Billy Hayes - DRUM Article

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I wrote this for the latest issue of the DRUM (CWU’s Race Advisory Committee’s Booklet).

"As I write, Haitians are dying, waiting for aid. Many countries and individuals are rushing to help. Wonderful, but now is the time to ensure that all those who want to rebuild Haiti can do so. The exclusion of former President Aristide, and his followers must end. It is the poor who have suffered the most in this catastrophe, and it is amongst these people that Aristide has the most support. Those governments which want to help Haiti, but want to continue to exclude Aristide and his party, are wrong.

John Denham has suggested that racism has to be rationalised against issues of class inequality. In his view some sections of the black community are not disadvantaged because of superior living standards. This ignores the fact that racists act upon skin colour, not the size of your bank balance. However he intended it, Denham is making a concession to racist lobbies. Racism is a general problem in our society, and no amount of material wealth can protect black people from it. Only a committed anti-racist movement offers a solution, a view which surely MacPherson established.

In this light, I salute this years CWU Black Workers Conference. Your work is far from done and remains crucial for our common future.”

Posted by Billy Hayes | @ Mon, 18 Jan 2010 13:46:34 +0000