Portside

Loot the labor and very being of people of African descent. When they rise in response, resist, and give as little as possible. Then wait for things to “calm down” and take back as much as possible.

Reader Comments: I Can't Breathe - Again; Trump Second Term Means Tyranny; Reader's Respond on Tara Reade; Open Churches?; Vietnam; Indonesia; Chile; Nuclear Testing, Nuclear Cold War - Again; Resources; Events:COVID and mass incarceration; June 20th

This book argues the fight for true equality begun 150 years ago continues and draws clear connections between the limitations and loopholes written into these 19th century amendments and the most intractable debates dividing 21st century America.

Reader Comments: 2020 - Nevada, Medicare 4 All, Campaign to Stop Bernie, Culinary Workers, Pittsburgh AFL-CIO; Economy a Bust; NYC School Segregation, Corporate Schooling; Black History; Civil War, Reconstruction; Labor Notes; lots of announcements;

The Democrats are the through-line in U.S. political history, which is the first reason we need to understand them. A second reason is that figuring out the left’s relationship to the Democratic Party is crucial for left strategy today.

150 years after the ratification of the 15th Amendment, an understanding what happened during Reconstruction is essential for exploring black power, resilience and excellence. Here are some resources for teaching Reconstruction.

Reader Comments: Impeachment - GOP Stirrings, Trump Sanity, Racism and First Impeachment, Mormon Women; Tulsi Gabbard; Resource - Year of White Racist Terrorism; Witness at the Border-Brownsville TX; Poor People’s Assembly and March-Washington, DC;

Charting the ironies of freedom won and lost during and after the Civil War, Eric Foner, the American historian, has also helped us better understand the ambiguous consequences of what were almost always only partial victories.

"Moments come and moment pass. But you cannot freeze them if you do not seize them," is the theme of Gene Bruskin's musical exploration of Reconstruction when this nation had the chance to do the right thing. Like then, the moment is still now.

Reader Comments: Building Unity to Defeat Trump; Concentration Camps; Debating History and contributions from the Left; Arnautoff Mural; Syriza Lessons; Ida B. Wells; Lights for Liberty demonstrations; Beyond NAFTA 2.0; Resources; Announcements; more