Two Essays by Kevin (Rashid) Johnson

A Biography of Revolutionary Development
A Theory Towards Combating American Imperialism
(Part One)
‘Bashid: A Biography of Revoiutionary Development

T've been asked often by activists of various stripes to give something
of a background on myself (some insight into myself and my
struggles), which can be shared within movement and broaden circes.
Two factors—both of them subjective—have left me hesitant to do so.
‘The first factor being that 1 am emphatically opposed to personaiity
cuits, and because of this have often shunned drawing attention to
myself. The second factor is that I do not desire to sound as a self-
assumed "authority" on matters affecting the lives and futures of
masses of people. However, It seems that by my sllence, some folks
have gained just these impressions about me, viz, that I have some
Interest to gain a celebrity status within movement circles (or in
essence that I'm an opportunist or worse), or that I perceive my views:
as comect and

unchallengeable.
‘While I do tend to present critiques (especially of activities on

last ten of which I've spent In solitary, confined almost aiways
within specially constructed and modified ceils, and often totally

innocents--wherever..." And even though I was under llegitimate
wmmmmmawwlw
always been engaged in something of a running battie 3

“The forces that combined to ensure this last lengthy
Incarceration were driven by my having eamed the label while In
soclety 25 a “cop killer”, and personal revenge against me by some pig
“victims* of my actions.

1 was jailed twice in 1990, the first confinement being a brief one
(1 was acquitted), the second being upon the armest from which T
remain imprisoned. In order to give some insight into my present
Incarceration, the first 1990 armest must be detalled and other
background facts given. While I do not wish to glamorize my past anti-
soclal activities, 1 must give some account of my past to allow an
understanding of who I am today.

Like 50 many young blacks, 1 was involved In the street level
drug trade, only I took 8 different tact than mast in my approach to
“the game?. I perceived myself as being a one-man army. Under
various pretexts I would position myself on others' turfs, first in a
neutral role to study and take in all that was going on, .0, who the
‘suppliers were, how much money came through the area in sales, plg
activities, who amongst the sellers were about getting money and who
were about gaining reputations as “qunsiingers”, the various welghts
and sizes of products being sold, etc. Upon gaining a good feel of the
area, I'd move in and, using bribes and violence selectively, would
basicaly take over. Those who sided with me had my compieta loyaity.
My methods led to many “wars® against rival groups, which I most
oftan came out on top of. The opposition was all too visible, their
hangouts, homes, and flashy cars being known, and their pattems
predictable. 1, on the other hand, came and went unpredictably. 1 did
1o hanging out in clubs or otherwise, and had no known resistance or
‘method of travel. Observation, hit and evasion, was my mode of
‘combat. When, because of these exchanges, an.area became too "hot”
for business, I'd move on to another area.

‘The last area that I frequented I organized upon a more
developed program. I didn't need o estabiish myself there, because
my reputation was aiready known in the area. I suspect that my name
was aiso known to the ity pigs. So I focused on driving the pigs and
any competition out. Ironically, I was never really concerned with
profits; I was moré concemed with unity within the clique and
communky affnity.

Each weekend, Saturdays and Sundays, we'd organize
‘community galas. Esch weekend a different member of our clique
would pay all expenses. We'd buy bushels of crabs, cases of beer, and
pay the local “shot house” peopie tn prepare all sorts of foods and
beverages. Large, amplified speakers ware set out on the curb, and
‘everyone in the neighborhood ate and danced at no cost. This won s
2 lot of local affection within the complex and even with the complex
manager. Vicience within our group was strictly forbidden, as was
flashing and randomly shooting off guns in the area. “Customers* were
£ be respected and no “sales* were to be made around children. Pig
patrols were driven out, under gunfire. They only openly ventured into
the area in convoys of stx or more patrol cars, four pigs to each car. 1y
An isolated pig cruiser was apt to get holed. When they tried to set up
‘watch posts in vacant apartments, the complex manager alerted us,
with the resul that the watchers got watched, and as soon as they left
the post, the apartment was raided and everything stolen or smeshed.

‘The pigs finaily took heart by bullding a containment fence
(about twelve feet high) around the complex (we quickly opened holes
around the fence), organizing neighborhood foot patrols by squads of
pigs In plainclothes carrying rifles, shotguns and pistols In hand, and
‘establishing & curfew in the area. If the pigs caught 8 young black in
that area after 9 pm without residential credentiais, he was promptly
arrested for trespassing. This is the context In which my first arrest in
1990 took place.

