Greetings Blair,

i take it that you mean rasta in this case so I will confine myself to that issue. I suppose i would take issue at the outset of considering myself to be 'within' anything, this implies a degree of organisation and singleness of purpose that I just dont see in rasta. As i have stated before this is for me a livity, not a label or a religion, although i am perfectly open to the concept that others may see things differently.

As to what Marcus might have thought, well his writings are fairly explicit, and would seem to indicate that he quite sensibly thought that the black liberation struggle should be by, for, and about black people. I suppose if individual white folk have specific skils to offer, or knowledge that is useful then it would be pragmatic to take advantage of that, although there are probably precious few occasions for that to happen.

My role 'within' this struggle, if you choose to couch things in these terms, is more an internal one. My goal is to get to the roots of the racism (and sexism, and whatever else-ism) that may stil exist in my own conciousness, as part of my overall trod along the path to the heights. Also, due to my job as a lecturer, I can also help to educate, at least to some minor extent, other white people as to the continued reality of racism, and to the existance of black perspectives of things like history and sociology, which I can tell you can come as something of a revelation to many...

I am not even in the back seat of this movement, It is more the case that I am watching as the car goes past, and doing the little that I can to make sure nothing gets in the way. I dont think Marcus would have too many issues with that.

love and life
paul