Reading J. Sakai’s "Settlers” w/ Jared Ware (Pt.1)

J. Sakai's "Settlers" deconstructs the myth of a white proletariat in the United States, challenging traditional Marxist interpretations of class struggle. The book traces the history of settler colonialism from its origins, exposing the parasitic nature of settler society and its reliance on exploitation. Sakai critiques the collaboration between settlers and enslaved Africans in the elimination of Indigenous populations, arguing that this was a central aspect of settler expansion. He analyzes the role of slavery and indentured servitude in shaping class relations, highlighting the absence of a genuine white working-class consciousness. The book's central argument is that the absence of a revolutionary white proletariat is a key factor in the failure of revolutionary movements in the United States.

In this work, Lenin builds upon Marx's theories to propose a stage of capitalism characterized by the dominance of finance capital and the formation of monopolies. He argues that imperialism is a result of the concentration of capital, the growth of industrial and banking monopolies, and the export of capital to colonies. Lenin provides empirical evidence and statistical data to support his analysis, highlighting the predatory and anticompetitive behaviors of cartels and the inevitability of war arising from the contradictions of imperialism.

Published in 1933, 'The Shape of Things to Come' is a speculative history that outlines future events up to the year 2106. The book is presented as the edited notes of Dr. Philip Raven, a diplomat who claims to have had dream visions of a future history textbook. It is divided into five sections, detailing a future that includes a Second World War, climatic disasters, and the eventual establishment of a world state. The narrative predicts significant cultural and technological changes, including the rise of a technocratic elite and the transformation of society into a utopian world state where humanity's material needs are satisfied and individual freedom is balanced with collective well-being[2][4][5].

In 'Night Vision,' Mariana Alessandri draws on the works of diverse philosophers and writers such as Audre Lorde, María Lugones, Miguel de Unamuno, C.S. Lewis, Gloria Anzaldúa, and Søren Kierkegaard to argue that our suffering is not a sign of weakness but rather of our humanity. The book proposes that by embracing our dark emotions, we can cultivate 'night vision' and discover new aspects of ourselves, such as wit, humor, closeness, warmth, and clarity. Alessandri critiques the societal pressure to maintain a positive outlook and instead advocates for acknowledging and valuing our darker emotions as essential to a meaningful life.