Center for Ethical Living and Social Justice Renewal

Focus:  Economic Justice

On the first weekend in May, approximately 500 activists/organizers from around the world, including a massive delegation from New Orleans, converged on Jackson State University's campus for the Jackson Rising, New Economics Conference. The date also marked the 50th anniversary of the youth-led first freedom rides.

The purpose of the gathering was to organize, specifically the people of Jackson, to meet the economic needs of its community through solidarity economics.  Solidarity economics is the theory and practice of organizing economies that reject capitalistic principles.  It was also to help dismantle the myth that electing people of color to political office somehow uplifts their communities. The conference happened at a crucial time where we are seeing record rates of unemployment, child poverty, incarceration and land loss in black communities. The conference explored alternative economic and sustainability paradigms and strategies to challenge the oppressive realities confronting low-income and poverty-sticken communities. Through the weekend, discussion were had about why cooperative economics and civil rights are not  generally discussed hand-in-hand. There were sessions that charted how, historically in the United States, cooperative structures were used to dodge white supremacist systems.  Information was also shared about how coops are led primarily by women and people of color.

"Cooperation Jackson," a dedicated group of activists  who have or are currently laying down roots in the city, organized the conference which was conceived when Mayor Chokwe Lumumba was still in office. Chokwe Lumumba was a human rights lawyer and a member of the revolutionary movement Republic of New Africa (RNA).  RNA's primary objectives were to seek the creation of an independent nation of the descendants of slaves located in the southeastern United States and to seek several billion dollars in reparations.  The fact that such a revolutionary figure could be elected to the office of Mayor in Jackson inspired the cooperative movement.  Mayor Chokwe Lumumba passed on earlier this year after spending less than a year in office.

Towards the end of the weekend, plans were drawn for the creation of coops around the country, including healthcare, childcare, construction, farming, restaurants, just to name a very few.  The aim to form a local federation of of cooperatives was solidified and there is work moving forward to build a financial institution to assist cooperatives. So, the work for solidarity economic that values human beings and their work is in full force and ahead of us as is the dismantling of the intrinsically racist, capitalistic economy based on exploitation.  Just two weeks before he died, Chokwe Lumumba said in an interview, "The road to economic solidarity is the transition from what is to what must be."

Ase'

Ruth S. Idakula

Organizing Manager

Center for Ethical Living and Social Justice Renewal

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