(1921-2001)
Revolutionary Métis Marxist scholar and professor Howard Adams grew up in a Métis community in Saskatchewan. He was a leader in the struggle for Indigenous rights, selfdetermination, and socialism.
Racism is one of the most serious problems that faces us. Since it is part of the capitalist system, we will always be discriminated against as long as this kind of society is in power. It is impossible in every way to be integrated into the white mainstream society of Canada. A racist society cannot integrate Native people into the mainstream, even if the white people want integration. As far as Canadian society is concerned, Halfbreeds are Indians. We are only kidding ourselves by thinking because we are half white that we are half way into white mainstream society. As Halfbreeds, we are discriminated against, and shut out from the white society just as seriously as any Indian.
As a result of these conditions, it is quite impossible for Native people to obtain any real success in the white man’s capitalistic society, that is, in terms of getting control of our reserves and communities, of being free from discrimination and racism, of getting full employment or a decent standard of living, or of being free and equal people. Therefore, our struggle is to change the capitalist system, and thereby get rid of the conditions that control and oppress us.
Excerpt from "The Need for a Revolutionary Struggle" in New Breed Magazine(1972)
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