Ferdinand Lasselle -bitterly contested by Marx his conception of the state of the Plantations on Channel 4 came as a pleasant surprise.
This surprisingly moying programme was about Sylvia Woody, a 70 year old black States and, as the title would suggest, her lifelong struggle against and suffering under, racism. Not only is hers' a struggle against and YOUICES VODEO CALI v guide tells us - but also a dynamic struggle against capitalism something us!
photos depicting moving but mournful such as Struggle"
Union*.
and talked, word last Tuesday's showing of the Long Shadows music showing the movement was the 'political' Sylvia's youns child. been in her school Her free"
her pathetic says They the know who enemy bosses does , oppression and of the working also on the question of women and particularly on Nevertheless their attempts to boost their catering for ethnic minorities' has resulted in some programmes they want to live in this country they must fall in line under white dictators' are indicative of the general tone of the References 'white mastery and "wogs' were commonplace.
The report on these essays was followed by an Fastern Eye studio Commander Wells, head of the Hendon school, and (surprise, surprise.) two black police cadets who fervently denied they'd ever suffered from any racism (1 assume by the fact they first entered college that they wanted to keep their jobs!)
Commander Wells then went on to say that these essays didn't show deep rooted racism which would be eradicated by 18 months training. acismily And "shallow' racism? could anybody (except the odd cop or two) not consider references to 'white mastery' as anything but deep rooted 70 per cert of thes their hidden role in working class history: There is complete blackout on what women have done in the trade union movement and every movement you would think that no CYCl marched on the picket lines. ever woman noble not a raised a dollar Divide Although the lact and ruling class she La day of the TV!
But this realistic to make do to help?
Sylia Police - claim no racism essays were considered by Fernandes to be 'abusive or negative' and only one out 64 yes Totally totally gives the hie to the old, old myth that the police force represents the whole spectrum of society and there will therefore necessarily be an element of racism.
attracts these thugs by its very role This expose is particularly timely when we consider Whitelaw's гсcent decision that racist nolice would not be sack ed, and recent government the vague reminiscences of an azeing semi-senile Shese are a call to arms. She doesn't want u sit in front of the T and admire her. She wants us to follow her example, at work and on the streets Time after time it is hammered home to the viewer What you eat is connected with politics, nected with sleep connected politics Yes, the long shadows plantations still hang over society today -in the form of deep rooted racism and vicious ruling class attacks on the black population. But this prowas * Woody tribute to Sylvia and the millions of women like her, it was also an example how to finally disperse those shadows.
The message was clear, we must fight racism and women's oppression now as part of the long term struggle for socialism.
It was a moving and inspiring statement when Svivia Woody said •A: long as I breath I will be working for the freedom and dignity of the working class, Let's hope thai viewer, that moved and inspire equally night were proposals giving police more power to stop and search (whatever happen the abolition of SUS?), the right to detai: people for 96 hours befor going before magistrates, and the right to olds!
Something tells me that maybe the police really toc concerned about fighting racism, wh should they be, it's not in their interests and they've got the Tories and the rul ing class backing their every action all the way down the line.
Socialist Challenge 26 November 1982