BOOK OF THE MONTH: THE COLONIZER AND THE COLONIZED

Albert Memmi

A timeless classic in the study of colonialism, this ground breaking work by Albert Memmi explores the physical and physiological relationship between the colonizer and the colonized. First published in 1957, this book was confiscated by colonial police around the world. Memmi captures perfectly the contradictions of the colonial relationship and offers no escape for the two protagonists other than the complete end of the colonial situation.

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Decolonizing Culture

THE DECOLONIZER
January 2016

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BRIEF HISTORIES: THE PUERTO RICAN NATIONALIST PARTY

by Dubian Ade

It was nearing the end of the Spanish-American War in 1898. After 400 years of Spanish colonial domination, Spain had finally granted Puerto Rico it's autonomy through the Carta de Autonomía. As the United States closed in on the island, The Macheteros de Puerto Rico, a loose band of Puerto Rican militants fought to defend the hope of a new nation. With relative success they were able to repel U.S forces.

Spain however, lost the war. With the signing of the Treaty of Paris the U.S laid claim to Puerto Rico even though it was no longer a Spanish territory. Puerto Rico was immediately annexed and without any elections Charles Herbert Allen was appointed the first U.S Governor of Puerto Rico.

Puerto Rico was now a United States colony. At the expense of the Puerto Rican people, Allen opened up the island to U.S business ventures. Allen himself resigned in 1901 so that he could be president of America Sugar Refinery Company, which soon became the largest sugar-refining company in the world. In a 30 year period most of Puerto Rico's arable land had been converted to sugar plantations. American Sugar Refinery Company, which would later be renamed Domino, owned virtually all of these plantations.

A group of members from the Union Party of Puerto Rico separated from the party and joined with two pro-independence organizations. On September 17th , 1922 the Partido Nacionalista de Puerto Rico was formed.

Pedro Albizu Campos

Internal strife between leaders over how the party should be run weakened the organization for some years until Pedro Albizu Campos was elected president in 1930. Campos would hold the position until his death in 1965.

Under Campos' direction, the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party became unwavering in its stance for independence and nationalization where other organizations lightened on their views. The Partido Nacionalista de Puerto Rico advocated for the independence of Puerto Rico by any means necessary, including armed force. The Party's revolutionary position would come to have a profound affect on the Puerto Rican people.

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. HATES YOU

Now is the time of year when we remember Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Liberal white supremacists come out of the woodwork to perpetuate colorblind racism. Uncle Toms gather around to talk about how far we have come. Middle class people of color tell youth to pull their pants up.

MLK celebrations happen all across the country. Everywhere people are holding hands and sing "this little light of mine." Program agendas ask "what would Dr.Martin Luther King Jr. say if he could see us today?"

It has become a day to celebrate progress. Yet you couldn't hear freedom ring if it came out the barrel of a gun shot in your head handcuffed execution style.

From Birmingham to Selma we remember Dr. Martin Luther King's adventures. Place him next to Gandhi and Jesus. Burn candles and sing for King's second coming. Oprah Winfrey dips into a bowl of croutons and laughs. Al Sharpton holds his hand to his heart and sobs.

There is talk of Obama and marches on Washington, and freedom coming down like a mighty stream. The Black elite blow their noses and pay homage to the Dream. Stepping on the necks of poor Black people "If it wasn't for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. I wouldn't be where I am at today."

White supremacist want to be judged by the content of their domination. They regurgitate MLK quotes to keep people of color in place. "Now remember, boy, Dr. Martin Luther King said, 'hate cannot drive out hate.' Now wait a minute there, boy, Martin Luther King said, 'an eye for an eye will leave everyone blind.'"

White liberals in Martin Luther King tee shirts sing "we shall overcome" loud enough to drown out the cries of black people dying in the streets.

This January 18th, The Decolonizer says: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. hates you.

The Decolonizer knows there will be a rush to social media to post your favorite MLK quotes, wait at your computer for likes, and feel good about your complacency in white supremacist settler colonial domination. Here is an alternative list of #QuotesbyMLK:

"The activity of Negro forces, while heroic in some instances, and impressive in other sporadic situations, lacked consistency and militancy to fill the void left by government defaults."

