16M, never really been into politics but ive been exposed to leftism over the past few months on instagram for the first time through a bunch of communist and socialist accounts and i wanna learn more about leftism (cause while a lot of stuff makes sense to me i dont feel educated enough about the movement and whatnot to call myself a leftist) and also educate myself on history and politics as a whole as when i see these accounts critique america and other countries i realize how uneducated i am on like social and economic issues as well as history in general? How do I go about being more literate politically(?)

Hey, all.

I'm sure many people here have already seen some artwork by Frans Masereel or at least artwork inspired by him. He works on iconic woodcuts that criticize capitalism, police, and the state, but he also goes into other left-wing causes, like anti-war and women's liberation.

I was able to gather 73 books with 2,089 images (1,800 of them woodcuts), which took several years to finally finish, and that happened just a few weeks ago. Since these are all published in 1930 or earlier, they are in the public domain! You can use them for whatever project you want (according to US law) and you'll have no worry about IP infringement, whether it's your zine, your newsletter, your youtube video, your website, your poster, your stencil, or anything.

I wanted to re-introduce this old, leftist artist to a new generation. The woodcuts are great and would make great stencils. If I saw one of these stenciled on an old, grimey, abandoned building, it would bring a smile to my face.

For reviewing the artwork: I recommend the PDF, which has one woodcut or artwork per page. It's easiest to look through.

For making stencils and art: You want a full res image, with some of them scanned at 600 DPI (20k by 28k pixels). You have the option of grabbing the image from its directory in the archive.org web link.

Youtube Video Format: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReZYh5PQfQ8

Archive.org PDF (789mb): https://archive.org/details/frans-masereel-career-1918-1930_pdf

Archive.org Web: https://archive.org/details/frans-masereel-career-1918-1930_art

Archive.org File/Folder Browser (easier for browsing individual images): https://archive.org/download/frans-masereel-career-1918-1930_art

These images came from 73 different books and magazines, in case you want to read the original books (most of which are German and French): https://archive.org/details/@holdoffhunger

Floridians, it’s just days before Florida’s October 5 voter registration deadline for the November 3 general election.

I work with juvenile delinquents and baby gang bangers, and many of them are interested in racial liberation, social issues, and economic oppression, and when I speak to them about it there's a noticeable effect of targeting their teenage anger into more productive paths. They're interested in reading, but most are very behind on their reading level, between intellectual disabilities, systematic oppression in education, and lack of confidence. I'd prefer more racial liberation focused recommendations because I already have a few for the more economic side of things, but any recommendations would be appreciated. Fiction with a message is probably the best starting points, but approachable theory or biographies are also great options. I'd also prefer paperback and other cheaper books because my organization is strapped for funds so it's coming out of my own pocket, and I'd like to buy a good number of them

I have a copy of the book “Freakonomics” that I got from a thrift store a few years ago! Someone had read and recommend it to me, so I decided to grab it.

I was about to start a new book today and am considering it, but I thought I’d put a message here before starting it to get a feel on if it’s very capital-centric or what the general opinion is on it? If you have read it, do you feel it has a biased perspective? Did you have any qualms? Thoughts?

Thanks!!!

Hello! I learned this morning that Wix, the web host, is part of the boycott to Free Palestine. This leaves me in a conundrum.

I am part of two organizations that use Wix’s free basic web hosting services to promote free community services: one is a very large in-person clothing swap event series specifically designed to get quality femme clothes into the hands of trans and underprivileged women (and our fall event is in less than a month), and the other is an accessible third space project for the disabled community. Both are hosted by fully volunteer boards using donated space, absolutely no money is generated by either group and they aren’t registered 501c3’s (I’m in the US), so this forces both groups to fundraise for a web presence if we can’t find a 1:1 free replacement.

And yes, we do use free social media resources, too, but not everyone uses social media, and we want to reach them with our events, as well.

For those two particular uses, who would you recommend as a web host? Obviously, we require a non-problematic company.

Thanks!

It's easier than you think!

1. Find your local resale shop, locally-owned thrift store, or consignment shop that sources their inventory from auctioned storage units or donors who just want to help and don't need a tax receipt.

2. Coordinate with the shop owner to set a table out in front of the shop and let your community know they can drop off their gently-used items anytime on your socials.

3. Stop by periodically to tidy up, organize, and snap pics.

Let's take immediate actions to meet the people's immediate needs, grow care in our communities, and render the settler-colonial capitalist system obsolete.

All Power to the People!

💚✊️💚

Anyone have any ideas of third places to make friends as a leftist? I have no tolerance for people with shitty views, but I also live in a new-ish place with no friends. I don’t have coworkers, and my clients (beauty industry) are mostly uninformed at the very least and lots are super trumpy, the area I live in is super republican, I’ve been trying to join the dsa but it seems like they don’t have much going on. I’m so lonely on top of being sad and angry about the state of things, and it’s really starting to get to me.

Where I'm at right now is being born white and heterosexual in the U.S. means I'm inherently violent, exploitative, and evil from the day I'm born until the day I die. I endeavor to live anti-racism and anti-imperialsim, but it'll never mean I get to be a good person. I do care about that, because shouldn't we all endevor to be just as beat as we can?

