The Revolutionary Communist 4 (RC4) Speaking Tour

Revolution #1, May 1, 2005, posted at revcom.us

We received the following from Carl Dix and Comrade X.

Revolution?

In these dangerous times, we need to kick off a big conversation about the dire situation we are confronting and what needs to be done. Is revolution really possible? What does it mean to emancipate all of humanity and what does that have to do with Black people’s experience of slavery and oppression which continues down to today? Why is communism the answer and what does it mean for people to be communists and to get involved in a communist movement?

Interested? Well, the RC4 Tour is headed your way.

What kind of leadership do we need? How do you judge revolutionary leadership —is it based on nationality or is it based on a vision of where we need to go and how we look at people and the whole process of getting out of the nightmare and into our dreams?

Is communism a European ideology? Are Black people too much into religion to be attracted to communism? What about spirituality: is it true that communism is cold and devoid of soul?

What future does the Bush team have for the youth in the ghettos and barrios? Military uniforms and prayer books — killing people like us in other countries, dying for an empire that is treating us like trash and getting down on our knees to thank a non-existent god for it. And what’s up with Bill Cosby’s tirade about personal responsibility and why is he objectively playing the role of a flunkey for the ruling class (the powers-that-be) with all that drivel?

Can we really rise up and actually get our freedom?

These are all big questions. And the RC4 tour is hitting the road, coming your way to get into all this and more— with no holds barred.

If we are going to be liberators of humanity, we gotta have a revolutionary, scientific way of looking at the world and approaching all questions. We need the leadership of Bob Avakian, the Chairman of the Revolutionary Communist Party. We say straight up that Bob Avakian is a visionary and creative revolutionary communist thinker and leader who is serious about leading a revolution in this country. Listen to the love he has for the people:

"One of the things that I see, something that I haven’t lost sight of, is this: I see all the strength of the ruling class, but I also see all the way through all this shit, all the contradictions in society—I actually see a force in this society that, if it were developed into a revolutionary people, actually could have a go at it, could have a real chance of making revolution, of being the backbone force for revolution, when the conditions were ripe. I see a force of millions and millions and millions—youth and others—for whom this system is a horror."

The RC4 tour is aiming to connect that potential and creativity with revolutionary science—a powerful combo that could actually mean that we would have a fighting chance to really change things.

We are revolutionary communists and we do not believe in gods or saviors. We look reality in the face and we are passionate about changing the world. We are:

Carl Dix: RCP National Spokesperson. In 1970 Carl was one of six active duty GI’s at Ft. Lewis who refused orders to Vietnam. A veteran revolutionary political activist, Carl was formerly with the Black Workers Congress and the African Liberation Day Support Committee. He represented the RCP,USA at the founding press conference for the Revolutionary Internationalist Movement in London in 1984. And he helped co-found the October 22nd Coalition to Stop Police Brutality in 1996.

Comrade X: In 1990, the Revolutionary Worker newspaper published a lengthy interview with Comrade X. As a young man Comrade X spent many years behind bars in "correctional" institutions and became a revolutionary while in prison — leading prison rebellions and other political activity. Influenced by the revolutionary leaders and movements of the 1960s, including Malcolm X, George Jackson and the Black Panther Party, Mao and the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution (GPCR) in China, upon his release from prison Comrade X met Bob Avakian and recognized in him unique and special qualities as a leader and also his enormous sense of humor. Comrade X’s writings for the revolutionary press range from an essay on Martin Luther King and the Vietnam War to commentary on Muhammad Ali and boxing to a major analysis of demographic changes in the 1980s, "Class Polarization Among Black People."

Akil Bomani: Akil Bomani is a member of the Chicago Writers and Artists Collective and a correspondent to Revolution newspaper. Growing up in the streets of Chicago in the 1990s with his Pentecostal mom, Akil searched for answers. He speaks powerfully to how he came to be a revolutionary communist in his article "Losing My Religion." He is a writer, poet, rapper, and actor. Akil is currently studying for a masters degree in linguistics and writing a book on Black culture.

Joe Veale: Joe Veale is the spokesperson for the Los Angeles branch of the RCP. Joe arrived in L.A. during the ’92 Rebellion determined to link up with the courageous fighters there and fuse their determination to confront injustice with the science of MLM and the cause of communist revolution. Joe is a veteran of the Black Panther Party.

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On the tour we will also be dealing with some things that are really vexing the people: for example, what’s up will all those crucifixes—gold or otherwise—that are so popular? Why is the "Preacherman" speaking for and representing Black people, including some preachers who are hanging out with the Christian Fascists and the Bush crowd, skinning and grinning and spreading that poison among Black people?

What about all that dissin’ and disrespectin’ the sisters and all that "manhood" shit? Why do young women with so much creativity and potential think that the only thing they can do in life is to make babies?

What about all that hip-hop capitalism and entrepreneurialism? How can the masses change the world if the very people who need revolution the most are caught up in all that "bling-bling" and "gettin’ paid and gettin’ rich" and "pimpin’ and playin’ " and "bangin’ and slangin’ "?

Our beautiful sisters and brothers need to start "fighting the powers that be"—"sang it" Public Enemy—and start being revolutionaries and communists and emancipators of humanity!

This tour is right on time. We are restless and we are ready to hit the road. So look out, here we come, dropping science as we travel from one end of the country to another.

We need big funds right away to make this important speaking tour a reality. We call on everyone— masses in the ghettos and barrios, youth and students, and revolutionary-minded people in the arts, sciences, sports, hip hop, the Black media, teachers, lawyers, doctors—to donate generously to make it possible for this speaking tour to happen. Get in touch. Help us spread the word. And invite us to your town.