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Elly Leary's avatar

Well, I guess I am just gonna say ditto to Carl D. Hope this great post goes far and wide, especially given the full onset of the Second Redemption era.

Ike Gittlen's avatar

thanks. underneath Greg was much more radical than he would talk about.

ALLEN CHOLGER's avatar

Ike, I appreciate your candid reflection of your teachable moment. If we are lucky we all come into contact with someone like Greg. Mine was a college friend who was a bit further along the path to awareness and radical understanding. I was a northern Michigan misfit with racial arrogance. He was older, smarter and more experienced. He also had a radio show and every Black radical on his dorm room walls. He called me out in front of a hallway full of people that I was signifying in front of. But instead of the expected return taunts, he invited me to sit and talk. I am forever grateful.

Carl Davidson's avatar

Excellent story, Ike. A case study of your work as one of Gramsci's 'organic intellectuals of the working class,' or what he called its 'permanent persuaders.' You show hw 'conflicted consciousness,' something we all share, operates in finding a new 'good sense' rooted in mutual respect on an American terrain. I'll steal it for the next issue of my newsletter.

Ike Gittlen's avatar

thanks. I wish you could have known Greg. He was an unusual person, very real, lots of charisma, quiet leadership ability and people really took to him.