Black Comrades

For decades, most Black political commentary has expressed solidarity with the Palestinian people, but recently, a new phenomenon has appeared, particularly on social media platforms, which accuses all Palestinians of being anti-Black racists, and asserts that aligning with them is either of no use to Black people or even that it is detrimental to our own cause. Some of these individuals are Democratic Party operatives attempting to maintain Black voter loyalty as Israeli war crimes in Gaza remain a campaign issue. Others are of a right wing tendency which either supports U.S. imperialism or asserts that Black politics can and should stand alone, and that any talk of solidarity with Palestinians or other peoples is misguided.

It's not surprising that these questions have come to the fore as the Democratic National Convention is taking place in Chicago, while so-called ceasefire talks take place in Israel, even though Israel continues to reject any talk of a real ceasefire and Kamala Harris promises to keep sending them weapons. Black Agenda Report editor and columnist Ajamu Baraka provides his analysis in conversation with Executive Editor Margaret Kimberley.

Do not be fooled, family. There's hella motherfuckers out here who want to see our solidarity split; and some of them look and act like us. This is why they want us to assimilate so badly; so we stop expressing solidarity with the enemies of the Settlement. Or not even the enemies of the Settlement; even the innocents in the way of what the Settlement's allies want!

They want you cosigning the genocide just as breathlessly as Harris, Booker, or Jeffries would; and they will dissemble, cudgel, and cajole until either you do, or until you make it clear that they'll have to chalk you out too to kill your solidarity.