active engagement from communities historically excluded from leftist organizing.

3. BSA’s Organizational Philosophy and Platform

• Decentralization & Accessibility:

  • BSA aims to create a network allowing volunteers nationwide to connect and collaborate. The challenge is logistical: “So many people in so disparate geographical spaces… it’s difficult for them to unite and build something together” (B, 05:26).
  • Plans to develop digital systems and resources to enable decentralized, autonomous action, reducing bureaucratic obstacles and making socialism accessible and actionable (C, 05:51–06:49).

• Equity & Focus on the Working Class:

  • Emphasis on ensuring poor and working-class Black Americans have primary access to resources and information (C, 06:49–07:21).
  • Explicit rejection of elitism and intent to reach communities often left out of leftist discussions.

4. How to Connect and Take Action

• Engagement Channels:
  • Website: blacksocialists.us
    • Features a glossary, resource guides, and strategic outlines (C, 07:27–07:55).
    • "Interest forum" lets people join and share their interests/location (B, 08:01).
    • Planned features: donation portal, expanded materials.
  • Social Media:
    • Twitter presence is strong and highly interactive: “A large part of what we’re trying to do is engage with popular culture… as accessible as possible” (C, 08:21).
    • BSA uses Twitter not only to disseminate information but to dialogue with public figures and mainstream audiences.

5. Demographics and Safety Concerns

• Intended Audience Broad but Centered:

  • BSA conceives “working class” as encompassing all people who must sell their labor (students, unemployed, underemployed), not just industrial workers (B, 09:29–10:14).
  • Young people, especially millennials, are most engaged so far, though participation is intergenerational and international (C, 11:48).

• Security & Vulnerability:

  • Historical context: Visibility as Black socialists has involved significant personal risk, echoing the dangers faced by leftist organizers in earlier generations (C, 10:14–11:47).

• Youth-Oriented Outreach:

  • Interest in developing materials for “high school students…[and] children’s books” (A/C, 12:46–12:51) and engagement with artists/creatives to reach broader audiences (C, 11:48–12:46).

6. Personal Motivations & Reflections

• On Activism and Purpose:

  • Sean likens his awakening to “being an addict” who must “hit rock bottom before you…decide to do something about it,” refusing to accept “being miserable for the rest of your life” (B, 13:40–14:04).
  • Z traces inspiration to his father’s experience with segregation and the power of art as a tool for political mobilization, citing Tupac Shakur: “He saw the power in using music and art to mobilize people… in a very, very political, tangible way” (C, 14:29–14:56).

• The Call to Act:

  • Z describes leaving Japan to return and fight in the U.S., inspired by current events and “the Angela Davis method” (C, 15:14–15:41).

Notable Quotes

• “The support is quite literally overwhelming.”
  — C, 00:50

• “We have hundreds of volunteers waiting…all across the country…our platform is already over 33,000 people just in a matter of months.”
  — C, 00:56

• “There’s something going on the other direction too, that creates the kind of response to you that you just described that is really remarkable.”
  — A/Richard Wolff, 04:25

• “We want to put [donations] towards developing systems, digital systems and tools that lend themselves to decentralized autonomous action.”
  — C, 05:51

• “Safety is really important…as soon as we really got into this, we could see why it hasn’t existed for so long…being a black American socialist…your life is in danger.”
  — C, 10:14

• “You reach this point of despair at the state of the world…you could either passively accept it…or actually convince yourself to do something about it.”
  — B, 13:40

• “Tupac…saw the power in using music and art to mobilize people…in a very, very political, tangible way.”
  — C, 14:29

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Time | Topic | |----------|------------------------------------------------| | 00:41 | Support and growth of BSA | | 02:14 | Partnerships: Cooperation Jackson & Symbiosis | | 04:25 | Shift in US attitudes toward socialism | | 05:26 | Challenges of organizing and connecting people | | 05:51 | Plans for decentralized infrastructure | | 07:27 | How listeners can get involved | | 09:29 | Defining the working class and inclusivity | | 10:14 | Educational focus and security concerns | | 11:48 | Demographic engagement and youth outreach | | 13:28 | Personal motivations for activism | | 14:29 | Influence of art and family history |

Summary

This episode provides an inside look at the Black Socialists of America—its rapid rise, foundational philosophy, and organizational ambitions. The conversation blends practical organizing advice with personal reflection, casting a hopeful but realistic lens on contemporary radical activism. BSA is positioned as a youthful, accessible, and network-driven movement aiming to foster socialism rooted in Black working-class experience and broader popular culture, while also confronting historical and present dangers head-on. The episode closes with moving personal stories about why these organizers devote themselves to this cause, underscoring the historic moment for leftist organizing in the United States.