I have decided to write my paper on “Scottsboro Alabama: a story in linoleum cuts,” by Lin Shi Khan and Tony Perez. Throughout the story, Khan and Perez imply that capitalism is what encouraged elite whites to exploit and abuse African Americans. The reason why Khan and Perez do so is because they wanted their audience to overthrow the capitalistic regime that was in place and replace it with a communist government.
On page 99, Khan and Perez provide an interesting image, which has a member of the Ku Klux Klan replacing the statue of liberty. In the member’s left hand, he is holding a lynching rope and in his right hand, he is holding an electric chair. At the bottom of his feet is a mirror image of a dollar sign. The dollar sign by the member’s feet is implying that capitalistic greed was the root of all atrocious acts against the African American population. The image also emphasizes how capitalism and its cruel acts, utilized to insure maximum profits, have replaced the guarantee of liberty and equality for all. At center of the member’s body is a swastika, which works to compare America’s capitalistic government to a fascist regime.
In succeeding pages, the Communist Party and the International Labor Defense are credited with spreading news of the Scottsboro trial and defending the Scottsboro teens. By doings so, Khan and Perez show that a Communist government would not discriminate against its people. Hence, persuading their audience to replace capitalistic ideals with communist principles.
I think this topic is really intriguing. I like how you made the connection that capitalism is like fascism in disguise, as if veiled by a "liberty" cover-up.
ReplyDeleteThis is some really great insight, kind of the direction I might go with my writing about the Scottsboro book as well. I noticed in this and some of the other prints that the point I think the author is trying to make is that capitalists, in order to remain in power/making profit off of labor, is to exploit, separate and segregate the working class with the (working class) whites like the KKK. It's like when you give a little bit of power to those who don't have any to make them (i.e. the whites in KKK or other racial patrol groups, maybe the police) seem like they are the ones in power. With certain whites being allotted limited power it separates those with "power" (whites) from blacks.. making union/solidarity more difficult.
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