New Political Science, Volume 21, Number 2, 1999
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Black Fighting Formations: Their Strengths, Weaknesses and Potentialities Russell Shoats Greene County State Institution,
Waynesburg,
PA
Abstract Clausewitz observed that "war is an extension of politics." This paper argues that a fatal flaw among Black political organizations-with certain exceptions-has been their failure to adequately prepare for warfare in the service of self-defense and revolutionary struggles. The failure of the non-violent credo of the Southern Civil Rights Movement is examined as are exceptions to that credo, Robert F. Williams and also the Deacons of Defense. The Black Panther Party is analyzed as a political force unprepared for the violent confrontations it faced, and the Black Liberation Army is found to be militarily relatively sophisticated but lacking a necessary popular base. As a result of the above history, today no "fighting formation" remains to lead and organize the young African men and women prepared to fight for their survival.
A study of the various Black political organizations in the United States between the years 1960 and 1994 will reveal a number of "fighting formations." These formations were usually offshoots of larger organizations that had been further divided. As such, they were not primarily envisioned as fighting groups. This lack of original dedication to a "fighting mission" will help elucidate organizational strengths, weaknesses, and potentials (or loss of same). Not included in this study are the non-political Black fighting formations found amongst the street gangs, or those dedicated to criminal activity. However, they will be mentioned as they relate to the lost potential amongst Black political fighting formations. For the most concise writings on the philosophy of warfare (ultimate contributing factors, and the many and varied dynamics), we must look to Sun Tzu (ca. fifth century, BC) and Karl von Clausewitz (19th century, AD). Sun Tzu's The Art of War* and von Clausewitz's On War2 are widely recognized by military practitioners of all countries and races as two of the best volumes available. There have been many outstanding military practitioners of African descent: Thutmose III (the first imperial conqueror); Ramses II and Ramses III (consistent subduers of the barbarian and savage hordes of Europe and Asia); the Queens, Ann Nzinga, and (the) Candace(s) (Ethiopia and Angola); Hannibal Barca (of known fame); Shaka Zulu (warrior par excellence); Toussaint Louverture and Antonio Maceo (who outwitted and outfought vastly superior European armies in Haiti and Cuba). Also included among these are the outstanding guerrilla leaders amongst the maroons and the African anti-colonial fighters (it should, 1 2
Sun Tzu, The Art of War (New York: Oxford University Press, 1984). Karl von Clausewitz, On War (New York: Viking Press, 1983).
0739-3148/99/020157-13 Š 1999 Caucus for a New Political Science