‘While sitting a block away from the complex one night,
‘observing movements of the plainciothes pigs, & convoy of patrol cars
converged on a brother I knew from the neighborhood, who was:
walking to his female friend's home. The plsinclothes had apparently
called in the convoy, whic: had obviousty been on standby close by.
‘Observing this brother surrounded by hostile crowd of some twenty
uniformed pigs, I (defying my instinct to stay put and observe)
disarmed and approached the scene to see If I could diffuse the
‘sttuation.

Upon seeing me approach, a detachment of pigs broke off from
the main group, stopped me some twenty feet short of the brother,
and asked If I were his cousin, as he'd claimed upon seeing me
approaching. He'd told the pigs, refuting their claims that he was
trespassing, that I could verfy his girfriend's residence, and her home
o be his destination. I acknowledged that we were related. I was
asked my name, to which I replied, “Kevin Johnson. One white plg
named Paul Witt turned to quickly to the brother and asked, "If this Is
your cousin, what's his name?". Not having heard what I'd said, the
brother replied, "Rashid.” Al attention then Immediately focused on
me. Wit replied, "So, you're Rashid. We've been looking for you.” He
then recited a lit of cltywide and local incidents in which the neme.
Rashid had come up s involved, Including attacks on pigs.

T was promptiy surrounded by the growing mess of pigs with my
back to a patrol car. Witt put in a radio call to a detective unit to
determine If any warrants or indictments for my arrest were
outstanding. There were none. Apparently, they had never been able
to get an accurate identification on me. He then reached into the
patrol car and came up with a Polaroid camera. As he prepared to snap
pictures, I began distorting my face. I crossed eyes, protruded tongue,
Inflated jaws, flared nostrls, etc. WRt demanded that I straighten up
face up. 1 informed him that I hadn't consented to a photo shoot, and
until 1did to be satisfied with what he got. Enraged, the pig forcefully
pushed me back into the car. I rebounded, driving several jabs in his
face. The other pigs converged, swinging flashiights, sticks, and
radios. I drove through the mob leading the way with straight jabs,
and just upon breaking out of the group of swinging pigs, I tripped and
feil. 1 was promptly piled upon, handcuffed, and further.
Tronically, I wasn't beaten too badly—too many pigs. They were
‘Something which may be of use t those resisting organtzed s
oppression: pigs don' tend to best a person who fghs back as
brutally s they do one who shows fear or passively scoepts being
waiked 8 short distance away and watthed the spectacie.
lemmmmww&-mmm
happened. He took It alin with barely concoaled humor. He was.
Mmmwmh.flwmm

pulled out my own weapon (a .44 with a very long barrel). When Witt
bent the comer, gunfire erupted. He dove headfirst behind a concrete

|

‘on the ground, with pigs holding
me In place, Wit caught up, .38 In one hand, my .44 in the other. He
was hysterical, and obviously shaken but uninjured. He went into &
frenzy, il me, calling me every variety of *nigger” in
the book, and pressing the barrel of the gun against my teeth. When
he removed the gun, I told him that he should efther do what he
threatened or *shut the fuck upl” His response was to crack me across
the head with the barrel of my .44, lacerating my scalp. What followed
probably saved me from a vicious ass-kicking or worse. A brother
came running out of a nearby apartment cursing the pigs for running
around (chasing me) with guns drawn, while his children played
nearby. The pigs promptly swarmed and beat him bloody s his kids
looked on.

While going through my pockets, the pigs observed blood
running from my jacket sieeve. Upon a rough inspection, my shoulder
Injury wes discovered. Regardiess, the battered brother and I were
dumped In a pig wagon and taken to headquarters. I was held In the
parking lot with Wit and others running a stream of threats by me.
Wit was obviously In a quandary to justify confronting me to begin
with. He wasn't even on duty. He proposed that If I said nothing about
his having shot me, he wouldn't charge me with any felonles--

|
particularly for attempted capital murder of a pig. I gave no response.
When finally taken to the hosptal (Medical College of Virginia) some
hours ater, my shoulder and scaip were sutured and my arm placed in
a sling. The cause of my laceration and puncture wounds being
“unknown." I was charged with trespassing and merely pointinga &
firearm at Witt.

Upon entering the Richmond clty Sailthis time I was compelied
to take up an unfinished rival “war" where it had left off on the street.
“The opposition occupied an entire tier—some 120 cats-—-adjacent to my
own. They were only prepared to jump me. I was, however, prepared
0 do a itie more. I ditched the shoulder siing, procured some
weapons, and next day a standoff occurred. Me and five others against
almost the entire rival ter. The pigs were apparently tipped off and
swarmed the jall haliway before we'd revesied our weapons or the first
blow was struck. T was packed off to another tir, only to sneak onto
the rival tier (a dormitory) during the confusion of movement at
meatime several weeks later. A battie erupted as 5000 a5 the tier gate

siammed shut. I ended up with a head laceration and about four of
them suffered stab wounds before the pigs Invaded the tier to break
the fight up. Upon my release from soltary a few weeks later, a similar
situation occurred. By then I was looked at as a 175 Ib., 59° maniac,
by both pigs and prisoners. The opposition offered a truce with
‘amenities on the side. Upon agreement of some of my coharts, the
truce was accepted, but other conflicts persisted. Fights were frequent.
1 was stabbed in a couple Incidents; in both of them my opponents
were disarmed and were butchered in retum. It was finaily accepted
by all potentiai rivals that 1 was best left alone.

