Marxism and the Struggle for Black Liberation: An Interview with August Nimtz
Abstract
In this interview, Marxist scholar and political scientist August H. Nimtz discusses his critique of Cedric Robinson’s Black Marxism: The Making of the Black Radical Tradition and its implications for the struggle against racial oppression and capitalism. Drawing upon his recent book, “Black Marxism”: A Marxist Critique, Nimtz challenges Robinson’s interpretation of the Marxist tradition, particularly his dismissal of the revolutionary potential of the proletariat and his characterization of a distinct black radical tradition. Nimtz examines the political contributions of W. E. B. Du Bois, C. L. R. James, and Richard Wright, while emphasizing the revolutionary significance of figures such as Malcolm X, Maurice Bishop, and Thomas Sankara. He further explores the historical relationship between race and class, the emergence of a black bourgeoisie following the Civil Rights Movement, and the limitations of racial identity politics in confronting capitalist exploitation. Throughout the discussion, Nimtz emphasizes the inseparability of Marxist theory and revolutionary political practice, arguing that the struggle against racial oppression must ultimately confront the capitalist property relations that sustain social inequality. The interview concludes by considering the prospects for multiracial working-class solidarity and the necessity of an independent working-class political party in the United States.
Keywords
Black Liberation, Cedric Robinson, Marxism, Racism, Working-Class Politics
