The last issue of CHALLENGE (3/1/23) remembered Langston Hughes as a writer sharply critical of Jim Crow segregation during World War II and as a poet for the working class of the U.S.—particularly Black workers.  Now we’ll flash back to the 1920s and 1930s, the period when Hughes became an advocate for multiracial, anti-capitalist revolution.  A tradition of anti-racist activism ran deep in Hughes’ family history. In 1858, his maternal grandmother, Mary Langston, married Lewis Leary, an abolitionist who died in John Brown’s 1859 raid in Harper’s Ferry. Her second husband, Charles Howard Langston, was an educator and ardent abolitionist.  
According to his biographer Arnold Rampersad, young Langston Hughes was influenced by the poetry of Walt Whitman, Carl Sandburg, Paul Laurence Dunbar, and Claude McKay, along with the work of W.E.B. Du Bois, the anti-racist, pro-communist writer and historian. In June 1921, Hughes’ poetry was published for the first time in a professional journal. “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” came out in The Crisis, the journal of the NAACP.
In September 1921, Hughes moved to New York City to attend Columbia University. Not yet ready for college, he withdrew before the year was out. He plunged into Black cosmopolitan New York and met Du Bois and Jessie Fauset, both writers at The Crisis, and the poet Countee Collins.  By 1924, after a journey to West Africa and Paris and an extended sojourn in Washington, DC, he’d become a leading light of the Harlem Renaissance.  In March 1925, in the landmark issue of Survey Graphic, “Harlem:  Mecca of the New Negro” (edited by Alain Locke), contained ten poems by Hughes, including: “I, too, sing America./I am the darker brother. . . .”  
In 1926, Hughes published his first volume of poems, The Weary Blues, and a famous essay for The Nation (June 23, 1926).   In “The Negro Artist and the Racial Mountain,” Hughes wasn’t yet ready to attack capitalism or embrace the need for militant, collective antiracism. Instead, he argued for the importance of Black identity and called for racial pride: “Why should I want to be white?  I am Negro—and beautiful.”  
    By the late 1920s, when Hughes was enrolled at Lincoln University, a historically Black institution outside Philadelphia, he was meeting communists as well as Harlem’s cultural leaders.  In December 1926, four of his poems were published in the communist monthly New Masses, though they were nowhere near as politically sharp as his work to come.   
    With the Great Depression, beginning in November 1929, communists took leadership positions in major labor unions. They had an explanation for the Depression and a solution for racist inequalities and capitalist exploitation.  They called for multiracial unity and revolution.  Hughes was drawn to these ideas in New Masses, and he put his art at the service of revolution.
    For Hughes and millions of others, a political turning point came on March 25, 1931, when nine young Black teenagers were falsely accused of raping two white young women in a railroad boxcar in Alabama. The arrest and trial of the Scottsboro Boys galvanized communists and anti-racists throughout the world. Eight of the teenagers were quickly tried by the racists and sentenced to death; a mistrial was declared for the ninth because he was underage.  The Communist Party USA sent in lawyers to challenge the case.  The Supreme Court overturned the convictions; one of the women recanted her accusations and even went on tour to defend the defendants. Yet they languished in jail, many of them for decades.  
    Hughes responded with a terse four-line poem, “Justice,” for New Masses (July 1931), which accompanied a drawing of a lynching by artist Phil Bard.   

  That Justice is a blind goddess
    Is a thing to which we poor are wise:
    Her bandage hides two festering sores
    That once, perhaps, were eyes.

For the November 1931 New Masses, Hughes wrote “Scottsboro, Limited:  A One Act Play.” The cast roster includes “Red Voices,” who counter racist “Mob Voices” and shout out: “We’ll fight! The Communists will fight for you./ not just Black—but Black and white.” At the end of the play, the “Red Voices” declare: “Rise from the dead, workers, and fight!”  For the finale, Hughes directs that “Here the Internationale may be sung and the red flag raised above the heads of the Black and white workers together.”  
To Hughes and others in the communist movement, the trial of the Scottsboro Boys was both the cutting-edge antiracist fight of the day and a huge opportunity to unite Black and white workers.  For the June 1932 issue of New Masses, Hughes wrote the poem “An Open Letter to the South.”

    White workers of the South: . . .
    I am the Black worker.
                Listen:
    That the land might be ours,
    And the mines and the factories and the office towers
    At Harlem, Richmond, Gastonia, Atlanta, New Orleans;
    That the plants and the roads and the tools of power
    Be ours:
    …
    Let us become instead, you and I,
    One single hand
    That can united rise
    To smash the old dead dogmas of the past—To kill the lies of color
    That keep the rich enthroned
. . .
    Let us get together, say:
    “You are my brother, Black or white.
    You my sister—now—today!”
    . . .
    We did not know that we were brothers.
    Now we know!
    Out of that brotherhood
    Let power grow!
    We did not know
    That we were strong.
    Now we see
    In union lies our strength.
    . . .
    White worker,
    Here is my hand.
    Today,
    We’re Man to Man.

As Hughes wrote the poem, in the spring of 1932, he was preparing to join a group of 22 writers, journalists, and actors to travel through the Soviet Union. He mailed back from the USSR to New Masses his rousing poem “Good Morning Revolution,” which was excerpted in the last issue of CHALLENGE. After writing a number of commissioned pieces for Soviet journals and a short book, A Negro Looks at Soviet Central Asia, Hughes returned to the U.S. in the summer of 1933.    It was a pivotal period in U.S. politics, when communists played a big role in the fight against rising fascism, both in Europe and inside the U.S.
For the remainder of the 1930s, Hugues continued writing his radical poetry. He also traveled to Spain to report on the Spanish Civil War—the topic of our next CHALLENGE article.  

Biographical information is drawn from Arnold Rampersad, The Life of Langston Hughes, 2 vols. 2nd edition. New York: Oxford, 2002; and Arnold Rampersad, ed. The Collected Works of Langston Hughes, 3 vols.  Columbia:  University of Missouri Press, 2001.

WASHINGTON, DC, February 19—As the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion approached, over 2,000 people rallied against the war at the iconic Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. Workers from Russia to the U.S. must push back against nationalism and imperialist war.  Progressive Labor Party (PLP) members attended the march with a flyer headlined, “The only good imperialist is a dead imperialist.” The PLP flyer declared that to end bloody wars that turn workers into cannon fodder for profit,  the entire imperialist system has to be destroyed with a communist revolution. All major wars today are battles over profit and empire. The global working class has no dog in these inter-imperialist fights. We say, No War But Class War, to establish the dictatorship of the proletariat—workers power! By distributing over 200 flyers and 100 CHALLENGE newspapers, we reached many earnest anti-war forces who attended, contacting several who will help build an anti-imperialist movement.
Without working-class political leadership, hundreds of workers will see themselves as having the same class interests as bosses, marching generations of workers into the battlefield. The Progressive Labor Party has been fighting to show and build leadership in the working class since the Vietnam War. We will continue pushing multiracial groups of workers to turn the guns against imperialist bosses, especially as  World War III gets closer.
 The rally was organized by Libertarians, an organized group that prides itself on being anti-government and strong individualists. The differences between these groups and PLP were on full display. Members of PLP noted that no non-libertarian groups of workers took the mic. Yet, the rally billed itself as an attempt to unite workers, a necessary initiative that needs to happen amongst workers to drown out left and right-wing media that pits us against each other. Still, another weakness is that none of the speakers – “right” or “left” - advanced an anti-imperialist analysis for it being an anti-war rally.
While Libertarians oppose foreign oil wars and promote the Fortress America vision of  building a small government to protect the interests of the American people, what they really mean is to protect the right of  bosses to exploit workers and keep their profits within their borders.They directly play into the hands of domestically oriented billionaires like Charles Koch who represent the Small Fascist, America First isolationist wing of the U.S. ruling class(see glossary page 6). In contrast, being anti-war for PLP means fighting for communist revolution to end  all imperialist profit and build a collectively run society that benefits all.
At each new level of imperialist war, politicians, union bosses, and reform leaders are used to squelch working class unity, especially multiracial unity between Black, Latin, and white workers. Although politicians Ron Paul and Tulsi Gabbard railed against U.S. arms for Ukraine, liberals in Biden’s camp have shown their potential to get more nation-focused bosses like Paul and Gabbard in line as World War III drums beat closer. Ron Paul cited concerns about inflation and rising energy and gas prices as a reason for his objection against providing foreign aid to Ukraine last May (New York Times, 5/22). This division highlights an ideological difference between factions of the U.S. ruling class. To better understand the direction imperialist bosses will forge, we classify this division as a split between big and small fascists. Small nationalist fascists like the Koch brothers primarily appeal to a gutter racist, Christian base.  Domestically oriented corporate leaders shame liberals for not opposing Biden’s extensive liberal imperialist backers ready to nuke Russia for another 200 years of economic dominance.
Neither side of these bosses are friends of the working class. Each will terrorize workers, be it in the U.S. or worldwide, to make the most profits. Small fascists like Ron Paul, a former Texas Congressman, are considered the "intellectual godfathers" of the Tea Party movement and headed the Koch brothers' Citizens for Sound Economy, an ideological front for anti-government and pro-privatization companies to sway policies and politicians.
To push these policies, small fascists like Paul and the Koch brothers use gutter racism against Black and Latin workers to fool white and multiracial workers into believing these politics will serve them, too. Paul opposes affirmative action and uses the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to shame liberal politicians for failing to promote racial unity and a “color-blind society.” U.S. representatives, including Dennis Kucinich and Green Party leaders Jill Stein and Cynthia McKinney, help liberal fascist bosses use politicians’ gutter racist public displays to win honest anti-racists to vote for their leadership. To smash racism indefinitely, struggling for internationalist communist leadership from the Progressive Labor Party is our class’ best chance.
The ten demands of the march criticized U.S./NATO roles in aggressively encircling Russia since 1991, mainly since the U.S. supported the coup in Ukraine in 2014, but were entirely uncritical of Russian imperialist actions in Ukraine. A genuine concern for the world’s workers requires supporting workers’ resistance to imperialism in the U.S., NATO, Russia and Ukraine. Rebuilding an internationalist communist movement with the stance that workers across borders have more to gain with worker-led fightback than the imperialist war funded by bosses can make this a reality. By attending this misleading rally, PLP members were able to reach hundreds of people with just such an analysis and will fight to continue to push this line and win workers to fight for it too.

