Decades in the Struggle - Interview with Mike Harris

Yikes, that's me, "syndicalist", from here on Libcom.

Thank you for the honor, and for even thinking there was something worthwhile to share. I am deeply moved. Candidly, was unprepared for the interview and spoke verbatim, without notes nor did I clock watch. I spent way too much time on the personal, on the early years and no time (really) on most of the 1980s-2000s (with my WSA membership ending in 2023). Very deficient. I blame myself, not the interviewer. All on me. So, yeah, I hope to write something sometime in the not so distant future. Because my political life and activities have not ended, as I continue on as an independent anarcho-syndicalist.

Maybe there is a lot of "feel good" in this interview, I dunno. Hard to "read" oneself. And,of course, not everything has been that.

In the end, I hope I was able to share a few words of advice, And, for me, I can see that it has largely been worth it all these years. Again, thank you for thinking any of this as being worth of sharing.

The struggle continues.

Ok, start throwing the tomatoes.

PS: I mention how Libcom.org is a treasure of information (while mentioning "The North American Anarchist" newspaper, archived here on libcom).

Thanks for the plug! Look forward to checking this out when I have some time.
Is there a transcript of this anywhere? Would be good to get it up in the library

Actually that entire series of interviews look super interesting, including a couple from other libcom users, including Battlescarred and Anarcho: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCq8fVt2SKfbwH2ZoucpxAZA 

That's great to hear

I'd be curious if anyone watched this or the other videos? Always be happy to answer any questions or continue with the observations.

Thanks for the interview syndicalist. Have only watched parts of them, but the video series looks interesting as Steve said. It's always nice to have the perspectives of people who have been involved in radical politics for quite some time. The '60s-'70s time period in the US is particularly interesting to me given its significance (e.g. the emergence of the Yippies and groups like the Weather Underground and Black Panther Party) and lasting influence on American culture and left-wing politics. I'm also surprised by the range of people interviewed in this series; it seems there are interviews with people like Bill Ayers (co-founder of the Weather Underground) and John Zerzan. Definitely a historically important collection of videos/interviews.

As far as interviewees/"radical celebrities" go, it would also be interesting to hear from people like Judy Gumbo, an activist who was heavily involved in the Youth International Party. She contributed to Yippie statements like their "Yippie-Panther Pact," even though her name doesn't appear on it. According to her, Hoffman also apparently didn't even contribute to the statement even though his name is listed on it.

One element of her experience with the Yippies that she recalls with bitterness was the sexism of the male leadership. In October 1968, the Berkeley Barb, an underground newspaper for which Gumbo worked selling sex ads, published a “Yippie/Panther Pact” promoting an alliance between Black and white activists. Although Gumbo had helped to draft the pact, her name was not among the signers at the bottom. “Abbie’s name appeared and he wasn’t even present when we wrote it!” she writes. “I had been marginalized.”

They should definitely see about interviewing her if they're still doing interviews; the Yippies were definitely "anarchist-adjacent," much more so than the Weather Underground in my opinion.

Right quick.... the interview process was largely "word of mouth". For example, a few people were known to the project organizers, we were contacted and then "we" made suggestions.

Personally speaking, I was largely interested in having anarcho-syndicalists who I've known for a long time interviewed (and fit within the parameters of the project). As this is "my world" and want to see it represented and recorded. Many people I reached out to did not want to speak on tape. And I suspect this may have been the case for others as well.

Seemingly it was a limited funded project to be completed within a shortish period of time. I suspect they simply also ran out of time and resources.

I am not sure if there will be a "part two" round of interviews, it would be good if there were. And I would suggest if there are additional people who should be interviewed, perhaps contact the project organizers. Or privately contact me and I'd be happy to transmit whatever you would like transmitted to the project organizers. Or simply introduce you to the project organizers if desired.

Upon reflection, I certainly hope that my participation in the project will act as a motivator to do some small future in-depth writing. As I did not work from notes, literally from “on the fly” memory, there was a lot I left out!

In the end, I’m just happy to have been able to share some of my life and experiences. Incomplete, sorta rambly, yes, for sure. And I’m glad that people even wanted to listen, faults and all. Whether they like what I had to say, like me or completely the opposite, matters not. And, in the end, I suspect I covered the things that I got personal satisfaction from. And those who mean the most to me. And did so with sincerity and humility.

great interview Mitch, and the project is a great idea overall.

Hey there Petey..... long time, no hear! Hoping all's well on your end. Thanks for the comment!
Take good care! Solidarity!