‘While failed, an acquaintance of mine from the streets, John
Albert Chambiiss, Jr. (John Jr.), wes arrested. He'd been a fugttive for
some time, s foremost of Richman's most wanted. Upon his capture
he agreed to work with the pigs to get out of his own charges. Initially,
he was placed on the tier with me, obviously to draw out information;
however, I never discussed anything of substance with him, or
‘anyone, especially since I'd observed that under conditions of
‘confinement, he'd become a kitten. This was in total contrast to the
Viclous Image he'd portrayed on the streets.

It was around the time of John Jr.'s capture that 1 began to
receive a flurry of indictments: murder, attempted murder, maliclous
‘wounding, etc. 1 didn't want to believe that he might have been
responsible. The incidents for which I was charged were of particular
Interest to the city pigs. One invoived a person's having been shot by
an alleged sniper, shoating from Inside a project bullding. The pigs had
responded by surrounding the entire block and calling In their own
snipers, helicopters, and SWAT team. The pigs acknowledged seeing
the shooter moving around In the apartment while R was under siege,
Yet when their SWAT teams raided it some ten hours later, they
embarrassingly could find no one. Ancther incident involved the
shooting of several people who were allegedly attached because the
‘shooter thought they were undercover pigs. I was further accused of
‘shooting up several patrol cars with pigs Inside them, shooting at pigs,
etc.; however, no formal charges followed.
Involvement-—he had a long suspended prison term over his head. 7

name, state that he was armed, and then proceeded to finger
everyone nearby him who possessed guns or narcotics and where the

from jal He'd been brought to the Jail's transport area from his
protective custody tier for court. 1 was in the area walting for the DOC
pass by the en route to the area

‘brought him out, I managed

it
|
i
L]
3

H}
oo it e Costs of thelr mounting casualtes (pigs taking sck g
leave with pay--feigned injuries were routine) outweighed the
subjective benefits of seeking revenge. It became quite dear that
terrorism did not work on me, except to provoke the very responses
the pigs wanted to suppress. They had no milltary option with me. S0
they pacified me in every way conceivable short of allowing me to walk
free out of prison.

The pigs waiked wide circles around me and instead targeted my
less committed peers, which I found equally Intolerable. My reactions
Quicidy led them to aiso walk wide circles around my peers when I was
around. When I lef, it was a different matter aitogether. As an Indirect
method of trying to neutraitze me, the pigs routinely tried to
Proposition or Instigata other prisoners Into viclent conflicts with me.
These efforts usually falled, ether because I'd target the instigating
Pig, mutual respect which existed between me and the other prisoners
prevented It (sometimes the prisoner would himself check the pig for
attempting to provoke disunity), or I'd face the opponent down.

By 1993 I was on a cycle of being transferred on a weekly to

concrete in the dead of winter with cell windows wide open for
3t a time. I would break out of the restraints and destroy them on 8
dally basis. They'd fight me and strap me back down, often
Sxperimenting, trying to devise cramped and painful ways of putting
the restraints on so that I couldn't get out again. I'd break out again.
This went on until I had literally destroyed every set of restraining
devices they had (which cccurred in 1992 at the Buckingham prison,
leading to my transfer), or until they'd give up. 1 was starved,
dehydrated, and let naked In freezing cels for weeks to months In
winter with windows open and the A.C. blowing cold air, etc. During
atter 1992 to early 1993, I began fighting them so intensely (twice
funning the K-9's back out of the cell) that they simply would not fight
me anymore no matter what the provocation.

During the middie of 1993, an attempt was made to Intimidate
me into submission by the pigs at the Powhatan prisons by bringing
two K-9' In front of my cell and, with the dogs standing by, beating
anather prisoner in my plain view while he was handauffed. My first
response was to throw every iem I couid lay hands on at the pigs (the
cells had bars Instead of solld doors). This prompted them to move the
dogs away and stop thelr attack. I then wrenched the metal
sink/commode unit from the wall and flooded the tier. The pigs
declded to leave as I was working on the sink/commode. Next, 1
fashioned a ten-inch rod from the commade Into an Ice pick. I sat the
commode atop the bare bunk, sat on the commode, and awaited their
retum. For three days the tried to dehydrate me and negotiate me out
dm;hmmlmmhw.mum
ot fight me.

