Political perspectives for Blacks in 1992 limited by leadership void

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Democrats who have declared themselves candidates for What is the road forward for Black politics in 1992? Should Blacks continue to support candidates in the Democratic Party? Should they, as many Black conservatives advocate, turn to the Republicans and President George Bush?

Or should a new course be followed? Maybe an independent candidate for president? Does it matter, since Blacks are a minority?

One thing is evident. None of the Democrats who have declared themselves candidates for president have much to say about the real problems facing Blacks and working people.

In last month's television debate, even Virginia Gov. L. Douglas Wilder, the only Black among the six, put his emphasis on cutting waste in government without an increase in spending on social programs. Wilder also made clear he was against major cuts in the military budget. He seeks to out Bush Bush!

The ruling class's onslaught against social programs, civil rights, and other gains reflects the fact that no strong independent Black, women's, or labor movements exist to challenge these attacks.

At the same time, the absence of an independent political movement emboldens right-wing demagogues like Patrick Buchanan and David Duke to take the reactionary policies of the Bush government to further extremes.

It is in this framework, as we enter the 1992 presidential year, that a discussion on the state of Black politics is useful. The situation for Black America is not good. The recession is hitforeseeable future. The progressive movement must organize itself to pose the alternative to the racist and reactionary forces on the right, or minorities and poor and working people will continue to be victimized by the politics of divide and exploit."

Unfortunately, this call by Daniels is not one for a genuine break with the Democrats. It is an attempt instead to use the anger of many Blacks and other workers to organize a pressure campaign on the future Democratic presidential nominee.

It is an effort parallel to Jackson's campaign to open up the Democratic Party. Daniels has called for support to "progressive" Democratic Party candidates and members of Congress. Regrettably, Daniels—who in the 1970s supported the formation of an independent Black political party— no longer mentions that as a viable goal.

King and Malcolm X What's striking about the leadership void in the Black community today is the lack of progressive political thinking. All the ideas espoused by the major Black leaders are those pushed by the mainstream ruling parties-with modest variations. Racism is criticized but the answer is to agree that welfare is bad, that Blacks must pull themselves up, and that the "American dream" is possible with hard work.

While Martin Luther King remained a supporter of the capitalist system, he understood that an end to Jim Crow laws would only