higher level of constjousness, based on what the last upsurge taught the masses about the nature of the enemy and the path to liberation. In faet, the Revolt sparked an irreversible growth of Black national consciousness and brought forward a new generation of revolutionaries. A section of this movement has turned to the best experiences of the socialist countries in fighting for equality of nations and nationalities. These young fighters have become part of the growing body of cadres of the anti-revisionist communist movement.
In this regard, a great deal has been learned from the People's Republic of China, its Communist Party and its great leader, Mao Tsetung. The emphasis on testing ideas in practice, care and flexibility in applying united front tactics, of relying upon and serving the people, realism in dealing with power relationships, respect for the integrity of national minorities and for the rights of the third world nations against great nation chauvinism, the concrete analysis and application of Marxist-Leninist principles to one's own country, and the pursuing of the two-line political struggle inside the Party are all part of China's great legacy. For me, this has been a cause for great optimism for the ftiture, csp�cially for the new generation of communists. .
This generation, left without guideposts af ter the betrayal of the CP, was forced to start almost from scratch. It has carried out a long march through the mass struggles of the sixties, to recapture our revolutionary heritage. It is heartening that they, along with some of us veteran fighters, are building a genuine communist party-the first in this country in decades. To this new revolutionary movement falls the task of giving leadership in the coming upsurge.
The ever deepening crisis and the increased threat of war hctween the two superpowers are affecting the living conditions of the broad masses of American people. At the same time, the ability of the imperialists and the labor aristocracy to grant concessions and thus buy off dissent, has been somewhat hampered by the crisis. Under such conditions and with the leadership of a new party, there is a strong possibility of building a movement based on I he alliance between Blacks and other nationalities and the
BLACK BOLSHEVIK
working class. As Chairman Mao wrote in 1968: The struggle of the black people in the U nited States is bo und to merge with the American workers' movement, and this will eventually end the criminal rule of the U .S. monopoly capitalist class.14
I hope that this hook, which sums up some of my experiences and that of many other comrades, will make some contribution to this lofty goal.
647