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mumia on revolution
"Is it possible to succeed without any act of
betrayal?" - Jean Renoir (1894-1979) French Filmmaker
When one speaks of revolution, the very notion, the
very mention, reveals the interests of all
participants.
No one is neutral in a revolution, and even the
pretension of neutrality is but inaction in favor of
the status quo, and therefore, anti-revolutionary in
effect.
Most folks think of the American Revolution, or the
French Revolution; some think of the Haitian
Revolution, or the Russian Revolution. Most see these
revolutions as rare epochs in history; as earth-
shattering as comets plunging from the heavens.
Revolutions (despite what you were taught in history
class) were rife in world history, and were successful
in some ways, but unsuccessful in others.
What will no doubt surprise many readers is the long
history of revolutions across Europe. They were
religious, nationalist, and social-economic in
character, yet they were revolutions nonetheless.
For millions of Americans, the names of these European
revolutionaries (although of their various ethnic
backgrounds) are virtually unknown. John Ball
(England), Jan Hus (Czech), the Taborites, Prokop Holı
(Czech priest), and the like, were all revolutionaries
(or, at least, committed radicals) who rallied popular
discontent against a rich, and foreign, clergy and
aristocracy.
There can be no discussion about these revolutions,
without the acknowledgement that these revolutionaries
fought in Revolutions that were ultimately betrayed by
their erstwhile allies, for self-interest, gain, or a
false, elusive "peace." Bohemia's brilliant Jan Hus
(ca. 1419) sparked a revolution that raged for 18
years, while the betrayal of the Hussite revolution
came from those who professed allegiance, yet
practiced treachery, like the well-to-do and wealthy
Masters of the University at Prague.
[See C. H. George, 500 Years of Revolution: European
Radicals from Hus to Lenin, (Kerr, 1998)].
The brilliant revolutionary historian, C.L.R. James,
in his little-known A History of Pan-African Revolt
(1938/1995) tells us of the attempt of Toussaint
L'Ouverture to betray Haitian freedom to the French
colonists:
....[W]hen the French Government sent Commissioners who
boasted of the armed forces (quite imaginary) which
were on their way, the Negro leaders [Jean-François,
Biassou, and Toussaint] sought to betray their
followers. They wrote to the Commissioners promising
that in return for the freedom of a few hundred they
would cooperate in leading the others back into
slavery and would join in hunting down the
recalcitrant. [James, 40.]
Toussaint's failed deal shows us how deep is the
instinct of betrayal, not just in "Negro leaders," but
in the very heart of the Revolution itself. Let us
learn from our radical and revolutionary history, for,
in so doing, we are neither surprised nor dismayed by
betrayals of revolution. We expect it.
What this history teaches us is that some revolutions,
if led by the people, and not the bourgeoisie, will
even succeed despite treachery.
They spring, not from the brains of the bourgeoisie,
but from the guts and hearts of a people on the move.
A true revolution can be betrayed, but if it lives in
the hearts of the people, it can't be stopped.
(c)MAJ 2001
THE REVOLUTION BETRAYED
By Mumia Abu-Jamal, M.A.
#499 Column Written 3/4/2001
All Rights Reserved