For several months I'd been seeking a transfer to the newly
consiructed Greensvile prison, because the prison to which 1 was then
prisoners with whom I'd been In a knife fight in the jall had me listed
25 an enemy. He was In the popuiation. On the third day the
negotiator came with the line that I ws being transferred to
Greensville where I'd been requesting to go. Expecting a ruse, I
decined to be handcuffed. Another prisoner, for whom I then had
Some respect, reasoned that the pigs might not be lying, since they
knew that 1 couid repeat the same and would not relent. He proposed
that they might actually intend to transfer me. When the negotiator-
eumed, | aceptd the handcufts and was proply pu on 3 van o

mluhmnmwmmra
expected. The pigs had a refined system and license for brutaltzing
prisoners. I was not to understand the magnitude of the situation until
a few days after being there. The pigs had a tier of handpicked proxy
prisoners, whom they used to violently suppress those who got out of
line. The ringleader—T'l cail him Pumpkin—was a career con with a
reputation for butchering other prisoners. He had a trustee ob (all
trustees were similarly selected). Pumpkin was allowed by the pigs to
keep weapons on his person. Part of the mental terror game was that
while he was out cieaning (everyone knew he was a pig hit man and
stayed armed), the pigs would bring others out around him in
‘handcufts (segregation prisoners must be handcuffed from behind
when outside their cells, unless they have a trustee job, or are locked
inside an exercise yard or shower stall). The she-pigs (guards and
furses) were the tools used to sic Pumpkin on others. He regarded and
Jealously guarded these she-pigs like actual mates, whereas all they
did for him wes bring him bubble gum, watch him masturbate in their
presence, and firt with him.

‘The set-up game usually went like this: ane of these she-dogs
‘would provoke an argument with the target (refuse him something he
was due, etr.). She'd then report to Pumpdn that the target had
“disrespected" her, or any of many other claims. Pumpkin would then
come to the target's cell and start hostlie verbal exchange, send &
challenge via third-party message, etc. Once the conflict was.
‘established, the pigs would move the tarpet into the tier with Pumpkin
2nd his Cronies—the entire tier rode with him. The pigs would
thoroughly search the target's property for weapons before moving
him, to ensure that he had no means of defense. Once essigned to &
‘cell on Pumpkdn's tier, the target was fair game. If he was
stouthearted, he'd stand his ground. The next day or 5o the pigs would
put them on the exercise yard together, remove everyone's handauffs
‘except the target's (they'd put five to seven prisoners in each pen),
2nd allow them to mob attack the still handcuffed target. O If they
‘wanted him butchered, he'd be unhandcuffed and left to contend
unarmed against a knife-wieiding Pumpkin.

Upon my arrival at Greensville's segregation unkt, they
Immedistely used a she-pig to draw me out. There was no cooling
system in the unt, 50 cups of ice were dispensed several times a day.
On my first night In the unit, one of the she-pigs came through with
Eig 8337

§

ki
L
If
gz
il
i
i
i
and
the cefl anytime I came out yet could find nothing.
On account of the systematic attacks on the pigs at the height of
the Doc’s Intemai affairs office decided to get Involved in
the years of prisoner complaints of brutailty In the unit.

before up o the final violent episode.
My response wes to countar-ambush one of the pigs’ other
trustee hit men while he was out clesning several days later. I wes
i
g
f
i
F
i
&
;
S

‘The majority of the pigs at Buckingham didnt want me in the
population walking about. They therefore attempted several times
through trumped-up reports to have me retumed to segregation. On
the last occasion that this was done, I was charged with being in an
“unauthortzed area” of the prison. The pigs weited unti I'd locked into
the call at count time to come and lock me up In segregetion. I refused
£ go pescefully. One pig threstened that ¥ I didn’t, I'd receive a
severe “ass-whipping”. In response I agreed to waik peacefully to
segregation. When the pigs opened the ceil door to escort me out, the
threstening pig received a nose broken in two places. I've been In
segregation ever since.

‘While in Buckingham's segregation unit, 1 observed a rookie pig
slam a restrained prisoner's face into a steel door with no provocation.
‘That same day I wes accused of opening a gash in this pig's face with
& razor blade.

A few days later the goon squad attacked anather prisoner. This
prisoner had a long gash in his arm with staples holding & closed. The
Durses were to dean the wound and change the dressing twice dally.
“They refused to do 30, and his arm became badly infected. The pigs
refused to accept his emergency complaint seeking medical treatment.
He finally broke a light in his cell t force some cooperation. The pigs'
response was to send in the goon squad to beat him down.

