Liberation For the 99%
which is essentially determined by the nature of the class relations within that
particular epoch. 1 Marx emphasizes that men begin to distinguish themselves from
animals when they begin creating their means of sustenance, which they are
conditioned to do by the tangible organizations that they are a part of. By
generating the means of sustenance, men are also inherently creating their
material life. In fact, the nature of the individual varies according to the material
conditions that determine their production, which is also dependent on the mode of
production which is characterized by different class relations between a dominant
and an oppressed class and, therefore, dictates the material conditions in society as
well as the nature of that specific epoch. Now that I have laid out one of the primary
tenets of Marxist theory, I will argue that institutionalized discrimination in
America can be explained via Karl Marx’s theories of historical materialism and
class consciousness.
Consider the case of the United States, for example, in which the capitalist
mode of production is controlled by the bourgeoisie. The bourgeoisie, in this
instance, refers to the white upper class in America, while the proletariat refers to
the intersectional working class. According to a study conducted by the United
States Federal Reserve, the average Black and Hispanic household earns more than
half as much as their white counterparts and only owns approximately fifteen to
twenty percent as much net wealth 2 ; this highlights the disproportional distribution
of wealth within the capitalist system as well as the historical labor exploitation of
people of color and marginalized groups. Other scholarly literature identifies
various sources as being responsible for the observed racial disparities in earnings.
First, the departure of manufacturing plants and union jobs away from urban areas
1 Karl Marx, “The Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844 - Karl Marx,” Historical Materialism , no. 49 libcom.org, accessed October 6, 2023, https://libcom.org/article/economic-and- philosophic-manuscripts-1844-karl-marx. 2 Aditya Aladangady and Akila Forde, “Wealth Inequality and the Racial Wealth Gap,” The Fed - Wealth Inequality and the Racial Wealth Gap , accessed October 6, 2023, https://www.federalreserve.gov/econres/notes/feds-notes/wealth-inequality-and-the-racial-wealth- gap-20211022.html.
Volume VI (2023)
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