"The principle of self-defense, even involving weapons and bloodshed, has never been condemned."

"When the Negro uses force in self-defense he does not forfeit support- he may even win it, by the courage and self-respect it reflects."

"It is unfortunately true that however the Negro acts, his struggle will not be free of violence initiated by his enemies, and he will need ample courage and willingness to sacrifice to defeat this manifestation of violence."

"Over the last few years many Negros have felt that their most troublesome adversary was not the obvious bigot of the Ku Klux Klan or the John Birch Society, but the white liberal who is more devoted to 'order' than to justice, who prefers tranquility to equality."

"The amazing thing about the ghetto is that so few Negros have rioted."

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THE DECOLONIZER
January 2016

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THE DECOLONIZER, JANUARY 2016

THE DECOLONIZER, January 2016

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WHO WILL SURVIVE AMERICA?

Papi Edwards

Papi Edwards was a trans Black woman who was who was shot and killed on January 9, 2015 in Louisville, Kentucky. Henry Richard Gleaves was charged with her murder. She has been consistently misgendered by news media outlets.  The police report also misgendered Edwards and police officers refused to identify the murder as a hate crime.  Footage of the murder clearly shows that Edwards identified as a trans woman and her friends have also confirmed that Edwards identified as a woman.  

Laquan McDonald

Laquan McDonald was a  17 year-old cis Black male who was shot sixteen times by a Chicago police officer on October 20th, 2014. Dash-cam footage shows officer Jason Van Dyke repeatedly shooting MacDonald as he is walking away from the police vehicle. A judge ordered the City to release the footage before November 25, 2015. Release of the footage has caused a serge of Black Lives Matter protests. Van Dyke has since been charged with first degree murder.   

Jamar Clark ghost portrait by Sophia Terazawa

Jamar Clarke

Jamar Clarke was a  24 year-old cis Black male who was shot and killed by police officers on November 15, 2015 in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  Police and ambulance arrived on the scene in response to a domestic dispute between Clarke and his girlfriend. Clarke struggled with officers to reach the ambulance where his girlfriend was being treated. Clarke was then handcuffed and slammed to the ground. A police officer then shot Clarke in the head execution style. None of the officers were wearing body cameras and the police report denies that Clarke was handcuffed. Multiple witnesses say that Clarke was handcuffed.    

Rest In Power 

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Who Will Survive America?

THE DECOLONIZER
December 2015

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TRACK THE MOVEMENT: DECEMBER, 2015

#4thPrecinctShutDown

In response to the extra judicial murder of Jamar Clarke on November 15th, BLM activist in Minneapolis moved to shut down the MPD 4th Precinct demanding #justice4Jamar, the release of the dash cam footage of the shooting, the release of surveillance video, an independent investigation of the shooting, and the immediate termination of the officers involved. Protesters occupied the precinct and set up encampment for over 18 days in freezing temperatures. During that time white supremacist attacked the encampment, shooting and injuring a number of protesters. On December 3rd at 3AM Minneapolis police evicted the protesters and bulldozed the encampment. Protesters reconvened at City Hall where they marched to disrupt a police union fundraiser. The City has still failed to release the footage.       

Shehla Rashid (Image source: kafila.org)

#OccupyUGC

On December 9th 300 to 500 student protesters mobilized in opposition to the University Grants Commission in Delhi, India. The students were prepared to march to the Parliament when they were intercepted by the police in Central Delhi. The police then viciously attacked the students, unleashing hi-powered water cannons, sound grenades, and tear gas at protesters. Over 200 students were detained by police, beaten, and many reported being sexually assaulted by officers. The protest came after a national call for mobilization by various student unions across the country. Protests in India have been occurring since October when the UGC announced their plan to scrap the research fellowships that many disadvantaged students need in order to afford higher education in India.   

#ResignRahm

Video of Laquan Mcdonalds death at the hands of officer Jason Van Dyke was kept from the public for nearly a year. Now protesters in Chicago are demanding an immediate end to police and city corruption and are calling for Mayor Rahm Emanuel's resignation. In March Emanuel approved of a  5 million dollar settlement with the Mcdonald family so that the city would not be obligated to release the video footage. Officer Van Dyke was not charged until after the footage was released.  Emanuel's administration has been complicit in the code of silence among police officers and has actively worked to protect corrupt officers from facing conviction. On December 9th BLM protesters took the streets after Emanuel issued a public apology for the Mcdonald cover-up.  Fatal shootings of other victims  by Chicago police officers are now being reopened for investigations linking to Emanuel's administration.  