My response was to kick and shatter the olass in my cel door. A
K-9 unit was called In to assist the goon squad with me. Meantime
‘cell door opened to admit the animal, the handler was promptly
snatched into the oef, the dog run back out of the cell (dlearing a path
through the scattering pigs) and I came out on his heels flush into the
crowd of pigs. (Some thirty or more pigs had gathered In the unit to
watch the spectacie.) A battie ensued. I was swarmed by pigs and
taken down In a fury of punches. I was then transferred back to
Powhatan and placed into a specially modified unit.
mnmmxummmmw
'something of a reputation 3 Jaithouse lawyer and fightar of the pigs.
Although many prisoners held him in high regard, I observed I him a
predominant tendency to piay prisoners againet the pigs and vice
versa, all to serve his own individual benefR. He only attacked and
fought the pigs when they didn't cater to his ever-changing personal

i
|
:
i

1l
|
i
|
|
E

i
H
i
i
?
H
the unwritten rule that certain lssues are not to be challenged or

i

My efforts were caiculated to bring the courts to bear on DOC
Officials at the highest levels, to force them to change the conditions
under which we lived, and conform them to the basic requirements of
the written laws. The courts had other plans. The state courts were not
willing to grant these sorts of relief, although the letter of the laws:
required k. They attemptad insteed, numerous times, to grant my
from prison. I completely distrustad these offers. To gain this

i

I
|
|
H
|
?
i

allowed me to see that the oppressive conditions within these orisons,
Indeed, the very existence of them could not be changed absent a
fundamental change of the sockal economic conditions that created
them. 1 had not been thinking In terms of abolishing prisons
themselves (for me such an ides was not even concelivable). What I'd
of the haves over the have-nots. For all this time I'd accepted the
legitimacy of the estabiished order.
1 1 agreed with Georpe (and I did) thet the order of capitalist

“The more I studied, reflected, practiosd, and drew Insight from
my own practical experiences, the more it ail fell together, 30 diear and
obvious. As my conceptuaiizations developed I wrote a few esseys,
usually at others' requests, (my ideas ware stil forming, some I could
not clearly articulate, 50 1 adopted terms, thoughts, end ideas. But &
‘was ol quickly coming together.) I could see where the faliures and
‘Successes had occurred In verious anti-colonial, class, anti-racist,

struggles.

In answer to those pessimistic about waging 8 successful
revolutionary struggle here in the military stronghokd of the global
Imperiaiist system, I found inspiration in one seemingly insignificant
area of the Middie East. Gaza City. The Palestinians in Gaza, suffering
‘under o brutal Israeil miliary occupation, are weging a herok:
Mwmmnmmnm
primitive of conditons, with no economic Infrastructure. (Open sewers,
7o garbage disposal, etr.) Gaza's economy ls totally dependent upon
day lsborers and servants working In Israel proper. But under the | &
organizing work of Hamas, their unrelenting resistance to Israell forces

sSquare miles in area, with limitiess logistical resources.
1 have long been responsive to the suffering of others, now more:
0 than ever. I've come to that a primary causa of peoples’
Innovation and relesibess commitment to an ideal has proven, to my
satisfaction, that the oppressive Institutions are not invuinerable. Fear

e, but they cannot isolata an kdeal. 17

T have often defested myselffor lack of & broad vision. Because T
had confined my efforts and ideas to this limited prison environment, 1
Isolated myself from those on the outside. I had severed almost all
outside contacts. I never expectad to leave prison alive. However, I've
‘come o reaiize that this relatively tiny prison environment, those
‘concentrated isiands of oppression (the condition within which I daity
‘witness driving my peers heiplessly into insanty), are a small
Interrelated part of a much grester oppressive whole. We prisoners:
must be reached and we must reach out. We must be educated into an
understanding of our victim status, made to understand the function
that the prisons serve, the nature of govemnment in stratified capitalist
Societies. At the same time a much larger and totally committed effort
must be made on the outside to confront the enemy power structure.
This has been my message to the outside.

Now that I've begun Interacting with people on the outside, the
pigs have acted decisively to frustrate and discourage those contacts
1o isolate me. Many contacts have been broken, on account of these
‘obstructions. T've been hindered in many commitments. The
Impediments have perhaps left some to think me unreliable st best, or
an opportunist, or worse. They clearly don't understand my situation
Inside here—and why should they?—T've never explsined .
1am perceptive If anything and understand that there have been
defections, betrayals, Infikrations, provocations, pig agents,

and rewards in the left and other progressive
movements. 1 can diearly understand why some very sincare people
might become suspicious when I obligate myself to provide them
‘Something in writing or 8 plece of artwork and they hear nothing from

i

worth—anty money sent to me is takan. I therefore cannot purchase
‘stamps and must rely on other prisoners In this regard); 1 remain
Indefinitely barred from telephone use, etc.

of danger; T've faced them ail, continuousty and by choice. T am willng
ATheoryTowards Combating American imperialism
(Part One) 15

Although 'm offen asked by progressive people - people on the left of
Various stipes - fo express my ideas on concrete solufions fo present social
cises, 'm often reluctant. Not because | have any problerms with
expressing factical deas, but because it's proven in my expedience that
they don't octualy intend fo apply those ideas. of search ways in

prison cell there isn't much | con do by way of action myselt. So. It seems
that I'm left 0 the very device hat I've begun with crificiing — words.

