THE ISSUE of the black sections of the Labour Party is likely to be the major debate at this year's Party conference. Over 200 black activists attended its launch conference in Birmingham last week.
Rebuilding support for the Labour Party after its massive election defeats means creating a new, broader coalition of forces around it. Not a coalition as argued by Marxism Socialist Action: What is your view on black sections in the Labour Party?
Paul Boateng: very important role to play in ensuring that the Labour Party delivers to the black community at every level, not simply in terms of representation, also in terms of the policy-making functions of the Party.
We, as a Party, if we are to progress electorally, and if we are to create a ge. nuinely socialist society, become a mass-based campaigning parly. Ulner wise we shall die in terms of our capacity to implement policy once we are elected. A Labour government can only implement socialist policies if capable of commanding public support black along with women's sections have an impore tre still a Party.
still dominated by the white, simply in terms parliamentary representation, but right across the board that and black sections are a part and a way of doing that.
Asian and black women have joined unions and fought bosses but Labour has not put itself behind their struggles.
this.
Black sections have a dent black political party!
but tain the autonomously campaigning irve Wing about mass sections, tions which exist.
Anyone that ple miadie-class of our We have to change about. Today - meaning pacts with anti-working class forces like the Alliance - but a coalition in the sense that the Labour Party must represent the interests of all the oppressed.
Black people must be part of this. But first Labour has to thoroughly break from its past record of betrayal on black rights. Giving black people a voice is a first step to doing Why should the large number of black activists outside the Labour Party join the Party? Why not form an indepen.
It is vital that black people always reright outside the around issues of specific concern to the black community. There are occasions when the best strategy is to adopt a approach that goc. beyond party political affiliations.
But at the same time if we are to brthe sort of fundamental changes in our society which are going to benefit black people this involves altering the economic and social condiwho believes otherwise is living in cloud cuckoo land. So if peoSerous y concerned about political action then the Labour Party, as a socialist party ana. socialism the only way we are going to bring that Those that suggest an independent black party are falling into a trap. They have to recognise that it is not possible to organise around the issue of race alone. Race and class and the struggle against racism and capitalism are inextricably linked.
But that isn't to let white socialists off the hook in believing that all they nave to do is accepl a class allalysis U the problem. also recognise the racial dimension to ans analysis that is going to have any meaning.
What do black sections offer black Among black youth there is a growing bitterness and alienation not from society as a whole the political process and there is a conscious withdrawal from that process. well not witnarawal, because lot very many of them they have never been part of it.
We have to get the message over that there is a role for black youth, the wider black community, the Labour Party and unions recognise and respect that role. In this black sections, and autonomous black organisations within the trade unions, have a very important, indeed historic, role to play if we aren't to drift into a situation where black people write themselves off politically because other written them off.
The result of this is that black people are beginning not to vote at all, and ananacer and the black community.
How can black activists take up Kinnock and Hattersley's public opposition to the black sections!
Kinnock and Hattersley would have aone Lo ciall they'd had an opportunity to consider the views of the working party which has been set up as a result of a decision or conce They should have themselves more with the views of the ty, the membership, tions to date.
have to opportunity simply but also from for and that for black ting positions people have They are focus, , both the Labour Party realis. silent. until then disaster.
acquainted that to happen. black rank and file members of the Parviews CLPs and the both black and white.
They've voted with their feet on this and have actually established black sections. Therefore I regret both the timing and the content of their interven Black activists should not lose any bring home leadership their own views and make sure their local parties do too. This is the responsibility of all members of the will be the final arbiter We must not spend too much time wringing our hands over the untortunate attitude of the leadership. Our only the CLPs, but the trade unions recognise the importance of the right of members to organise autonomously within the Party.
Won't black sections become just a way careerists to further their parliamentary careers?
Anyone who believes that black sec tions are no more than a means of getblack people elected to certain within the local and national government doesn't understand the whole history of sectional organisation within the Labour no means the only or indeed the primary focus o black involvement in the Party. That and must remain, the GMCs, where ultimately the decisions will and should be made. The purpose of black sections is to provid basis rganisation, a basis for the develo ment of policy and to help focus the Party's attention on these issues.
Were black sections to become the dustbin of the Party for all black issues then they suld be an absolute would absolute But I don't believe that the grass roots black activists will allow
in a personal capacity.
black desirability thing thoroughly fact in London, member of the Labour Party Black Section steering committee, UP UNTIL now a controversy has raged among the British left, both white, about the and significance of Labour Party black sections. This controversy will intensify up to and beyond the coming Labour Party Whatever is said about them which must be understood is that black sections are an established and will soon become so in other parts of the Therefore, despite the reticence of the national leadership Socialist Action
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Party, black and white. If they don't change their minds, then conference