Firstly, I am white so I really want to do my best to not be a shithead when discussing this topic. I was in a conversation with a classmate who has Iranian family regarding the question of reform and revolution.
She pointed to general points about harm reduction and improving conditions now, while I attempted to make the case that revolution is the only way to bring true equality and protection and that the push for liberal reforms must be coincided by militant communist action (dual power ect). I was fairly cautious about my handling of my knowledge of race issues I believe, and I mostly reiterated what I understand as written by black and 3rd world communists: the US (and capitalism) is the direct cause of the issues facing the rest of the world and there are no practical circumstances in which one would be safe from the west without the dissolution of capitalism.
Also in discussions regarding white "communists" (mostly in reference to youtubers and people like that, she brought it up) I asserted that putting effort into the education, agitation, and organization of white people is a mostly lost cause in america, and that the majority of effort should go towards the organization of people of color. I cited this with reference to the BPP's work with rural americans and their firm belief that the black minority power structure must be built first and that the support of white people is secondary.
What would be the best way to go about this in the future. How can I make the case for revolution, as a white person, to a poc? How could I communicate the communist message more clearly?
You're edging dangerous close to "noble poc need to save the world from my terrible people", like the onus is on ~black and brown bodies~ to lead Yakub's sinful devil's to salvation. It's gross.
The best way to approach this is to "abolish" whiteness like Noel Ignatiev talked about. Reject the concept of "whiteness" and the privilege that it entails.
I understand what you are saying and how it could be viewed that way. I will try to be more careful and clear when asserting that point in the future. My intention was more-so that white leftists that already do exist need to recognize that the majority of white america, in america particularly, have very little reason to support communist movements and that american leftist movements historically are focused around anti-racism and thereby anti-white (in the sense that the default mode of existence for a white person is supporting racism).
In a global scope, it is unrealistic, in my view, to expect a true leftist revolution in the imperial core, therefore as a westerner it is most important to make it easier for militant leftism to come about in other countries in order to work towards a global communism. The west is not going to give up their power without a fight, and the west is not going to be fighting itself, therefore protection needs to be given to those communist projects that can oppose capitalist hegemony.
Could you please link the Igantiev work you referenced? I am not familiar with them.
What does this have to do with being "white"? There are non-white people in the Imperial core, many of whom derive many benefits from living here. Many people who would pass for "white" in the US live in ruthlessly exploited countries like Russia.
He had a lot of work! He spent his whole life fighting "whiteness". Probably the most famous is "How the Irish Became White"
https://www.newyorker.com/news/postscript/noel-ignatievs-long-fight-against-whiteness
Antifada podcast did a cool episode with some of his comrades who did entryism in Chicago-area steel Mills in the 60s/70s that covers some of his work/ideas too.
https://fans.fm/p/ywK0dAG
I made a mistake on this opinion for sure. I needed to clean up my perspective on this, and I appreciate the resources you linked. I think I was confusing a lot of things, and I tried to really think about some of the stuff and I think I understand the situation better. Thanks!