I'm always impressed by your insights -- especially personal ones regarding one's own processes of radicalization and what role to play in the movement, as well as the role of the movement itself -- Jim. And much respect for taking weekly actions rather than the tendency to focus only on large demonstrations every few months, both to Jim and other members of DAWN.

I am particularly interested in something you state here, and which I've seen/heard you express elsewhere, namely the problem of recreation of colonial structures in our organizing. I personally feel the tendency stems from a larger problem relating to the role of the white left, and it's general refusal -- albeit usually subconsciously -- to recognize the need to place itself into the role of "subordinates" (for lack of a better word) to leadership and organizations within the oppressed communities and communities of color (which are pretty much one and the same, obviously).

Whenever I bring this up to most white activist organizations, they seem offended and argue with me etc, even otherwise well-intentioned and good activists. This problem, I feel, exists in general terms within most of the white left as individuals, but it is particularly problematic in organizations, especially larger ones. Even when doing "outreach" to communities of color and activist groups from those communities, there is the tendency to invite them to come to the white groups' meetings, or to say basically "WE have this idea for such-and-such event etc, and we think it's important to invite you to participate." Rarely do we see these white groups show up to meetings/events organized by the people of color and offer themselves (the white groups) in a support role, saying "What can we do to follow YOUR lead, to help YOUR projects, etc?" But that's precisely the role the white left needs to come to terms with, because ultimately that is the role I and many others (especially my activist friends in communities of color) feel is the only role in which the white left can be truly relevant to the left and help win the struggle for ultimate social change and justice.

So long as the white left consciously or subconsciously continues to attempt to take the lead in the movement, it will be irrelevant and the real oppressed communities, where the real struggle will grow and expand and take action. This has been a problem throughout the history of our movement, and it has been largely responsible for many of the major problems and splintering that has taken place -- and that is what has continued to hold us back. If the white left cannot accept the need to play this supporting role and follow leaders and groups within the most oppressed communities, it may as well get out of the way because otherwise it tends to be a stumbling block for the movement and brings that very colonial mentality into the activist community. Anarchists are much less likely than others, such as progressives and socialists, in the white left to fail to recognize this problem, but even anarchists can often not actually see and/or act upon this need for the white left to support or step aside.

So that's my two-cents worth. Again, thanks for the good reports and writing, and much respect.