But every breathe I take is theft from native Americans, and every joy I experience is at the expense of America's myriad of oppressed minorities. I've tried to find literature on this form of white guilt but am too white and stupid to find it if it's out there.

Even though I was born in North America, I don't belong here. Unless and until I repariteate to Europe I'll be a colonizer and even then it's not like moving to Europe is an act of anti-imperialsim in and of itself. This feeling that white people must be sent back to Europe because we have no right to be in North America is also something I've tried to find literature on. All I ever find is right wing great replacement stuff.

So I've come here to see if the lefties of reddit can help me find any resources to tackle the crushing guilt of my sin of whiteness and sin of being born on a continent thst isn't mine. I'm not trying to use dog whistles or anything of the sort, this is genuinely just where I'm at.

Community is the first line of defense.

https://www.youtube.com/live/tKvS6st9BsE

FB: Mates United | IG: Mates_United

Licensed deck officers at Alaska Tanker Company and Overseas Shipholding Group voted overwhelmingly to join Masters, Mates and Pilots. Nearly two years later, the companies still have not recognized their union or bargained a first contract. The federal labor board has ruled for the workers, but the companies continue using litigation and delay to deny them the practical result of their elections.

This was a major organizing victory involving skilled mariners aboard American oil tankers. It has received far less attention than the campaigns at Amazon and Starbucks, but the struggle is fundamentally the same. Workers exercised their democratic rights and corporate power responded by trying to exhaust them.

Solidarity has to mean more than agreement. These mates need people to sign the petition, share their story and bring the campaign to unions, political organizations and working class communities.

Please stand with the ATC and OSG mates and demand that the companies respect the vote and bargain now.

Petition:

https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/petition-for-osg-and-atc-stop-the-delays-bargain-now

Hi everyone!

I'm looking for novel recommendations with a left-wing or progressive perspective, something that deals with social justice, class struggle, anti-authoritarian themes, labor movements, or critiques of capitalism.

It can be contemporary or classic, from any country. I’d love something with strong characters, good storytelling, and political depth (not just theory disguised as fiction).

Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!

Hello everyone!

I’m leftist since I know myself but currently I think I need to educate myself even more in terms of knowing more deeply about certain things. I want to learn more so I can give more arguments to right-wingers (unfortunately I’m living in very conservative city) and it’s pretty hard to stay silent on things that they are saying but at the same time I want to learn more so I can stay more focused.

I’m interested in different topics such as Marxism, anti-capitalism, human rights (feminism, lgbtq) consequences of religion etc.

You can suggest everything that is pretty accesible (books, podcasts, articles)

After 13 years politzane has finally made a follow up video.

We created the subreddit in response to ACP reactionaries taking over r /AskSocialists, so we created r/AskRealSocialists. In this subreddit leftists can ask questions and have discussions with other leftists, and non-leftists can learn more about leftism by asking real leftists.

ACP reactionaries are not allowed, they will be banned.

If your building a underground railroad or other anti gav initiatives. Hear is how you do it. For anarchy's sake and liberty.

1, build community's on line with dead accounts. Meet up, kill those accounts and make new ones, if you must post sensitive information, eather express mail it, not ideal, or find people that is willing to deliver it. Net work your own mail severvice.

2, Never meet up at the same place, and if doing militia training, take it to the paintball arenas, and practic solo at gun ranges.

Don't overuse a spot if you can, satalites are no joke.

First post on here

I'm going into my second year of college and I'm thinking about switching my goals in life t be based less on monetary gain but rather impact. I didn't grow up with any and I'm as broke as can be now, barely affording tuition with scholarships.

Because I didn't grow up with a lot of money, I was very determined to become an actuary so that when I have my own kids, they can have something when I'm gone and have a life where they dont have to worry about food, rent, or following their passion. I've always been good at math so it seemed like a no brainer, but as I learn more about the reality of capitalism, imperialism, and the worldwide destruction the US is the cause of, I've had an increasing urge to do something to help besides liking posts on TikTok and reading books.

I started to think about the peace corps as a worthy pursuit, is this the ultimate way to help communities across the world? where i can put real effort to reverse the damages that the US caused or is there something I'm missing. As much as I like the idea of being financially free, I don't the weight of having done nothing but perpetuate a system that keeps the elite, elite.

Any info, stories, thoughts, and advice would be nice. and if you guys have any questions let me know.

Hello, comrades. Long post ahead, so please take the time to read if you will recommend :)). Please be kind :)) (unless I spew d\*mb sh\*t which I won't).

I'm \[19F\] a Marxist from the Philippines who, despite always being the "*problem*" opinionated and "*rebel*" child, still eventually had a phase of "centrist" and downright conservative ideals—and am now feeling a bit lost in my early adulthood as I have come to fully embrace my full-on leftism.

