Abolitionist solidarity — Black and white — in the struggle against slavery
Aug 31, 2021
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Explore the overlooked role of enslaved people and white working-class abolitionists in the fight against slavery in the US. Learn about rebellions, Harriet Tubman's contributions, and the working-class abolitionist movement. Discover the forgotten guerrilla war and the impact of Union soldiers' experiences. Uncover the role of pirates in the struggle against slavery and their connection to the international workers' movement.
Enslaved people and white working-class abolitionists played crucial roles in the fight against slavery, with their efforts often marginalized in history books.
The contributions of Union soldiers, including immigrant workers, were significant in the struggle against slavery, leading to a shift in consciousness and growing abolitionist sentiment.
Deep dives
The Struggle Against Slavery
The struggle against slavery in the United States has been largely misrepresented in history books, with the role of enslaved people and white working-class abolitionists marginalized. Enslaved people fought for their freedom through rebellions, escapes, and sabotage. Well-known examples include Nat Turner's revolt in 1831 and the Stono rebellion in 1739. White working-class abolitionists played a crucial and often overlooked role in the fight against slavery, with their active participation being more significant than the efforts of bourgeois abolitionists. Understanding the full story of the struggle against slavery is essential for recognizing the contributions of both enslaved people and white working-class activists.
The Role of Union Soldiers
During the Civil War, the contributions of Union soldiers in the fight against slavery were significant. Many workers, including Irish and German immigrants, joined the Union Army, demonstrating their support for abolition. The war changed the consciousness of soldiers as they witnessed the brutal treatment of enslaved people, the widespread poverty in the South, and the bravery of black soldiers. Their votes in the 1864 election favored President Lincoln, reflecting their growing abolitionist sentiment.
Rewriting History
The history of the working class and their struggle against slavery has been rewritten to suit capitalist interests. Examples include the distortion of the Jayhawkers' role in Kansas as merely fictional robbers and assassins. The racist anti-draft riot of 1863 in New York City, primarily led by Irish immigrants, wrongly blamed black people for unemployment. It is also important to recognize the role of pirates in the fight against slavery, as they often freed enslaved people and provided them equal rights on board pirate ships. Overall, history has been manipulated to protect the interests of the ruling class, but understanding these untold stories is crucial for the current struggle against racism and oppression.
The full story of the struggle to end chattel slavery in the U.S. has yet to be fully told. History books have always minimized the struggle of enslaved people, who from the beginning in 1619 in North America, fought slavery at every turn, rebelling, escaping, fighting for the right to fight. Some 180,000 enlisted in the Union army and suffered among the highest casualties in a war where high casualty rates were considered proof of bravery.
The role of white working-class people in the struggle against slavery has also been left out of history books, buried beneath an avalanche of lies, distortions and slander. The ruling class is terrified of multinational solidarity, particularly in the working class. Their history is meant to show that such solidarity is not today, nor ever, possible. The truth is hidden.
“Labor in the white skin can never free itself as long as labor in the black skin is branded.” — Karl Marx, Capital
Read the full article here: https://liberationschool.org/abolitionist-solidarity-in-the-struggle-against-slavery/
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