Saturday Free School for Philosophy and Black Liberation

This week we begin our reading and discussion of Black Reconstruction in America 1860-1880 by W.E.B. Du Bois. We begin by reading Chapter One, "The Black Worker."

This Saturday we  examine the 2022 Midterms and the flawed and corrupt voting system. We discuss Trump's announcement that he is running for President in 2024. We say a few things about the economy and the looming recession, and also discuss the following article in the New York Times concerning Trump.

This week we discuss the Midterm Elections, focusing on Philadelphia. Also, we continue our discussion of the ongoing economic crisis, including inflation, debt, and look at the systemic crisis. Lastly, we revisit the issues surrounding Kanye and Kyrie Irving and the meaning for the U.S. people.

This Saturday, we discuss the black working class, the upcoming elections, and the black working peoples' relations to the Democratic Party. We look at the economy, growing violence and war in Ukraine, and possible war against China.

This Saturday, we discuss the black working class, the upcoming elections, and the black working peoples' relations to the Democratic Party. We look at the economy, growing violence and war in Ukraine, and possible war against China.

This week we discuss the looming economic collapse of the US economy and the issue of peace, and how this situation relates to the upcoming midterm elections. We also discuss the Saturday Free School's concept of a Fourth American Revolution and W.E.B. Du Bois's idea of the black proletariat.

This Saturday we discuss the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party and Xi Jinping's speech.

We update on the planning for the 10th anniversary of the Saturday Free School and assignment of tasks. We also discuss W.E.B. Du Bois's Black Reconstruction as a framework for the fourth American Revolution. We focus on Chapter 1, "The Black Worker." In this light, we discuss Gerald Horne's essay on Black Reconstruction in April's The Nation Magazine: https://www.thenation.com/.../web-du-bois-black.../

We update on the 10th anniversary of the Saturday Free School, including further discussing the political and organizational task before us. We also discuss more on Chomsky and how his pessimistic worldview is mirrored in the 1619 Project, the Counterrevolution of 1776 thesis, and Afropessmism, and how these views contrast with that of the Saturday Free School.

We report back from the recent conference commemorating the 75th anniversary of Indian independence. Then we report on preparations for the 10th anniversary of the Saturday Free School. Our major discussion is on Noam Chomsky, W.E.B. Du Bois, and Martin Luther King Jr., and how they deal with great social crises. We examine their distinct philosophical stances and what this says about how they approach great social upheavals and transformations.

We continue our discussion of what is a radical or revolutionary party, and what is the necessity for this time of crisis. We finalize some of our thoughts on Hegel's Science of Logic and Sartre's "In Search of Method." We report on the upcoming commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the Indian independence struggle (August 18th-20th). Finally, we honor the birthday of the great James Baldwin.

We continue our discussion of a new theoretical synthesis for this time of profound and deepening crisis in our nation and world, which we have called a Lenin Du Bois synthesis. How can the lessons of Lenin's notion that led Russia to its revolution be part of constructing the theory of the revolutionary process in the United States? We continue our discussion of whether a Leninist party fits the specifics of here and now in the U.S. We revisit Nuri's presentation on James Baldwin and his defining of the principle goal of the Third American revolution as the making of a new nation and a new people.

We continue our discussion of the Du Bois Lenin synthesis. We discuss how this connects to questions of sociology and political economy, as well as its meaning for building a people's movement of a new type. We also discuss Putin's recent remarks at the forum "Strong Ideas for a New Time."

This week we begin with a report back on the Howard Thurman conference from 2 weekends ago. Then we talk about the Du Bois, Lenin, Hegel synthesis. What does it mean? We discuss if it can be brought about and why it matters in this time of crisis. We explore the possibilities of Du Boisian sociology and Marxian political economy.

