Quite a few influential African Americans leaned towards communism, especially during the 1930s and 1960s-70s; this is most popularized by groups such as the Black Panthers, who had strong Marxist rhetoric and believed in "the Revolution."
The reasons are clear, of course; the United States, while preaching democracy, kept many blacks in pseudo-serfdom, and the basic rights that had been enjoyed by whites since the founding of the Republic were still denied to blacks. The USSR, however, with its idealogy of class struggle, proved to be greener pasture; indeed, visiting blacks were shocked at the equal treatment they received from Soviet people (not the purges, mind you, but the way it was all supposed to be).
With the passing of the Civil Rights Amendments, however, the steam behind much of the communist forces died down; with living standards increasing (this was before crack) and equality achieved (at least nominally), there was no need for "the Revolution" any longer.
What if, however, the movement picked up the steam of the 60s-70s in, say, the 1930s, during the Great Depression?
In the 1930s, Paul Robeson, a brilliant black lawyer turned actor turned singer (he left law when a New York stenographer refused to take a memo for him, saying that he did not take dictation from a nigger), travelled the Soviet Union during a "tour" of European nations. His father had been a slave, and he had already received a taste of good ole' US racism, and thus was amazed at the treatment he received in the USSR. For the rest of his life he championed the communist cause, was blacklisted after World War II, had his passport seized by the US government, and had his autobiography boycotted (most literary journals refused to even review it). He died broke and penniless after twice trying to kill himself.
It is also important to note that Robeson had an incredible voice. A really incredible voice. His translation of the USSR anthem is incredibly moving and simply powerful, mostly due to the baritone-rich voice (though I can't help but snicker at the line "And Stalin our leader / with faith in the people / inspired us to build up / the land that we love"... yeah, he "inspired" them).
Is there any way to have the intelligent Robeson decide to do more than just sing and perform mild activism? With Soviet help, it would be interesting to see a black communist movement, perhaps with the Communist Party of America being "taken over" by blacks? Note, this is a time before ANY reforms, and when there are still many blacks who are the direct offspring of former slaves who have all been robbed of their "forty acres and a mule," and are the worst hit, by far, by the Great Depression.
The reasons are clear, of course; the United States, while preaching democracy, kept many blacks in pseudo-serfdom, and the basic rights that had been enjoyed by whites since the founding of the Republic were still denied to blacks. The USSR, however, with its idealogy of class struggle, proved to be greener pasture; indeed, visiting blacks were shocked at the equal treatment they received from Soviet people (not the purges, mind you, but the way it was all supposed to be).
With the passing of the Civil Rights Amendments, however, the steam behind much of the communist forces died down; with living standards increasing (this was before crack) and equality achieved (at least nominally), there was no need for "the Revolution" any longer.
What if, however, the movement picked up the steam of the 60s-70s in, say, the 1930s, during the Great Depression?
In the 1930s, Paul Robeson, a brilliant black lawyer turned actor turned singer (he left law when a New York stenographer refused to take a memo for him, saying that he did not take dictation from a nigger), travelled the Soviet Union during a "tour" of European nations. His father had been a slave, and he had already received a taste of good ole' US racism, and thus was amazed at the treatment he received in the USSR. For the rest of his life he championed the communist cause, was blacklisted after World War II, had his passport seized by the US government, and had his autobiography boycotted (most literary journals refused to even review it). He died broke and penniless after twice trying to kill himself.
It is also important to note that Robeson had an incredible voice. A really incredible voice. His translation of the USSR anthem is incredibly moving and simply powerful, mostly due to the baritone-rich voice (though I can't help but snicker at the line "And Stalin our leader / with faith in the people / inspired us to build up / the land that we love"... yeah, he "inspired" them).
Is there any way to have the intelligent Robeson decide to do more than just sing and perform mild activism? With Soviet help, it would be interesting to see a black communist movement, perhaps with the Communist Party of America being "taken over" by blacks? Note, this is a time before ANY reforms, and when there are still many blacks who are the direct offspring of former slaves who have all been robbed of their "forty acres and a mule," and are the worst hit, by far, by the Great Depression.