The goal of the fourth session of Marxism 101 is to help participants understand how Marxist political economy and a theory of history motivated (or were situated next to other) revolutionary struggles in the past 100 years.
ASSIGNED MATERIALS
- Notes for the Study of the Ideology of the Cuban Revolution, Che Guevara, 1960
- The Transition from Capitalism to Communism from State and Revolution, by V.I. Lenin, 1917
- Radio interview with Carole Boyce Davies about Claudia Jones on WPFW (listen from 11:37-28:00).
- “Notes on the Revolution and the 1930s,” by Al Richmond from A Long View from the Left: Memoirs of an American Revolutionary 1973. (pp. 236-239; bottom of p. 241-245)
- “The Popular Front and the Origins of the NNC” in Communists in Harlem During the Depression. by Mark Naison 1984 (pp.bottom of 172-173; 177-188).
- Photo of the 2nd National Negro Congress
OPTIONAL READING
- An End to the Neglect of the Problems of the Negro Woman by Claudia Jones, Political Affairs, 1949
STUDY GUIDE
CLASS EXERCISE
Marxism 101 Timeline, Pt. 2 (1917-2017)
This exercise helps participants more deeply understand the context in which Marxist theory informed political strategy and struggle from the time of the Russian Revolution to the present. Center for Political Education uses this exercise as an opportunity to help participants think about Marxist ideas (political economy, historical materialism) in a context of international struggle.
LESSONS
- CPE’s own Rachel Herzing talks about putting theory into practice.
- Calvin Cheung-Miaw of the Left Inside/Outside Project speaks on Marxist political approaches.