We report back from the Intercivilizational Dialogue for Democracy between Chinese and Indian scholars held last Sunday, and on Serafina Harris's art auction. We will continue discussing Sartre's "Marxism & Existentialism" and the introduction to Hegel's "Science of Logic." Links: - Intercivilizational Dialogue for Democracy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzmcXNOubQw... - Sartre's "Marxism & Existentialism": https://www.marxists.org/.../sartre/works/critic/sartre1.htm - Hegel's "Science of Logic": https://drive.google.com/.../1eXesdzt13OZSmq0SUEUy4t.../view

We continue to explore Sartre's "Marxism & Existentialism," Hegel's "Science of Logic," and Kendrick Lamar's philosophy as viewed through the essay by Devon Johnson, "Existentially Dope," and the essay "Hip-Hop is Getting to the Truth." Links to the essays: - Sartre's "Marxism & Existentialism": https://www.marxists.org/.../sartre/works/critic/sartre1.htm - Hegel's "Science of Logic": https://drive.google.com/.../1eXesdzt13OZSmq0SUEUy4t.../view - "Existentially Dope" by Devon Johnson: https://archive.philosophersmag.com/existentially-dope/ - "Hip-Hop is Getting to the Truth": https://www.uri.edu/features/hip-hop-getting-to-the-truth/

This week, we discuss the murders of 19 children and 2 teachers in Uvalde, Texas, nine days after the murders of 10 people in Buffalo, New York. We continue our examination of Kendrick Lamar and philosophy. Lastly, we continue reading the introduction to Hegel's "Science of Logic" (from this online PDF: https://drive.google.com/.../1eXesdzt13OZSmq0SUEUy4t.../view)

We discuss the murders inspired by white supremacy in Buffalo, NY and the state of modern art and culture. 

We discuss recent political events and continue reading the introduction to Hegel's "Science of Logic." We are reading from this online PDF: https://drive.google.com/.../1eXesdzt13OZSmq0SUEUy4t.../view

We discuss recent political events and continue reading the introduction to Hegel's "Science of Logic." We are reading from this online PDF: https://drive.google.com/.../1eXesdzt13OZSmq0SUEUy4t.../view

We discuss our collaboration with The Church of the Crucifixion for "Our Common Struggle for Justice & The Legacy of W.E.B. Du Bois" and continue reading the Introduction to Hegel's "Science of Logic."

We discuss a Good Friday event at the Church of the Overcomer on Jesus as a political prisoner and enemy of the state and continue reading the introduction to Hegel's "Science of Logic." We are reading from this online PDF: https://drive.google.com/.../1eXesdzt13OZSmq0SUEUy4t.../view

We report back from the 2022 Platypus International Convention in Chicago. We also report on a trip to Memphis and Nashville taken by some members of the Free School. 

We are witnessing the rise of the multi-polar world with the decline of the dollar as a hegemonic currency, and the rise of alliances among non-Western countries toward the well-being of their people. We discuss the question of war and peace to clarify the strategic principles that define the historic role the black struggle has played in welcoming a world liberated from white supremacy. We will read Dr. Martin Luther King's speech "World House" from his book Chaos and Community to understand the importance of peace for unity, democracy, and stability for the future. https://cincinnaticathedral.com/.../The-World-House-King.pdf

We discuss Ukraine and continue our reading of the Introduction to Hegel's "Science of Logic," which can be found on page 23 in the online PDF: https://drive.google.com/.../1eXesdzt13OZSmq0SUEUy4t.../view

We report back and reflect upon the March 12th event, "Korea, Vietnam, and Afro-America: Our Shared Struggle for Peace and Democracy." You may watch the full event on the VietLaoKhmer Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtO6rZnmceVr6Sf_XCfQsxw

This week, we discuss updates on the evolving situation in Ukraine and its global impact. We also continue our reading of the Introduction to Hegel's "Science of Logic," which can be found on page 23 in the online PDF: https://drive.google.com/.../1eXesdzt13OZSmq0SUEUy4t.../view

This week, we discuss Ukraine, and war and peace. We also continue our reading of the Introduction to Hegel's "Science of Logic," which can be found on page 23 in the online PDF: https://drive.google.com/.../1eXesdzt13OZSmq0SUEUy4t.../view

We continue to read the Introduction to Hegel's "Science of Logic."  You may find the Introduction on page 23 in the online PDF: https://drive.google.com/.../1eXesdzt13OZSmq0SUEUy4t.../view

This week, we begin to read the Introduction to Hegel's "Science of Logic." You may find the Introduction on page 23. Link to online PDF: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eXesdzt13OZSmq0SUEUy4tlnodc3QbhH/view?fbclid=IwAR1VBqzmCF-3f0NKH7oKJk0YWbAxkTiQAc65UU2yXi77pFF6AFR2vstjgTw

We continue reading and discussing the preface to the second edition of Hegel's "Science of Logic."