In my experiences I've leamed something about many leftist social
“activists' in Amerika, which seems a general condifion. They fear
discipine and pain. The fomer fendency seems most pronounced
amongst those of the anarchist stipe. Along with govemment, they also
reject anything - infemal or extemal - which fends fo check heir abiity to
simply do as they please, whereas, the latter tendency seems most fypical
among anthmperiaist, communist leadership elements. and peaceniks.
The power sructure has faught them that whenever they begin
promoting and organizing activities that threaten the empire’s holds on
their minds and bodies of the common people. they will be isolated and

‘Therefore the Anarchists spend much of their energy in disorganized
acthifies (usually individuaiisic and egofistical] while the more potentially
organized elements of the left spend heir energy reclining safelv in their
intellectual hothouses engaging in diolectics on social phenomenon,
history and the depravity of copitalsm. Meanfime, empire goes about s
usual business of reaping vast profis for a finy group of men through
starving and dehydroting, imposing genocidal conditions, ensiaving.
‘mass-murdering, Colonizing, moking the planet singly inhabitable
for, over-depleling and destroying imited natural resources, and generaly
was replaced with
commander who attempted fo the Carthinian Ay in o decisive
positional battie ot Cannge, Now this & not 10 say that educaing the
masses has no place in

"d now. Wemmahobokmmwhbcmelncim["nm
mmmfl.}mwmfl.mwmwma
mpels them 10 rise up against it,

in mmmlm«m.mmmmhmm‘
clothing, shelter, medical care, sources of drinkable water, etc.) and £
‘organizing society 5o that these needs are met. Furthermore, no soclety
‘can preserve itselt without milfry capabilty. In hierarchical sociefies, ihe
miftory apparatus {which includes police forces and prisons) are needed.
MWNW‘MMMMWW!MW'MG
wmmwmmmmwm,mm
‘maintain the control over the society's economy. their holds on amassed
social wealth, and 10 serve them in expanding their power and
domination over other sociefies. All three of these phenomenon — polifics.
mmmm-mwmmmmmawm
mnmwm«-ummmmdamumm.mmn
colony or an empre.

mwvmwummdswmtowmmnm
ammmmmmmamfiammw
xmommnmmlummmlm»mw
“primitive communism") up fo modem strafified state-level sociefies.
mmmmwmmwnhmfi.
Three forms of polifical organization are prominent in the fransformation of
mmmmmmmfiu:mmuam
men, chiefs and ruling classes. These different developments were
characterized by who controlled, and the manner of confrol of, the
wa(fih.mmflmmmmms
the members of the society.)

In the primitive society the pasifion of big man (head man) was
wmladbmdmmn‘xwwww&w.wfi:nhruc!unm
hheadman poor in possessions but fich in respect. His was a position given
by popular consent. The headman was responsible for fair distribution of
resources within the society to ensure that the needs of oll members were
met. Because of the respect his role created, he was the popular
‘organizer of rade wih ofher sociefies, war partes. efc. It would have
been impossible for @ headman fo dominate his society because all
members were equally amned and equaly able fo survive oft of the land
through foraging and hunting. He therefore could not mifftarly dominate
Ihem nor monopolze fher access 1o the means of survival. if he did
Mnmwmmmdmmmm
fake It back and expel him:; or worse..

Mumflmmmmmm‘whmu
chief (uniks the headmen who won thei leadership posifions based on
wmmmmnmmmmmn
the common people. and coukd lose his power only through defeat in
‘war. The chief's power was however imited because he did not have th
Toyalty of a penmanent police - miifary apporatus that Could permanent
mwmdnwmwmmmm
‘a permanent force k the glue hat allows state-level societies o exist and
mmmm'mmmmum-n-mcmy.l
siatified state-level societies (whether feudolist, siave-owning or capitalls
2oayauard through thei moss-crented infomation and enfersment
necia. leaching the people fo hold effesin awe and fear. They ore
thereby able fo preserve law and order hrough confroling the minds of
the masses without the need to resort to raw. brutal force. 23

