Revolutionaries have always seen the importance of uncovering these conditions. Some of those who wrote about the conditions of the working class were: Frederick Engels, Vladimir Illyich Lenin, Mother Jones, and W.E.B. DuBois. In Lenin's book What Is to Be Done?, he argued that exposing abuses to workers "serves as a starting point for the awakening of class-consciousness, for the beginning of a trade union struggle, and for the spread of socialism." Most writers for the Militant have an advantage that the previous revolutionaries didn't have. These writers work in industry and can report about the conditions on the job from first hand experience.

The article argued that working people need to support the demand of self-determination for African Americans in the United States. It is in this context that we can talk about the issue of Ebonics. Instead of supporting one of the strategies offered by the government, why not talk about how we as workers would begin to solve the problems we face?

Steve Halpern

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Racial justice conference
On January 18 nearly 100 people attended the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Conference for Racial Justice in Pittsburgh.

Activists from the region attended plenaries and workshops which focused on the issues of police repression, affirmative action, and school desegregation.

At an opening rally several speakers talked about the case of Jonny Gammage, whose murder by cops in October 1995 brought forth a movement to demand that the cops responsible be sent to jail.

Jamila Levi, coordinator of the Western Pa. Committee to Free Mumia Abu-Jamal, said that Mumia's appeal is now before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. A decision is expected soon and it is possible that a new death warrant may be signed by Governor Ridge if the appeal is turned down.

John White, a member of Local 1223 of the United Steelworkers of America, on strike against Wheeling-Pitt, gave greetings and urged participants to support the steelworkers in their fight.

Mauri Saalakhan of the Peace and Justice Foundation in Washington, D.C., urged people to celebrate the legacy of Dr. King by coming to the nation's capital on February 21. On that date there will be a news conference and a march to the Justice Department demanding that the federal government prosecute the five cops who were involved in the death of Jonny Gammage.

Edwin Fruit

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The letters column is an open forum for all viewpoints on subjects of general interest to our readers. Please keep your letters brief. Where necessary they will be abridged. Please indicate if you prefer that your initials be used rather than your full name.  
 
 
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