Hey all,
I’m currently developing a Marxist-Leninist analysis of settler colonialism, especially in light of the situation in Palestine, and am going to read Settlers: The Mythology of the White Proletariat by J. Sakai for the first time. Before I do I was just curious what other comrades think of the book and its analysis? It seems a pretty controversial text among many online Marxist groups, to whatever extent that matters, but as an Indigenous communist I feel having a clear and principled stance on the settler question is important for all serious communists. I’m not sure if I’ll agree with Sakai specifically, but since I generally agree with the opinions of y’all, I was curious as to your thoughts on the book.
Read with a pencil in hand. Write things down. Analyze it by breaking it apart. Then read Tuck and Yang’s “Decolonization is not a metaphor”. Compare and contrast your notes. Develop a nuanced read of Settlers.
Is it worth adding to an ML booklist? If so where would it go? Near the beginning for new-comers or near the end for nuanced and complex theory?
It’s a good book that’s worth reading, even though I disagree with some of Sakai’s conclusions, and I think he was unfair to certain multi-racial leftist groups like the IWW.
I’d also recommend An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States.
The funny thing is that Sakai is actually very positive towards the IWW, they come off as one of the best white organisations in US history. I’ll admit, though, that he does critique them in regards to their syndicalism.
Nah, he did critique them on their lack of analysis on imperialism and the state. Generally, Sakai was pretty rough on everyone in the US. He did say a lot of positive things about the IWW, though, which is very unlike every single white organisation (liberal or radical).
He absolutely tore other unions to shreds, though.
Great book, you see a lot of assertions proven correct right now. It’s also full of facts. If the assertions of the book bother people they should try to prove it wrong by uniting. .