The event "Korea, Vietnam, and Afro-America: Our Shared Struggle for Peace and Democracy" scheduled for Jan 29th at the Asian Arts Initiative has been postponed due to inclement weather. A new date for the event will be shared soon. In place of it we held a livestream only session of the Saturday Free School. The Saturday Free School continued reading Hegel's "Science of Logic." This week, we continued to read the preface to the second edition, which can be found on pages 11-22 in the online PDF: https://drive.google.com/.../1eXesdzt13OZSmq0SUEUy4t.../view

The Saturday Free School continued reading Hegel's "Science of Logic." This week, we start the preface to the second edition, which can be found on pages 11-22 in the online PDF: https://drive.google.com/.../1eXesdzt13OZSmq0SUEUy4t.../view

The Saturday Free School continues our study of Hegel's philosophy of logic and dialectical logic by reading the first preface in Hegel's "Science of Logic" (Preface to the first edition).

The Saturday Free School begins our study of Hegel's philosophy of logic and dialectical logic. There are a number of upcoming events, including W.E.B. Du Bois's birthday; an event on Vietnam, Korea, and Afro-America; and the celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Saturday Free School for Philosophy & Black Liberation.

We discussed the crisis of the Biden presidency and the Democratic Party, and the start of a systemic collapse of the political system. We looked at Biden's "Democracy Summit" and what its failure suggests about the world's peoples' attitude to American democracy. We also discussed what can be done about growing murders and violence in Philadelphia, and what District Attorney Larry Krasner's statements say about the ruling class in the city.

We devote this week's class to our year-end evaluation and reevaluation of the evolution and development of the Saturday Free School. We continue with our looking at the work and study of the Saturday Free School's satellite groups. Lastly, we discuss our strengths and weaknesses, and what 2022 looks like for us.

We investigate the thesis that we are experiencing a new stage of the crisis of capitalism as a system. We discuss how this crisis might be playing itself out in the political unraveling of the Biden presidency's domestic and foreign policy, including the upcoming Summit for Democracy. Lastly, we continue our year-end evaluation and reevaluation of the Saturday Free School as we prepare for 2022.

We discuss the most recent roll-out of the "1619 Project" and what this says about the deepening political crisis in the country. We connect this to the economic situation and eroding support for the Biden presidency. Also, we continue our evaluation and reevaluation of the Saturday Free School as we prepare to enter 2022.

This week, we look at the assassination of Malcolm X, the exonerations of two of the convicted, and the meaning of it all. We continue our discussion of what appears to be permanent inflation and its political consequences. We also discuss the recently concluded Central Committee meeting of the Communist Party of China. Finally, we continue our discussion of the character and essence of the Saturday Free School and how we view our future.

This week, we evaluate the three-day Henry Winston Symposium which took place Nov 5-7, and we begin to discuss where the Saturday Free School will go in 2022 after all of 2021's activities. Also, we begin discussing what is the Saturday Free School and what are we becoming.

This week we do final preparations for our upcoming symposium on Henry Winston, which will take place November 5-7. We discuss Winston's theoretical contributions to revolutionary theory, and how his thinking helps us understand culture as a revolutionary force. If you would like to help us make this event possible, you may contribute to the symposium's GoFundMe here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/honoring-henry-winstons-vision-for-freedom?fbclid=IwAR2zIH5iuYGCWOjBL1eB8aZg6BOeuS4NlQ1_or--D_USHPPHv59wr0uHwpw

We discuss the crisis of the U.S. ruling elite and the struggle for a new democracy. We will also share where we are in the planning of the Henry Winston symposium.

This week, we discuss growing tensions between the United States and China over Taiwan. We also discuss the economy and the possibility of a meltdown due to inflation. Finally, we provide updates on our upcoming conference commemorating Henry Winston.

We discuss technology, art, the capitalist reset and the crises and future of the young generation. We discuss AI, robotics, social media, trans-humanism and bioengineering. We also discuss art and its revolutionary potential. Lastly, there will be an update on organization for the Henry Winston conference, to take place in early November.

We continue reading Henry Winston's Strategy for a Black Agenda. We also discuss where we are in the organization of the conference "Strategy for Black Freedom: The Life and Thought of Henry Winston”.  Following, we listen to and discuss a recent interview with the civil rights leader Diane Nash.

