Du Bois marked a great stage in the history of Negro struggles when he said that Negroes could no longer accept the subordination which Booker T. Washington had preached.
C. L. R. JamesRead
One of the surest signs of the estimated changes in the consciousness of the American proletariat is to be found in the character of the demands now being put forward by the leadership.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The evolving demands of the American working class reflect significant changes in their awareness and aspirations.
C. L. R. James suggests that the nature of the demands made by the leaders of the American working class indicates a transformation in their consciousness and awareness. This evolution signifies a shift toward greater understanding and articulation of their rights and needs, revealing a more profound engagement with political and social issues.
Themes
ConsciousnessDemandsLeadershipWorking ClassTransformation
In practice
Example use cases
During a labor rights rally to emphasize the evolving needs of workers.
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I was a Labour Party man but I found myself to the left of the Labour party in Nelson, militant as that was. I came to London and in a few months I was a Trotskyist.
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Today, in American imperialism, the commodity has reached its most grandiose historical manifestation.
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Property-owners are the most energetic flag-waggers and patriots in every country, but only so long as they enjoy their possessions: to safeguard those they desert God, King and Country in a twinkling.
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