Brooklyn, February 11—More than 40 antiracists participated in a multigenerational and multiracial forum on the necessity of multiracial unity in the fight against racism. Participants included high school students, college students, teachers, and other young workers. This gathering was so inspiring that one person joined the Party! That’s another nail in the bosses’ coffin. Fighting to understand how we, workers all over the world, can and must unite to overthrow this racist system of capitalism requires urgency, especially as the bosses continue to torpedo towards world war.
Fighting racism and preparing to turn the capitalists’ imperialist war into a class war for communism. That’s our task as communists. Only a communist society, one run by and for the international working class, can rid this planet of all the inequities and injustice we face day in and day out.
Fight for working-class unity, not multicultural capitalism
After a few icebreakers to help everyone get to know each other a bit more, we began our study on racism as a tool of the capitalists. We used a number of political cartoons to demonstrate how the ruling class uses racism to divide workers and prevent us from fighting back. By paying white workers more than Black and Latin workers, the bosses create a culture of violent competition and pit workers against one another. The bosses’ media pushes racist narratives to make workers see other workers as the enemy. But communism means workers uniting to fight back against a common enemy: the capitalist ruling class. Fighting for a society where everyone works to benefit the international working class - that’s communism.
And multiracial fightback is working class history. As recently as 2020, after the murder of George Floyd by the kkkops, the United States saw the biggest multiracial uprisings against racism in the country’s history. Hundreds of thousands marched in cities large and small, with antiracist solidarity demonstrations occurring all over the world. The protests included the countries of Nigeria, Argentina, Lithuania, South Africa, Ireland, Brazil, Mexico, Italy, Austria, Japan, South Korea, Poland, Norway, India, Tunisia, Pakistan, South Africa, Sweden, France, the Netherlands, Portugal, Brazil, Syria, the United Kingdom, Senegal, and more.
We also used photographs and cartoons from around the world, from Colombia to Alabama, to show how workers fight back against racism in strikes and on the street, despite all the racist lies we are bombarded with. These cartoons demonstrated the power workers have when they reject the ruling class’s murderous lies and unite with other workers. One such cartoon showed workers resisting the phony messages of politician misleaders and fighting back against the bosses’ KKKop army to climb a mountain of justice.
After discussing the images and political cartoons, we broke out into small groups to discuss the history of racism. We debunked the myth that “racism has always been around” and discussed the ruling class’s intentional use of state power and violence to separate and define “Black” and “white'' as a way to prevent multiracial working class rebellion in the 1600s and 1700s in colonial America. For example, the ruling class of Virginia passed a law in 1661 that stated that “in case any English servant shall run away in company of any Negroes,” the servant would have to work extra years for the Black person’s master. Also, in 1691, Virginia provided for the banishment of any "white man or woman being free who shall intermarry with a negro, mulatto, or Indian man or woman bond or free." The bosses’ have always feared multi-racial unity and antiracist fightback.
Only communism can end racism
Capitalist misleaders try to fool us by putting multiracial faces in high places. We cannot be fooled into thinking electing Black mayors like Eric Adams and Lori Lightfoot or so-called progressives like AOC’s Squad are going to spare the working class from capitalist exploitation. Nor can we be swept up in false hope from the elections of indigenous presidents in Peru or “left” ones in Colombia. These liberal fascists are the greatest danger for the working class. We cannot smash racism by voting in a rainbow of politicians committed to the same mass murder, deportation, and exploitation of workers as their white counterparts or by diversifying police forces who will continue gunning down youth like Tyre Nichols.
We need to fight for communist revolution, which will never be on the ballot. Capitalists need racism, workers don’t. Communism means workers run everything. Only through communism can we end racism.
You too can join the fight to smash this racist, capitalist system and build a communist future. Join us on May Day! Join Progressive Labor Party!