We discuss an upcoming event on the life and works of Henry Winston and read the first chapter of Strategy for A Black Agenda. The following is a PDF of the book Strategy for a Black Agenda by Henry Winston: https://www.marxists.org/archive/winston/1973/strategy-black-agenda.pdf

We discuss the Saturday Free School's conference on the centenary of the Communist Party of China.  Details of the event, which happened on July 23-24 and July 30-31, can be found at cpc100philly.org.

We continue our investigation of Communist Party of China by analyzing whether the current Chinese economy is state capitalist or socialist.

We continue our discussion of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China and its significance for humanity. We will have a special focus on books that are important in understanding the Communist Party of China's history.

We continue our discussion on the rise of the Chinese paradigm of a new type of democracy and the path to socialism.

We continue our discussion on the deepening crisis of U.S. democracy at home and abroad as well as the rise of the Chinese paradigm of a new type of democracy. We also analyze President Biden's first foreign trip and the use of wokeness as an ideological distraction in a moment of profound global transformation.

This week, we continue our discussion on U.S. democracy, the crisis of political legitimacy, and the way forward for the people. We also share plans for an upcoming commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Communist Party of China.

We continue our discussion on how contemporary political theories such as settler colonialism and racial capitalism fit into the current crisis of legitimacy facing the US ruling elite.

We discuss the role of culture and art, particularly the ruling elite's assault on the people's culture of resistance.

We continue our discussion on how contemporary political theories such as settler colonialism and racial capitalism fit into the current crisis of legitimacy facing the US ruling elite.

We discuss the economic program of the Biden administration and whether it will be tenable in this period of crisis. We also discuss how contemporary political theories such as settler colonialism and racial capitalism fit into this context.

We review an event held this past Sunday by the Lotus Collective on media reports of Anti-Asian violence. We place this in the context of the rise of Asia, the 50th anniversary of the independence of Bangladesh, the 100th anniversary of the Communist Party of China, and the current crises facing the American people.

We commemorate the 60th anniversary of the defeat of the Bay of Pigs Invasion in Cuba. We also discuss the first 100 days of the Biden administration.

We mark the centenary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the 50th anniversary of the Bangladeshi liberation struggle with audio recordings, presentations, and cultural performances. We discuss what Bangabandhu's legacy of fighting for peace and freedom means for our times with an international keynote panel of freedom fighters from Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan, including Professor Rehman Sobhan.  This is Day 2 of a 2 Day event. Day 2, April 25th, 2021 Panel - Single Garment of Destiny: A New World, Western Collapse and a Rising Asia The international keynote panel discusses the possibilities for socialism and development in the context of the rise of Asia, and the need to complete the anti-colonial struggle as envisioned by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and W.E.B. Du Bois.  Dr. Anthony Monteiro, world renowned W.E.B. Du Bois Scholar, organizer of Saturday Free School and veteran of the Black freedom struggle Professor Prabhat Patnaik, Professor Emeritus of Economics at Jawaharlal Nehru University, India and former vice-chairman of Kerala State Planning Board Dr. Rehman Sobhan, economist, member of first Planning Commission of Bangladesh, head of the Centre for Policy Dialogue, veteran of Bangladeshi freedom struggle

We mark the centenary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the 50th anniversary of the Bangladeshi liberation struggle with audio recordings, presentations, and cultural performances. We discuss what Bangabandhu's legacy of fighting for peace and freedom means for our times with an international keynote panel of freedom fighters from Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan, including Professor Rehman Sobhan. This is Day 1 of a 2 Day event. Day 1, April 24th, 2021 Welcome, Reading of Mission Statement Panel Discussion - The Struggle for Freedom of the Darker Nations: Bangabandhu and the Bandung Vision Audio of Bangabandhu’s Acceptance of the Joliot Curie Award Panel Discussion - Unity and Struggle: Systemic Crisis and Freedom for the American Poor Musical Performances from South Asia and America, African American Freedom songs and Nazrul Sangeet

We commemorate Bangladesh and understand threats to World Peace

We commemorate the birth anniversary of Paul Robeson. We read from his essays on civilization and discuss their relevance for today.

We play a recording of Dr. Martin Luther King's April 4th, 1967 speech "Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break the Silence." We then discuss its contemporary relevance. Due to some technical difficulties, some pauses in the recording will be present. 