In recognizing the role of prestige i sociely we've identified that fotally
subjective phenomenon which allows people 1o submit fo oppression and
exploitation. I his polifical writings, Niccolo Machiaveli examines overail
‘whether a ruler should base his command on the basis of love or fear. He:
1o recognized the centraiy of presfige in controling masses of people.
He concluded that If there must be a choice between love and fear, fear
is preferable so long as It i that quaiity of fear which prompts respect and
ot confempt or hatred. To Gvold provoking hatred. the ruler must avoid
violating e person. possessions and honor of his subjects unreasonably.
He must aiways mainfain an appearance of good and he must aspie
fowards achieving great accomplshments in matters of state and.
industry. It s through these methods hat the ruler acquires presfige and
fame and the submissions of his subjects.

I fact, | can give a succinct example of prestige at work faken from
tight here in these pdsons. in here the pigs are vastly outnumbered by the
prisoners - yet our esistance fo their power s relatively non-existent. The
pigs' abilty fo rule and keep order s based solely upon fear. ugon the
majority of cons fo accept the uniforms' power as legitimate.
unquestionable, unchallengeable and therefore invuinerable. They
‘actually hokd the pig and the social order that empowers him, in awe. But
by my own actions, i's been proven fo my safistaction that pig power is
ot 5o formidable, which ks why I've spent the last fen years of my
‘confinement in solftary, housed away in specially modiffied cels, offen
kept fotally kolated from all other prisoners. I've faught them that
violence, brutal oppression, and femor factics ks a two-way sireet with me.
n responses fo ther abuses of me and my peers, I've frequenty holed
their bodies, forched and scorched ek flesh, broken thekr bones, single-
"handedly repelied thek K-9's and done battie with ther goon squads
more fimes than | can recount. Of course I've endured every brutailty
‘which their finy minds could devise. Yet thek efforts have never deterred
me. Consequently. they've offered or made every concession short of
allowing me fo walk free out of the prison gates. But my abiifies are
imited by my condifions which make it mpossible for me fo reach the
principle enemies ot ther seats of power. Imegardiess, I'm convinced that
the prestige of power i nothing but so much hype.

Indeed, George Jackson recognized that prestige in and of fself exsts
nowhere except in peoples' minds. “Presfige is an abstract, an infangible.
1thas no materal bass. no substanfial objective reality. One can't faste i,
see it or smel i, f an't be heard. S0 how does it exst? Subjectively. in
the mind's eye, atter the fact of some connected circumstances that
‘may also have been subjective.” In a faped speech given by him shortly
before his death n 1971, he further elaborated on presfige as follows:
“The prestige of power atifs maturtty s a thing that will prevent people
from acfing against that power. This pig is a psychological thing, a stafe
of being wherein the bourgeaisie reign of ferror need not rely on violence
o sustain e It's relying on something that happened in the past...
where it secured itsell. And it's drifing af this point, the prestige of power
‘means that it s drifting at this point and resting on ifs laurels. At his stage.
* OnAugust 7. 1970 Jonathan. Gearge's younger brother, led an
armed raid on the courthouse in Marin County, Calfomia, where he

15 another example (I over-generaiized) ilusiration oh how presfige
works. let's fake the example of the ubiquitous schoolyard buly, By

instiling fearin his vicfims through selective acts of infmidating violence,
the bully inculcates in his victim class the idea of his
Prestige. Solong as his victims look at him in awe fhey will nof resst him,

victims grow tired of his femror and. attack and defeat him.
His presige, his image of invuinerabilty fo atfack from his victims, s
instantly shaken 1o the core. He loses face, a loss which
fotally and relentiessl. The victms are free fo ciificize thei oppressor so
long as they fear and respect him. The wiser oppressor will devise o
‘confrol is victims by fuming segments of his vicim class against ofher
segments by showing one segment o degree of favored freatment o
delegated power (glving them a lesser degree of prestige) an arfficiol
privieged status which i fotally dependent upon Iheir keeping the bully in
power and keeping ther ‘inferiors' in ine. Therefore, In order fo forge a
united resstance within such a strafified victim class, the privieged status
9 the favored sectors must be undenmined by acfions which wil bring
‘down the bully's raw violence on the heads of the enfire victim closs. As
Sun Tzu observed, even avowed enemies fossed aboutin a boat on o
stomy sea. wil cooperate “just as the right hand does with the left.”

In having addressed the funcfion that presfige plays in power, we con

fob and the acquisiion of her wages. Her free time, family fime, abily fo
fravel, and enfire standard of iving and quality of lfe is determined and
controlled by, and organized around, her job. With her enfie fite

regulated by her access fo the wage, the capifalist boss becomes her
master.

