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Kuwasi Balagoon was a BPP and BLA member, New Afrikan Anarchist, and Panther 21 defendant.
He was imprisoned for a robbery in 1981, and died in 1986.
Balagoon spoke to and represented much of our current approach.
Here are excerpts from prison letters of his that show how/why.
He was imprisoned for a robbery in 1981, and died in 1986.
Balagoon spoke to and represented much of our current approach.
Here are excerpts from prison letters of his that show how/why.
“I think we tend to use the term ‘Left’ too loosely.
Everybody left of Reagan ain’t ‘Left.’
Basic self-determination, the means of production being in the hands of the workers, should be the criteria of recognizing an ideology as ‘Left.’”
Everybody left of Reagan ain’t ‘Left.’
Basic self-determination, the means of production being in the hands of the workers, should be the criteria of recognizing an ideology as ‘Left.’”
“The politics of the so-called ‘Left’ haven’t reached a lot of people, and their elitist airs are actually turnoffs — there’s not much mention of ‘serving the people.’”
“To fully take on the power structure in a given area, you got to not only provide alternatives, but institutions that render the old ones useless.
Just completely take their place...”
Just completely take their place...”
“People are putting all kinds of co-ops together — the trick is to form a federation that takes care of the needs of its members and invites more. That teaches self-reliance and demonstrates it.“
“... public movements can’t grow into mass movements, not because of the apathy... but because of ... elitism.
If they organize a mass movement, they’ll lose their identities. They won’t be so much smarter than [those] they’re supposed to be organizing and providing models for.”
![“... public movements can’t grow into mass movements, not because of the apathy... but because of ... elitism.If they organize a mass movement, they’ll lose their identities. They won’t be so much smarter than [those] they’re supposed to be organizing and providing models for.”](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D2dMHF4WsAIRpzp.jpg "“... public movements can’t grow into mass movements, not because of the apathy... but because of ... elitism.If they organize a mass movement, they’ll lose their identities. They won’t be so much smarter than [those] they’re supposed to be organizing and providing models for.”")
If they organize a mass movement, they’ll lose their identities. They won’t be so much smarter than [those] they’re supposed to be organizing and providing models for.”
“If a collective chooses to recycle and accumulate capital for a co-op of sorts, people ... will see a process that can be duplicated.
...
With eggheads sitting around spinning yarns and isms, you have something that can be duplicated, but for what?“
...
With eggheads sitting around spinning yarns and isms, you have something that can be duplicated, but for what?“
“... Klan says ... illegal aliens take jobs, while Ford, IBM and ... other corporations move plants to South Africa, England, Korea...
The Klan, Nazis, etc. spread their crap uncontested as champions of the white workers, when it’s clear that they are dupes of the ruling class.”
The Klan, Nazis, etc. spread their crap uncontested as champions of the white workers, when it’s clear that they are dupes of the ruling class.”
“If this ... [org] begins modest programs in the most depressed areas, centered around survival, turning waste into capital ... offering services denied to the communities like food co-ops ... we will soon have an international community-based [org] that people will support.”
![“If this ... [org] begins modest programs in the most depressed areas, centered around survival, turning waste into capital ... offering services denied to the communities like food co-ops ... we will soon have an international community-based [org] that people will support.”](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D2dMIQoWwAA6yPp.jpg "“If this ... [org] begins modest programs in the most depressed areas, centered around survival, turning waste into capital ... offering services denied to the communities like food co-ops ... we will soon have an international community-based [org] that people will support.”")
