While I agree with some of the points, I think people need to think beyond the US as an empire, but as part of a global white supremacist capitalist project, born in Europe. Thinking this way accurately names not only global political power but dominant cultural hegemony and the origins of supremacy. This then helps us understand what systems we’re struggling against, beyond just individual states. US cultural hegemony is surely specific enough, but I think it is just a piece of the white supremacist project (the triangle slave trade is just one example of this). I recently wrote a piece here about solidarity networks the South African apartheid government had with the White Citizens Council in the American South. This was bigger than just a partnership. They were protecting global ideas, that pre-date 1776 and were building a global network. The US could collapse tomorrow as a "superpower," and I think it should, but I don't think that would destroy the greater western imperialist project or would reckon for justice and wealth redistribution owed to people around the world.
As far as Toussaint and his use of "enlightenment ideas," I think we need to be careful when looking at this history in ways that do not exceptionalize European ideas. Enslaved people have always resisted their capture, independent of knowing European "ideas." I think of Queen Nanny and the maroons and the history of the Garifuna. These ideas/traditions are not always as documented because sort of to your point, or as Howard Zinn would say "history" happened to them. Enlightenment thinkers also took ideas from indigenous communities, including in the so called "Americas," when they’d come in contact with them. Some enlightenment ideas help explain supremacist logics too. I’m sure you’ve read CLR James’ Black Jacobins, which explores the incompatible Enlightenment ideas that led to Toussaint’s failures, in part, using Lenin’s ideas on imperialism. Haiti was still paying France debt for their freedom until 1947 & many former French colonies that use the Franc, pay France today. Even Kant was arguably an early eugenicist. Its the white supremacist project, born in Europe, that has been far reaching and will continue to be far reaching, until capitalism and imperialism are toppled as globally interconnected systems throughout the West.
Well-said. Have been having a lot of similar thoughts (as I read a lot of history) lately — a balm to see them laid out so clearly.
What an amazing piece....Immanuel Kant and Haka coming from the very unlovely Destiny church.
So appropriate. faux spiritualty...
Thanks, Richard. The Destiny Church may need their own post...
(Yet another) great piece
While I agree with some of the points, I think people need to think beyond the US as an empire, but as part of a global white supremacist capitalist project, born in Europe. Thinking this way accurately names not only global political power but dominant cultural hegemony and the origins of supremacy. This then helps us understand what systems we’re struggling against, beyond just individual states. US cultural hegemony is surely specific enough, but I think it is just a piece of the white supremacist project (the triangle slave trade is just one example of this). I recently wrote a piece here about solidarity networks the South African apartheid government had with the White Citizens Council in the American South. This was bigger than just a partnership. They were protecting global ideas, that pre-date 1776 and were building a global network. The US could collapse tomorrow as a "superpower," and I think it should, but I don't think that would destroy the greater western imperialist project or would reckon for justice and wealth redistribution owed to people around the world.
As far as Toussaint and his use of "enlightenment ideas," I think we need to be careful when looking at this history in ways that do not exceptionalize European ideas. Enslaved people have always resisted their capture, independent of knowing European "ideas." I think of Queen Nanny and the maroons and the history of the Garifuna. These ideas/traditions are not always as documented because sort of to your point, or as Howard Zinn would say "history" happened to them. Enlightenment thinkers also took ideas from indigenous communities, including in the so called "Americas," when they’d come in contact with them. Some enlightenment ideas help explain supremacist logics too. I’m sure you’ve read CLR James’ Black Jacobins, which explores the incompatible Enlightenment ideas that led to Toussaint’s failures, in part, using Lenin’s ideas on imperialism. Haiti was still paying France debt for their freedom until 1947 & many former French colonies that use the Franc, pay France today. Even Kant was arguably an early eugenicist. Its the white supremacist project, born in Europe, that has been far reaching and will continue to be far reaching, until capitalism and imperialism are toppled as globally interconnected systems throughout the West.