Consistent with Confucius's observation and as demonstated in the
‘earfler analysis of stratified sociefies, the power of ruing closses comes
from thekr abilty to control the common people’s acces: 1o sunvivar
resources. $olong s the people are helpless fo feed themselves, they
are dependent on thase who regulate and control their access 1o baric
necessiies. Therefore, in order fo defeat thek power, efite confrol over he
‘economy must be broken, and fhe econormic amangement fself
revalufionized to take conirol out of the hands of the privieged minorly
Sdicts from above. They wil vest prestige in themseives, and, os with e

e natives were faught the nofion of superarty of European culfure,
\rentity and raligion: that in order fo be rescued from fheir own

P ockwardness, heathenism, ignorance and savagery. they needed fo be
Jowxed in ihe methods of white Civization. Never minding ot peiora e
L gntuey (thal point when capitlsm began effeciively desroying one

e values of westem civiization.
Tne dafeat of Gemany and Japan during WWil was o by
o) e indusiial centers o their economies. This was done hiougn
“scorched earth” tactics of destroying economic resources and thus
starving a society &/or s milfary info submission.) This is why nukes are
termed “strategic” and “first sivike weapons/” and are perceived as the
‘mast powerful weapons in the arsendis of modem nafions. Why again,
‘because they can cripple an industial country's economy (and power
base) almost Instantly.

During the Vietnam War, the US. devised fo defect the Vietnamese
anti-colonial struggle in both North and South Vietnam by destroying the
bases of their economies. In industrialized North Vietnam, the U.S.
iprecisely targeted fransportation and industrial sites. dams, cifies and

indiscriminately bombs the widely cispersed vilages and crops. The U,
however, was sl unable fo defeat the Vietnamese. The US.'s brufal
‘oppression only reinforced ek wil 1o resit and in the face of ther
ingenious and fierce siruggle. the U.. was unabie fo assert fs prestige
over fhe nafives - what the US. call “winning the hearts and minds of the
people.”

Likewise, when all ese foled fo defeat the successful 1978 popular
revolution in Nicaragua ( direct challenge fo U . prestige because
‘occuring within s Cicimed region of conirol) the U.. conira war and
invasion lorgeted Nicaragua's economic infrasructure. As Time
magazne adrmitted (in an arficie frequently quoted by Chomsky.) the U,
mifcry objective was fo "wreck he economy and prosecute a long and
deadly praxy war unfi he exhausted nafives overifvow the unwanted
‘govemment themseves* leaving them "with wrecked bridges, sabotaged
power stafions and ruined fams.* Us. officiol milftary policy had the
‘contra forces and o sirkes specificall forgefing fors, o depos, health
cinics, and ofher [soft) economic forgefs. while fhe Reagan
‘administration blocked loans fo Nicaragua from fhe Infer-American
Development Bank and Worid Bank and hen imposed a full embargo in
1985, and then blamed Sandinita govemment policies for the ensuring
economic fuml.

1t occurs so common as fo need no elaboration fhat westem powers'
main method of undemmining power n hose sociefies whose rulers offend
them. is by imposing blockades, sanctions, embargoes and high farifls on
ade calculated fo cripple their economies and force fhem o submit fo
Westem control - the . policy on Cuba being a primary example,
Furthemore. in adifin o baring allinfemational frade with Cuba, the
US. went further fo cripple s toutist indushy by camying out bombings of
Cuban fourst stes and hoels.

Those various examples of the fargefing of the economies of sociefies
s the pdmary source of neutralzing or destroying hei hoids on power.
‘makes quite clear that a society's economy i the base of power of those
Wh tule or aspire o ule them.

Obviousy. f he vuinerabilfy of a ruing class e in s holds over
economic pawer. fhen we have an expianaion s fo why modem
industrial powers do not reat the broad masses of ther own populations
s brutally s they do foreign popuiafions. The domesic population hos
direct access o the impedal Country's conomic infrastucture and can
therefore disrupt and destroy the power base, themselves. This power of
Public was becoming more and more radicatzed in ther displeasure with
and challenges o the owners of UsS. power.
With heavy defeats whipped on U,

hands of Japan.

In the wake of the flasco in Vietnam. the Us. refrained from drect
profrocted milfary inferventions and occupations for over two decades,
electing to engage instead i secret proxy wars and indrect dirupfions of
unwanted foreign govemments through arming and mobitzing those

s fiptoed around sparking that pofentio fo fe. Indeed, the bombing of
marine barmacks in Lebanon led UsS. forces to promptly abandon fs brief

~ End of Part One -

Kevin (Rashid) Johnson o 185492
Red Onion Stafe Prison

P.0.Box 1900

Pound, VA 24279

SOUTH CHICAGO ABC
ZINE DISTRO
POB721 HOMEWOOD IL 60430