Internal Colonialism and Ghetto Revolt

TLDR

The paper distinguishes colonization as a process from colonialism as a social system to isolate common features in the experiences of Afro‑Americans and other colonial peoples. It argues that white‑Black relations in America are fundamentally those of colonizer and colonized. The study examines urban riots, cultural nationalism, and ghetto control politics as contemporary movements, addressing dilemmas and ambiguities that arise when colonization occurs outside a colonial political context. It concludes by discussing the white role in ghettoization and decolonization.

Abstract

The paper explores the thesis that white-Black relations in America are essentially those of colonizer and colonized. The concept of colonization as a process is distinguished from colonialism as a social system in order to isolate the common features in the experience and situation of Afro-Americans and the colonial peoples. Three contemporary social movements are analyzed in this light: urban riots, cultural nationalism, and ghetto control politics. Some dilemmas within these movements are considered in terms of the ambiguities that exist when colonization has taken place outside of a colonial political context. The essay concludes with a brief discussion of the white role in ghettoization and decolonization.