Where can radicals sit and have a beer with Salon.com’s Glenn Greenwald, get advice from the man behind the 1968 Olympics Black Power fist, John Carlos, and share breakfast with criminal justice writer/activist Liliana Segura or Anand Gopal, whose unembedded reporting from Afghanistan is supreme?
Where do you go to discuss the meaning of revolutions in process and revolutions deferred with the participants in those struggles from Egypt and around the Middle East?
Socialism 2011: Revolution in the Air will highlight these folks and others, but more than 1,200 workers and students will be attending this largest gathering of the far left in the United States, taking place in Chicago, July 1–4, 2011.
Some of the participants and speakers giving the 100 talks will be familiar to progressives. Dave Zirin, the hilarious and insightful Nation sports columnist who snags regular appearances on Rachel Maddow, Morning Joe and ESPN will be there, as always.
Most are lesser-known figures. But once you hear Nicole Colson give one of her smashing culture talks—this year’s is called “A riot of my own: The Clash”—you’ll be a convert to this annual orgy of left politics, debate and entertainment.
This is no snoozy, academic affair, though academics will be well represented. They shed whatever pedantic leanings are preferred in academe in order to lead interactive discussions on everything from the history of Black Reconstruction to Marxism and morality.
Whether you’re looking to delve into questions about historical figures like Rosa Luxemburg, Crazy Horse and Malcolm X or sort through what it actually means to be a Trotskyist, this is the place to be.
If you’re tearing your hair out about economic questions—and really, who isn’t?—Joel Geier will crack you up as he takes you down a labyrinthian path to grasping the mutating crisis of global capitalism. Joel evokes a sort of Woody Allen meets Alan Greenspan persona, reborn as a flaming Bronx-raised Marxist. Trust me, you’ve never laughed so hard while learning economics.
Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions leader Omar Barghouti will be speaking on that rising movement and yours truly will be taking on the myths of Zionism—AIPAC, watch out!
We’ll hear from the new generation of Latino, Black, women and LGBT leaders speaking on raunch culture, the legacy of colonialism, transgender struggles and capitalism and sexuality.
Veterans from labor struggles past like Dan Lane and new labor militants like Brian Jones and Megan Behrent fighting to revive Madison-like tactics—including many of that struggle’s leaders—will be there participating in discussions and giving talks themselves.
Sal Rosselli, head of the National Union of Health Care Workers and Steve Early, whose new book Civil Wars in U.S. Labor is out, will be among the hundreds of workers there trying to carve out a new direction for labor today. With Socialistworker.org‘s labor columnist, Lee Sustar, whose encyclopedic knowledge of labor history is truly stunning—you will get years’ worth of learning in one weekend.
I’ll be blunt, most Americans have never heard powerful public oratory from the mouths of ordinary activists and are blown away by the the insight and wit of Socialism speakers. Pull up a chair and listen to Sharon Smith, who was a child sweatshop worker from Rhode Island and is now a socialist activist and author. Or check out talks by Keeanga-Yahmatta Taylor, Ahmed Shawki, Alan Maass or Paul D’Amato and you’ll ask yourself why the hell you’re stuck listening to uninspiring blowhards on TV when these folks can tear it up so effectively. (We do know the answer, of course, but all the same, they deserve their own shows.)
I cannot say or write enough magnificent things about this annual event because for me it has truly been life-affirming and transforming.
And lest you think that reds are a bunch of teetotaling chatterboxes—though sober yammerers are more than welcome and embraced—the parties are frankly a blast and often go on till morning with music, dancing, drinks and 3 am debates about modern art and dialectics.
I watched Democracy Now‘s Amy Goodman practically sink to her knees in prayer when she first laid eyes on Haymarket Books’ thousands of titles and display of red lit. It is a sight our Barnes & Nobleized nation rarely ever glimpses.
There’s an embarrassment of riches when it comes to public speakers and the range of talks at Socialism 2011. Do not miss this once-a-year opportunity to hang out, meet, learn and feel thoroughly human and accepted with a crowd of socialists.
Besides, there are revolutions taking place, where better to be than with a bunch of revolutionaries? It’s our time, revolution’s in the air!
Here’s a promo video, enjoy!
Socialism 2011 - Revolution in the Air from International Socialist on Vimeo.
The Seattle ISO is organizing a group of activists to attend the conference together -- if your interested in coming with us please email info@seattleiso.org or call 206-309-7274
