Symposium: Truth and revolution

A symposium on Michael Staudenmaier's Truth and Revolution: A History of the Sojourner Truth Organization, 1969–1986. From Insurgent Notes #7.

Submitted by Juan Conatz on October 16, 2012

In May of this year, AK Press published Michael Staudenmaier's Truth and Revolution: A History of the Sojourner Truth Organization, 1969–1986. Sojourner Truth Organization was most often known as and spoken of as STO.

Insurgent Notes invited members of STO that we were able to contact and individuals of organization that we knew had been influenced by one or more of the aspects of STO's theory or practice to respond to a series of questions:

For STO members:

1. What aspects of the STO history do you think that MS most accurately captured and which aspects, if any, do you think that he might have missed?

2. What do you think are the lessons of the history of STO for today's revolutionaries, including those of you who still consider yourselves as such?
3. What else, if anything, would you like to say about the organization or the book?

For those who have been influenced by the organization:

1. What aspects of the history, as presented by MS, were most surprising and why?

2. What do you think are the lessons of the history of STO for today's revolutionaries?

3. What would you have liked to learn more about?

Not surprisingly, our respondents didn't always answer the questions we asked. But what they wrote is well worth reading. We look forward to further discussions on the book and on the politics of the Sojourner Truth Organization.

We have arranged the submissions of STO members more or less in the order of their entry into the organization. The comments of non-members are not organized in any special fashion.

Originally posted: October 15, 2012 at Insurgent Notes

Comments

syndicalist

12 years 1 month ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by syndicalist on October 16, 2012

I always enjoy folks taking first hand. So this is of interest. Always good to see how people view their past, what they think they gained or lost and so forth. I'm not a fan of STO, but folks should prolly give these accounts a read.

syndicalist

12 years 1 month ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by syndicalist on November 6, 2012

Interesting review:

http://www.solidarity-us.org/site/node/3710

Juan Conatz

12 years 1 month ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by Juan Conatz on November 12, 2012

Added the last two parts to this, which somehow I had forgotten.

syndicalist

6 years 11 months ago

In reply to by libcom.org

Submitted by syndicalist on January 7, 2018

Just got a copy. Started reading. Had to move from the theoretical stuff to the other stuff. Theory makes the eyes glaze. So I'll come back to it after I read the rest. I was surprised that the book is as long as it is. Seems at least well written.