BALTIMORE, February 22—For the 500th time, we decried racism. A successful protest caravan, stretching 22 vehicles long, boldly wound through the city’s streets. The demand was accountability for the police murder of Tyrone West, and for all victims of police brutality. Tyrone’s life was stolen in July of 2013 by 17 racist cops, in the same way George Floyd and Tyre Nichols were murdered by capitalist thugs in blue. These 500 protests prove there is no justice under this capitalist system. As we demand accountability, we must also organize the fight for a world run by the working class - that’s communism.
Importance of a long-range outlook
Every Wednesday, for nine-and-a-half years, without fail, a street rally or a livestream event has been organized as a central part of carrying on this struggle.
Progressive Labor Party (PLP) has done its best to help strengthen this important anti-racist work. And PLP has simultaneously strived to share its vision of the future, a communist world with no more racism of any type, and no more police brutality.
Seven Party members from the DC area also participated in the caravan, adding strength and additional logistical capability that proved particularly helpful after the lead car was disabled.
New generation of fighters
A young comrade, who has made regular contributions to West Wednesday for some years, spoke at the final rally. He began, “No more police terrorism! I’m a member of the Progressive Labor Party, and my belief is in a revolutionary society where we go beyond this system.”
He went on to say the purpose of police under capitalism is to divide us racially, create fear, and suppress the whole working class. He ended with words that earned applause: “It’s good that we’ve come together as a…multiracial coalition.” Another young PL’er from DC also spoke, sharing that only with revolution can we end police terror.
Some tears and some comfort
The night before the caravan, at the final planning meeting, one topic was how everyone felt after so many years of struggle. A member of Tyrone’s family became tearful, talking about all of these 500 weeks, while Tyrone’s main killers remain on the police force, with promotions. But she also spoke about how vital the support has been for her, and about specific contributions by particular freedom fighters in the West Coalition.
In the case of a PLP member, she said he has given her comfort that helps when things are rough, based on an understanding he has shared that there is always a solution.
When it was this comrade’s turn to speak, he explained that dialectical materialism (the philosophy at the heart of communism) teaches that all things exist in paired opposites. Therefore, the existence of a problem implies the existence of its solution. Or, to put it another way, history poses no problem for which the solution doesn’t already exist. It was one of those moments when the positive role of communists, in an anti-racist mass movement, was clear, helpful, and heart-warming.
Working women leaders in the movement
During this evening’s caravan, Tyrone’s sister stood tall through a moonroof, speaking and chanting powerfully to everyone in the long train of vehicles and to passersby.
Things were well-organized, with the front and rear cars in steady communication. Flyers had been prepared for handing out at mini-rallies along the route.
However, before even reaching the site of the first mini-rally, the lead car, with flashers on, made the route’s planned turn onto a major street. That lead car was suddenly and severely rear-ended – and probably totaled – by a driver who turned, much too fast, onto the same street, from a different direction. The speeding driver may have been careless and distracted, or sent by police.
Three people were in the caravan’s lead car. Fortunately, no one was seriously hurt, but their car was forcefully thrust off the street, across a sidewalk, and onto a home’s front yard, barely missing a major collision with a large tree.
Led by the women in the West Coalition, the caravan stayed in place, allowing time to deal with the situation. Then they re-organized a new lead car and rear car. Considering the time that had been lost, they wisely led the caravan directly to the final rally at City Hall.
Other volunteers had previously set up a huge grill at City Hall so that, after the final rally, delicious hot meals were ready for everyone. In addition, twenty-eight people took copies of CHALLENGE.
It was clear that racism is the weak spot of capitalism. Just like when the horrific murder of George Floyd sparked twenty million people to hit the streets for months of forceful protest, the horrors of racism, including the horrendous murder of Tyrone West, continually lead to mass movements within which new leaders step forward. The future is bright. Never give up in the fight for communism!