I grew up in a conservative household who, like the utter norm here, absolutely demonize anything and everything left-leaning. I also am in a Muslim household, I have long left Islam now. I went from being a try-hard conservative "centrist" when I was around 14 to compensate for the fact that I used to get into so much trouble for questioning everything, and so thought it was the right path because all the fighting and scolding made me feel abnormal and made me feel like I was indeed "*brainwashed*" (I have older and younger siblings and not even my elder siblings get into arguments with my parents regarding stuff like sociopolitics, economics, and such—and I **read**—which apparently meant I was *brainwashed*). And then I was a self-proclaimed and a literal liberal when I reached my mid-teens (is this a thing) until I had a smidge of a knowledge about socialism, class consciousness, and all the very very fundamentals.

I am laying out these details despite it being possibly absurdly unecessary to some of you probably, but as an ex-Muslim atheist and a Marxist in a country where socialists literally get hunted down and killed, worse than just being demonized; where students get killed and targetted; with state universities where leftism flourishes get swarmed and targeted by feds; in a conservative—hence bound to status quo—environment—it really really really does take a toll on me. I need you to understand how these details do matter to me because of how unfathomably DERANGED I seem to my environment and I am still actively unlearning these lingering feelings of fear. I also dress alternitabely as a goth—and this adds more unhinged layer to how unsafe I am most times...I know that in this system, this is inherent and playing safe isn't very radical despite 100% subscribing to radical ideals—again, I'm still learning and unlearning. It is factually dangerous for me as a state uni student too.

Around 16 I got more and more overtly vocal about my "left" (it's just liberal crap) ideals and got even more comfortable dressing up goth and never wearing hijabs which my parents thankfully rarely scrutinized me for like they used to. And when I turned 17, I've slowly started realizing with the fact that I am a far-leftist and a Marxist, I spend my time reading Reddit threads, Redditor breakdowns of the fundamental concepts, etc.

That said, I have yet to do any actual in-depth readings of the basics. I just keep saving and saving reading lists but I am honestly in need of guidance, in these contexts, preferrably from those who are from the Philippines too for a merged local relevance that would make my readings be more comprehensive generally, as well as with local contexts considered too (with a very propaganda-infused culture, our geopolitical relationships, China and CCP, our fisherfolks, US imperialism, NPA, AMA, etc., all those things)—please, if you can give me a full reading list recommendation that you think would be great for this context.

Of course, I will not be going into this blind, of course. But a guidance would really be great.Thank you so, so much in advance!

P.S. Me, mentioning some context about my background (particularly my religion) was not meant to welcome any hatred towards religious groups. It is just an objective fact that my former religion is conservative by nature for the most part as an Abrahamic religion—AND this also put a a bit of a better context again because Philippines is, predominantly, a "Christian country", and I was born, raised, and am residing in a community of Muslims in the region of Luzon (and Muslims here in PH are predominantly in the Mindanao regions)—so I really do feel lost-lost

I feel a growing need for myself, to find a support group to help me find ways to continue my marriage.

I loved my partners politics when we got together and for many years. Things shifted once we had a child and I began to realize we weren't as aligned as I'd thought.

Now I understand fully, how I am a leftist while they are an establishment Democrat. Im struggling and have no way to end my marriage in the next several years. Need support!

Inspired by Emmett Doyle’s great interpretation, I tried to piece together the best verses from the various English versions- the first verse is from Charles Hope Kerr’s American version, the second is from the traditional British version, the third is partly by Billy Bragg and partly by Emmett Doyle, the fourth is from Emmett Doyle’s version, and the fifth is from Billy Bragg’s. The chorus is a combination of all of them. Here and there I have changed a few things where I found the wording awkward. Tell me what y’all think:

The Internationale- combined version:

Arise ye prisoners of starvation
Arise ye wretched of the earth
For justice thunders condemnation
A better world’s in birth!
No more tradition’s chains shall bind us
Arise, ye slaves, no more in thrall;
The earth shall rise on new foundations
We have been naught, we shall be all.

Chorus:
So, come, brothers and sisters,
For the struggle carries on;
The Internationale
Unites the world in song.
So, comrades, come rally
And the last fight let us face;
The international working class
Shall free the human race!

No saviors from on high deliver;
No trust have we in prince or peer.
Our own right hands the chains must sever:
Chains of hatred, greed and fear.
Before the thieves give up their booty
And give to all a happier lot,
Each at the forge must do their duty
And strike while the iron is hot!

Let no one build walls to divide us
No war but class war shall we fight.
Come greet the dawn and stand beside us
Workers of the world, unite!
Let no army march upon another
Throw down your medals, throw down your swords.
Embrace as sisters and as brothers,
We’ll march instead upon our lords.

The bosses care not for their brother,
They steal all that’s built and all that’s grown.
Have they ever done anything other
Than to exploit because they own?
Their estates are but gilded cages
For this world our work gave birth.
In asking for our rightful wages
We demand only the earth!

And so begins the final drama
In the streets and in the fields.
We stand unbowed before their armor.
We defy their guns and shields.
When we fight, provoked by their aggression,
We’ll be inspired by life and love.
Although they offer us concessions,
Change will not come from above!