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Why We Need American Marxism
113 pages, Paperback
Published June 22, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 23, 2024
A good logical continuation of The Purity Fetish and the Crisis of Western Marxism. The question of national shared history is something that is not talked about often enough in Western sources. I think this is a worthwhile contribution.
Having read Xi Jinping somewhat recently, it has been peculiar to me how closely tied national heritage and a shared history is to Chinese socialism, and yet, as Americans we find it impossible to find the same shared bonds… I think the viewing of American history through the lens of a shared struggle against oppression and genocide, from a nation that promised the complete opposite, is a very valuable weapon against the capitalist order.
Having read Xi Jinping somewhat recently, it has been peculiar to me how closely tied national heritage and a shared history is to Chinese socialism, and yet, as Americans we find it impossible to find the same shared bonds… I think the viewing of American history through the lens of a shared struggle against oppression and genocide, from a nation that promised the complete opposite, is a very valuable weapon against the capitalist order.
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December 15, 2024Prof. Garrido takes the time to explain some very basic facts about what should be expected of communists and their relationship to patriotism, regardless of their country of origin. He also elaborates the fascinating argument establishing DuBois as the "Father of American Marxism." Highly recommended for all American Marxists.
August 23, 2024
“The battle against historical and national nihilism is one we must win if we want any chance at winning the class war”
July 15, 2025
Carlos Garrido’s Why We Need American Marxism is a timely and articulate pamphlet that explains in detail why we need to create a modern Communist movement in America and how only socialism can actualize the democratic values abstractly enunciated by the progressive bourgeoisie in 1776 during the founding of the United States of America.
Garrido takes a look at the progressive historical currents of the US that must be appreciated and understood in order to successfully synthesize Marxism into the modern context of America.
He exposes how American politicians and thought leaders have been lying to the American people about their country’s relationship with socialism.
He reminds us of the many First Nations tribes that existed under conditions of primary communism and the early settlers like Roger Williams who condemned colonialism and supremacist ideologies and was a vocal critic of slavery.
He calls on us to uphold the real progressive history of America by remembering the contributions of figures like Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine, F.O. Matthiessen, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Langdon Byllesby, Cornelius Blatchley, William Maclure, Thomas Skidmore, Charles Sanders Pierce, Kenneth Stikkers, John Dewey, W.E.B. Du Bois, and Martin Luther King.
Garrido points to the reality that the United Stated was one of the first states in history to proclaim its freedom with appeals to a universal humanity, where all are created equal and endowed with the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. And also the idea that it is the duty of the American people to overthrow their government if these rights are oppressed.
Carlos Garrido explains how American Marxism will be socialist in content but be national in form and how one major hurdle will be national and historical nihilism, especially from so called “leftists” who want to reject the progressive history of the United States and claim that America is not pure enough for socialism/communism. These leftists do not understand that in order to build a strong working class movement capable of overthrowing the working class, we must honor and acknowledge the progressive history of our country instead of pretending it is pure evil.
Reading Garrido’s work has given me renewed optimism about the prospect of building an American Marxist movement and, for the first time in my life, sparked a genuine sense of patriotism, which, after learning some of the horrendous things the US has done, I didn’t actually know was possible.
I implore folks to read this short and relatable pamphlet and thank Carlos Garrido for putting together a truly inspirational clarion call to the working class of a nation trying to build an authentic and homegrown socialist movement.
Garrido takes a look at the progressive historical currents of the US that must be appreciated and understood in order to successfully synthesize Marxism into the modern context of America.
He exposes how American politicians and thought leaders have been lying to the American people about their country’s relationship with socialism.
He reminds us of the many First Nations tribes that existed under conditions of primary communism and the early settlers like Roger Williams who condemned colonialism and supremacist ideologies and was a vocal critic of slavery.
He calls on us to uphold the real progressive history of America by remembering the contributions of figures like Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Paine, F.O. Matthiessen, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Langdon Byllesby, Cornelius Blatchley, William Maclure, Thomas Skidmore, Charles Sanders Pierce, Kenneth Stikkers, John Dewey, W.E.B. Du Bois, and Martin Luther King.
Garrido points to the reality that the United Stated was one of the first states in history to proclaim its freedom with appeals to a universal humanity, where all are created equal and endowed with the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. And also the idea that it is the duty of the American people to overthrow their government if these rights are oppressed.
Carlos Garrido explains how American Marxism will be socialist in content but be national in form and how one major hurdle will be national and historical nihilism, especially from so called “leftists” who want to reject the progressive history of the United States and claim that America is not pure enough for socialism/communism. These leftists do not understand that in order to build a strong working class movement capable of overthrowing the working class, we must honor and acknowledge the progressive history of our country instead of pretending it is pure evil.
Reading Garrido’s work has given me renewed optimism about the prospect of building an American Marxist movement and, for the first time in my life, sparked a genuine sense of patriotism, which, after learning some of the horrendous things the US has done, I didn’t actually know was possible.
I implore folks to read this short and relatable pamphlet and thank Carlos Garrido for putting together a truly inspirational clarion call to the working class of a nation trying to build an authentic and homegrown socialist movement.
January 27, 2025
Who knew American history can be applied to Marxist-Leninism ?
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews