You have all seen the portrait of American Justice. She stands above the crowd, holding the scale of impartiality. She is blindfolded for a good reason. At the trial of Rev. Pinkney, that blindfold was removed and the scale of impartiality was blind-sided by the American history of racism. There is no way for an all-white jury from the rich side of town to be impartial toward a Black man from the poor side of town. That is not some radical's opinion. It is the opinion of the Supreme Court and the meaning of a trial by one's peers.
The prosecution attempted to justify the all-white jury by referring to 50 years of integration laws. However, history shows that racism in America is a durable thing. It developed and grew sturdy under racial slavery. It remained alive during emancipation. It did well in an economy based on sharecropping. It flourished on the wages system. It grew strong with segregation. It regained strength during integration. It grew stalwart by lynching Black leaders. It became even more powerful by co-opting and integrating them. Yes, racism is alive and well in Benton Harbor and in America. Why in the world can't we do away with racism in a country that is officially opposed to it?
We haven't defeated racism because we have been like the dumb soldier who fights his enemy's bayonet, rather than go for the guts of the soldier he is fighting. Racism is a political weapon. Politics serve the needs of economics. Therefore it is impossible to talk about ending racism without ending the economic relations that rely on it. Racism binds the white workers to the goals of the white ruling class on the basis of color. At the same time, it disunites the working class. What are those goals? They are to stabilize the political loyalty as well as the maximum exploitation of the white workers, who are the majority. That jury should not ask for whom the bell tolls.
When Rev. Pinkney attempted to address the destruction of the Black community by the Whirlpool Corporation, the city's rulers pulled out the race card to shut him up. The community understands what is at stake. This fight has just begun and it will go on until we win.