We begin with a summary and reading of short excerpts from the final chapter of Du Bois's Russia and America, World Peace. The PDF of this book can be downloaded at: https://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/mums312-b221-i082 We then proceed to a discussion of the NY Times' 1619 Project and other ideological trends in this moment.

We begin with a discussion of our upcoming event commemorating the life of Shaikh Mujibur Rahman, the liberation struggle for Bangladesh, and their significance for world peace. We then continue our discussion of W.E.B. Du Bois's unpublished work Russia and America. We read Chapter VI "The Witch Hunt" and read from pages 225 to 250 in the manuscript. The PDF of this book can be downloaded here: https://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/mums312-b221-i082

We continue our discussion of W.E.B. Du Bois's unpublished work Russia and America. We continue Chapter Six, The Witch Hunt, and read from pages 202 to 227 in the manuscript.  The PDF of this book can be downloaded here: https://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/mums312-b221-i082

This week we begin with some presentations on the upcoming International Women's Day 2021. We then continue our discussion of W.E.B. Du Bois's unpublished work Russia and America. We continue Chapter Five of Russia and America, The Reign of Roosevelt, and read from pages 176 to 202 in the manuscript. The full PDF of Russia and America can be found here: https://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/mums312-b221-i082

This week we discuss the new film Judas and the Black Messiah and the struggle to remember the true legacy of Fred Hampton and the Black Panther Party. We also play W.E.B. Du Bois's speech "Socialism and the America Negro" in honor of Chairman Fred and the party's commitment to scientific and revolutionary socialism.

This week we present a tribute to W.E.B. Du Bois for his 153rd birth anniversary. Our program features historical tributes from around the world, presentations by members of the Free School on the impact of his work, and a discussion of his significance today.

We begin with a discussion of two recent articles on the coordinated network of elites and NGOs that opposed Trump in the presidential election. They can be found here: https://time.com/5936036/secret-2020-election-campaign/ and here: https://www.rt.com/.../514770-time-electiion.../... We then move on to the first 25 pages of Chapter Five of Russia and America, The Reign of Roosevelt. The full PDF of Russia and America can be found here: https://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/mums312-b221-i082

This week we continue our discussion of W.E.B. Du Bois's unpublished work, Russia and America, focusing on his arguments about socialism and civilization in Asia. We complete Chapter Four, I Gird the Globe, reading from page 125 to 151 in the manuscript.  The full PDF of this book can be downloaded here: https://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/mums312-b221-i082

We continue our discussion of W.E.B. Du Bois's unpublished work Russia and America in light of current events. We continue Chapter Four, I Gird the Globe, reading up to page 125 in the manuscript.  The PDF of this book can be downloaded here: https://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/mums312-b221-i082

This week we continue Du Bois’s Russia and America. We read the first 100 pages of Chapter Four, I Gird the Globe, which covers conspiracies against the Soviet state and the Soviet experiment’s contribution to human social science, and compares the German fascist state to the Soviet Communist one. We discuss how to understand Du Bois approach to logic, and how to apply it to understanding big tech monopolies, gender and the trans human, and the political crisis today.

This week the Free School makes a tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. featuring historical speeches, artistic performances and discussion of his legacy in this period of crisis.

We analyze the crisis facing the ruling elite in the aftermath of the protests against the January 6th congressional vote on certification of the electoral college. We discuss the struggle for unity among the poor and the possibilities ahead. 

This week we will continue our discussion of W.E.B. Du Bois's unpublished work Russia and America. We will be reading Chapter 3, Blind Staggers: 1917 - 1936. The PDF of this book can be downloaded here: https://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/mums312-b221-i082

This week we continue our discussion of W.E.B. Du Bois's unpublished work Russia and America and read Chapter 2, The Soviet Union in 1926.  The PDF of this book can be downloaded here: https://credo.library.umass.edu/view/full/mums312-b221-i082

We read the recent article "Principle of Humanity and the Struggle for Humanity": https://forpositivepeaceblog.wordpress.com/.../principle.../ Then we discuss the first chapter of W.E.B. Du Bois's unpublished work Russia and America. The PDF of this book can be downloaded here: https://credo.library.umass.edu/.../mums312-b221-i082...