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Steven Biko once said, “The most powerful weapon of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed.” What Biko meant was that when those who are subjugated, internalize the opinions of those who are oppressing them then they will become part and parcel of that system and even go so far as to defend the system that oppresses them.

Long-time organizer and educator Chris Crass in his new book, Towards Collective Liberation, lays bare the ways in which entrenched power structures like white supremacy and patriarchy affect even the most progressive, politically radical groups and individuals. Crass, who has been involved in social justice movements for over two decades, gives a historical analysis of how a forward thinking group like Food Not Bombs was plagued by race and gender issues and how they labored to address it.

Crass also lays bare the ways in which he himself had been trapped within racist and sexist ways of thinking as a white man of privilege who has grown up within the system. Towards Collective Liberation offers clear solutions to address race and gender discrimination and create political movements which embrace all people including people of color and women.

GUEST: Chris Crass, organizer, educator, and writer, worked with Food Not Bombs, and helped launch the Catalyst Project, co-founded the Colors of Resistance network and the Heads-up Collective, and was a member of the Against Patriarchy Men’s Group. Crass’ new book is titled “Towards Collective Liberation: Anti-Racist Organizing, Feminist Praxis, and Movement Building Strategy”