By Enigma E
Abdul Aziz in his SplinterNews article entitled “The Secret, All-White Committee Advising New Orleans’ Black Woman Mayor on the Fate of Confederate Statues” was able to effectively point out how white supremacists always squirm themselves into a seat at the table. His article uncovered the link between confederate monument supporters and racist ideology & big money. It shows how they are validated through political organizations, donations and business ventures. Aziz summed up who the pro-monument people are as “essentially white nationalists masquerading as historical preservationists”. He uncovered their links to White supremacy, but more importantly he summarizes the real tragedy of this city with the line, “white supremacist views have already succeeded in penetrating one of the major institutions of a supposedly progressive, majority-black city”. This line gets at the fact that we are still dealing with identity politics. Mayor Cantrell is the figure in front the curtains, but who’s behind them? Cantrell is supposed to be representing the people that come from systematic generational poverty, which has limited their access to the resources and opportunities in this city, a city that is defined off of Black plight. We know Cantrell voted for a budget that disproportionately favors cops and jails over children and families, several times. We know she meets with white supremacists behind closed doors and concedes to their wishes without public input, even as public property is concerned. So we as the working class people must realize that no one person or position is going to save us, it’s on us to do it. Educate, agitate organize! #AllPower2DaPeople