Date: Monday, September 27, 2021 at 12:00 pm ET (Washington DC) time
Location: Zoom
Event Title: Left of Karl Marx: The Political Life of Black Communist Claudia Jones by Carole Boyce Davies - - Global Progressive Caucus Book Discussion

All are welcome to attend. Join us!  

“Left of Karl Marx by Carol Boyce Davies is an engaging and long overdue scholarly treatment of the life of one of the most important and yet obscure Black radicals—Claudia Jones. . . . Overall, Left of Karl Marx is a fascinating study of a political figure that deserves recognition. Carol Boyce Davies has done a service to Black Studies and Women and Gender Studies by resurrecting this champion of justice. Now that this difficult work has been done, it is our job to engage it.” — Rashad Shabazz, Wagadu

“[I]t is a must-have for activists and academics alike.” — Brittany Shoot, Feminist Review

“[W]hat Boyce Davies offers to her readers with this book, is a masterful piece of scholarship, made accessible by the author’s skilful presentation of facts, narrative and analysis.” — Madeleine Kennedy-Macfoy, European Journal of Women's Studies

“Carole Boyce Davies offers a critical intervention for understanding how the life and work of black communist, activist and intellectual, Claudia Jones illuminates the interlocking trans-Atlantic histories of leftist politics, feminism, anti-colonialism and black internationalism in the twentieth century. . . . much like Claudia Jones, Davies reminds us that the history of twentieth-century Britain is indeed a history that encompasses the Caribbean, the Atlantic and the African Diaspora.” — Kennetta Hammond Perry, Twentieth Century British History

“Davies conducted extensive ethnographic and archival research to write Left of Karl Marx and her work successfully situates this Caribbean black radical intellectual and activist within a history of black radical thought. . . . The most important lesson we learn after reading Left of Karl Marx is that black women’s writings are fundamental to our discussions on black diasporic formation and political radicalism. How many other Claudia Joneses are in need of scholarly recovery?” — Keisha-Khan Y. Perry, International Feminist Journal of Politics

“Davies makes a strong case for taking Jones seriously as a militant intellectual whose work shaped radical thought in her lifetime and prefigured the currents of change in the decades after her death in 1964.” — Marian B. Mollin, Journal of American History

Participants need to know that if there are access, affordability, etc. problems for a book/books, they should contact co-leaders, John Esteban Rodriguez and Betsy Ettorre ([email protected]) who will help them with the listed books. Learn more about the proDA Book Club.

Location Local Event Start Time

Add your photo to the DA healthcare stories booklet that will be shared with Members of Congress after the new year.

Act quickly to be added to the booklet before printing.

Photos could be of yourself, family or health-related, like a health receipt, medical equipment or prescription.  You can even use the "I Heart Universal Healthcare" sign in a selfie picture at this link. 

Even better, write a short description of why you love healthcare where you live and take a photo of you with your story, or maybe just your story if you like.  

Your story of affordable, quality, accessible healthcare overseas will help Members of Congress understand what is possible in other countries – and what is possible for all Americans.

Send your photo by email to Kent.

Write a letter back to your US papers!

It’s time for Medicare For All. We have won the House and the Medicare for All H.R.676 is being revised and needs your help to get it out of committee and introduced before Congress.

The momentum behind Medicare For All has been bubbling for decades, and if we turn up the heat, it will boil over. It is a moral imperative, and it will save us - trillions.

We, as Democrats Abroad, have experienced first-hand the benefits of a universal, public, single-payer system truly works. This was the reason we launched Healthcare Stories - and will soon be sharing these stories members of Congress.

The Progressive Caucus of Democrats Abroad is now asking for you to contribute to the next phase of how we can amplify our voices to combat the disinformation against Medicare For All being pushed by lobbyists and greedy moneyed interests who can see that momentum is growing for change.

Would you be willing to write a letter back to your local newspapers in the states  expressing your personal experience as an American abroad who has lived with Medicare for All?

We are joining the national campaign by National Nurses United that has “ a special focus on 15 target House Districts across the country represented by Democrats who are on key committees for getting the bill to the floor who have not yet co-sponsored. Those are: AL-7, CA-12, CA-29, CA-39, CA-52, CT-1, MA-1, MA-4, NJ-6, NJ-9, NM-3, OR-5, TX-35, WA-1, and WI-3. However, we also know we need to build power in every district in the country.”

You can write your letter to as many local papers you have a connection to, such as where you vote, grew up, went to school, visit relatives, vacation or do business.  And in each letter we send, we can get the attention of House members by naming them in the letter and either encouraging them to support Medicare For All or recognizing that they rightly support the Bill.

If you write a letter, you will be enlightening many other Americans who have not experienced such a system, whose minds may be swayed by the intentional spin cast by those who do not have the best interests of all Americans at heart. And encourage them to call their House Representative to demand that they support Medicare For All.

Your voice matters just as much as any “expert” on healthcare. You have lived experience of how a public system helps you.

We have made some tips and facts to help you get started.

Please also register here if you are interested, we will be in touch.

Questions? Email the Healthcare Working Group!

2019 will be an enormous fight for Medicare For All. Because it has a chance to win, it will be fought.

Let’s help spread the truth and help make Medicare For All a reality in the United States.

Healthcare Working Group
Progressive Caucus of Democrats Abroad

Volunteer with the Progressive Caucus

Posted by Sue Alksnis · January 02, 2019 2:16 PM