#POC@IC

POC@ IC protesters staged a week long occupation of the College's administrative building Peggy Ryan Williams Center from  December 7th through December 13th.  After approximately 71% of Ithaca College students voted no confidence in President Tom Rochon, pressure has been steadily increasing for his resignation. The occupiers of the week long action directly confronted Rochon on Thursday after he attempted to slip pass  the occupiers unnoticed. On Friday a march was led to IC's Free Speech Rock where the President was asked to appear and make a statement regarding his resignation. Tom Rochon is still insistent on remaining in office. On December 14th the faculty no confidence vote was released. 77.8% of those who voted agreed that they have no confidence in President Rochon.         

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Track the Movement

THE DECOLONIZER
December 2015

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DECOLONIZING TOUCH: SWEET DREAMS ARE MADE OF THIS

by Sophia Terazawa

“Decolonizing Touch” is a monthly column about love and intimacy. If the revolution will not be televised, then the erotic, the heartbreaks, and interpersonal relationships most certainly will go unseen. But I believe that what happens in private is the most radical space of all. What does it mean to desire the Other? How does it feel to need the oppressor? I hope to answer these questions (and more) in my column.

Sweet Dreams are Made of This

Ripe for Business: A Self-Portrait, Illustration by Sophia Terazawa

Last night I woke up repeating, “Don’t touch me. Don’t touch me.”

Talking in my sleep was not new, as my family and college roommate would always let me know the next morning.

“Who were you talking to in your dreams?” They asked.

I never remembered.

To stir awake in the middle of a conversation, now that was unusual.

SOME OF THEM 
WANT TO USE YOU.

In this dream, we wore black suits. The man’s hand was on my back. His voice, quiet but firm. We were standing at a conference table with a large map spread upon it like a bed cover.

I stiffened as he moved his hand around my waist but did not hesitate to snap, “Don’t touch me.”

In that moment, my eyes opened. The man was―poof!―gone, and there I was, awake, chanting in the dark.

SOME OF THEM

WANT TO GET USED BY YOU.

White men are everywhere. I cannot avoid them, even in my sleep. Worse still, I have the feeling they want to colonize me (yes, my subconscious, too). Let me explain.

SOME OF THEM

WANT TO ABUSE YOU.

Last night in my dream, the map laid out on the table represented my identity, the land of my mother’s people before the French colonizers arrived, tapping on rubber trees and milking them dry.

According to one of my Aunties, we were rumored to have French blood in our veins. Perhaps it could explain the peculiar phenomenon of our eyes changing color with age―black, hazel, and finally, sky grey. By the time my grandmother died, her irises were golden yellow, a sign of old nobility.

But I digress.

The man wanted more, clearly, from me. I was not just a guide, some shrewd topographer. To him, my name was Indochine. My flesh, the giving tree. Coconuts, dragon fruit, warm papaya seeds. He wanted more, just a taste of jungle deep in me.

My blazer could not hide it. Perfected English could not hide it. Composure could not hide it. I was there, in my own mind, ripe for business. Ripe for picking.

The horror of it all was waking up to the same reality.

SOME OF THEM

WANT TO BE ABUSED.

The colonizer with no spirit―no depth beyond what he takes―is inside of me already. He is a real person with a real family and a name. In every movie, I am taught to sympathize with his hunger before my own. In every conflict, I fear his power before my own. I give because he asks, and nobody ever taught me how to ask.

Why are your eyes so empty?

Why are your lips so cold?

Why do you stand so close?

Why do your hands feel like they know how to pull a trigger? I ask because my cousins say they don’t speak Vietnamese in public anymore in case a white man is listening. I ask because my Muslim sisters now cross the street when a white man comes their way. I ask because my Black brothers now say a prayer when a white man blocks their path. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil... I ask because our lives depend on what you say.

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Sophia Terazawa

THE DECOLONIZER
December 2015

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