The Revolution is NOW

... and class solidarity and community is how we survive

For a while now, I’ve been talking about the importance of authentic community building, collectivism, and mutual aid - especially in time of this political and social uncertainty. As people continue to process and prepare for the uncoming administration, this messaging continues to be true.

Photo by Matheus Ferrero on Unsplash

For many of us, the only way that we’ve survived throughout the atrocities of history is through the recipricol relationships of other people. So much of what we understand to be American culture is rooted in the rugged individualism and ideals of taking care of yourself and your family without help or care for others. That continues to be one of the most harmful lies that we’ve accepted as truth and we are seeing the detrimential consequences of the evolved disconnection from one another.

But, what is becoming increasingly clear is that we’re no longer socialized to understand how to be in genuine community with one another.

When I was growing up, in the 90’s, I’d spend almost every weekend, and months throughout the summer, at my Grandma’s house off Holly Road in Southwest Atlanta (the SWAT). Holly Road was home to a host of characters that had a hand in my care, learning and evolution, safety, and discipline through my childhood. Across the street and 3 or 4 houses down, Mrs. Zachary and her daughter, Maudy, lived next to the bridge that took us over the tracks into Mosley Park. Any time, me or my cousins had to cross that bridge, my Grandma would call Mrs. Zachary and have her stand out on her porch and watch as we crossed. I remember her and Maudy always welcoming me back when I made the 5 minute trek across, and waving at me as I was getting ready to cross it to go hang with my cousins. They’d always have a snack or juice or something, ready and waiting and smiles and hugs for when we walked by their house. As a 9 year old, it always made me feel good that there was someone who my Grandma trusted (and therefor, I trusted) looking out for me. Someone, outside of my immediate family, who cared for my well-being.

Revolution happens when ‘Nothing’ is what we have in common

Then, there was Gleland and Charles Matthews, the Matthews, that lived next door to my Grandma. Their shared fence was home to a few planter boxes with beans and other greens, while the chain link wire served as a structure for things like tomatos. I remember my Grandfather standing out back with Mr. Matthews picking through some of the vegetables and passing riped things between the two of them to be enjoyed by each household. The Matthews also served as protection on the street for many of the families. I can remember a time where Mr. Matthews was called over, with his pistol, to monitor a troubling situation; my mother also recalls a time where he had to scare a man away from their front porch with his firearm. In 1968 when Dr. King was shot, my mother, who was 11 years old, was in the Matthews’ front room, watching the news as my Grandmother was working late. The Matthews serving as a place of safety and care as our city of Atlanta, and the entire country and world, mourned.

I share these memories about my community to give examples of what community actually is and how we all need to get serious about the roles we play. This includes some very clear skill sets to take care of one another as we are realizing that our social safety nets are failing us at every turn and we have to be more intentional about care for one another.

Class solidarity is how we are going to survive whatever is coming next. 21st century capitalism can only sustain through repression. It is barely recognizable as capilalism at this point, we’ve turned to feudalism. Instead of digging our heels into the falsehoods of the nefarious nature of the corproation that is America. Who of you knows how to grow food to ensure that the edlery in your community is fed? What does protection of people look like so that state sanctioned violence isn’t welcomed into our communities through police and other law enforcement?

Class consciousness and solidarity is the genuine community we need to be developing; what we need to be investing in. So, below, I want to offer some suggestions of what will be needed for all of us to survive whatever is thrown our way by the class war that is upon us thanks to racialized and patriarichal capiltalism and imperialism.

I hope you all take this list to heart and begin to get serious about your role in community and our collectivist needs.

• If you have land, provide space for people to live and for growing food. Things may revert back to traditional trading before money ruled society.

• Assist in collective bookkeeping. Understand the practice of trade. Those who are used to exploitation will have to be starved to compliance of trade rules.

• If you understand how to use computers and technology, download informational pages, Wikipedia, entire books, movies, music, whole universities of knowledge to ensure that communities can continue on with entertainment and access to history and learning.

• Find a niche that will be neccessary. Youtube is a treasure trove of learning a skill. Learn how to collect rainwater and purify it, how to wire solar panels, grow food, sew garments, LEARN TO SHOOT. Find a niche and fill it. Gain an actual skill that is not simply sitting in meetings and navigating corporate speak.

• Start to dismantle your reliance on ego, capitalism, and authoritarian stances and ways of being. These things will not serve you well in authentic community - you have to learn to navigate around them.

• Remember that you don’t have to like someone or agree with them (I am not talking about fundamental values) for them to deserve community and care. Learn how to disagree without throwing someone away and denying them care.

• If you can, start stocking up on things the US does not produce and be ready to SHARE (for example:)
  - sauces
  - chocolate
  - baking ingredients
  - lightbulbs (all kinds)
  - batteries (all kinds)
  - shoes
  - underwear
  - pain medications
  - pet food

  Get prepared ya’ll. The time is here to organzie and take care of each other. And what I know to be true is that Revolutions happen when ‘Nothing’ is what we have in common and right now, we are on the cusp of recognizing that the imperialistic capitalism of the United States only sees its citizens as a means to an end of increasing the profit of a select few - leaving the rest of us with ‘nothing’. We’re closer to revolution than is comfortable for many of you to admit. I hope understanding what community really looks and feels like can help you settle into the truth of what’s happening and prepare for the fight ahead. Ase.