The Uprising (Full Film, Spanish subtitles)

Key Concepts

• Colonized Education: The imposition of a Eurocentric worldview that erases or diminishes the history and contributions of non-white people.
• Resistance: Active opposition to oppression, colonialism, and imposed inferiority.
• Cuauhtemoc's Speech: A critique of European Enlightenment as "darkness" for colonized people, emphasizing cultural preservation.
• Civilization of Death: A system that destroys the spirit and identity of colonized people, not just physical life.
• State Racism: Systemic racism embedded in institutions and policies.
• Decolonizing the Mind: Analyzing and dismantling the mechanisms of colonial ideology.
• Theological Racism: Justification of superiority/inferiority based on religious beliefs.
• Biological Racism: Justification of superiority/inferiority based on race and biology.
• Cultural Racism: Justification of superiority/inferiority based on cultural norms and values.
• Nation-State: A political entity based on the idea of a unified nation with a shared language, culture, and identity.
• Swart Piet (Black Pete): A Dutch Christmas character seen as a racist caricature of enslaved Africans.
• BDS (Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions): A movement promoting boycotts, divestments, and sanctions against Israel for its policies towards Palestinians.
• Revolutionary Love: Love for oneself, one's community, and humanity as a motivation for fighting injustice.

Resistance Against Colonized Education

The speaker begins by discussing how colonized education in England led them to believe that black people passively accepted slavery and colonialism. They emphasize the importance of recognizing the history of resistance, organization, and self-liberation among enslaved and colonized people. The speaker asserts that for every act of oppression, there is an act of resistance.

Cuauhtemoc's Message of Resistance

The speaker highlights the story of Aztec emperor Cuauhtemoc as a powerful example of resistance. Cuauhtemoc, after being defeated by the Spaniards, delivered a message to his people, recognizing the significance of the defeat.

• Key Quote: "Our Sun has gone down, our Sun has been lost from view and has left us in complete darkness."
• Cuauhtemoc contrasted the European Enlightenment with the "darkness" it represented for colonized people.
• He urged his people to preserve their culture, values, and knowledge within their homes and communities.
• He specifically called on mothers and fathers to teach their children about their heritage.
• He expressed hope that "one day the Sun will rise again," signifying a future moment for a new world civilization.
• Cuauhtemoc recognized the need to adapt resistance strategies to the current context of oppression.

Contemporary Resistance and the Civilization of Death

The speaker observes constant, persistent, and organized resistance against the "target system" and the "white power structure" in Europe.

• This resistance is against systemic racism, the exploitation of non-white people, and the "demonization of the human."
• The speaker defines the "civilization of death" as an attempt to break the spirit and identity of people, not just physical killing.
• The political group involved in this resistance includes black people, Africans, people from the West Indies, Arab and Muslim people, Asian people, and Roma people – all those suffering from "state racism."
• The current era is described as one of "decolonizing the mind," analyzing the mechanisms of oppression to fight the "Enlightenment of the white you."

The Origins and Evolution of Racism

The speaker argues that systems of racism, as ideological systems, were developed and elaborated in Europe, with Europeans placing themselves at the top of a hierarchy and people of color at the bottom.

• Racism began with colonialism and the European ambition to destroy other civilizations.
• Historical Context: 1492 is a crucial date, marking the defeat of Muslim rulers in Granada, Spain, and the beginning of European colonial expansion.
• Columbus's voyages were funded after the fall of Granada, enabling the Spanish crown to pursue conquest.
• The fall of Granada marked the end of a multicultural society and the beginning of the imposition of Christian theology and a single national identity.
• Diversity was replaced by uniformity, leading to the concept of the nation-state.

The Debate of Valladolid and the Transatlantic Slave Trade

The speaker discusses the treatment of indigenous people in the Americas and the subsequent debate of Valladolid.

• The Spanish killed and enslaved indigenous people in massive numbers.
• The debate of Valladolid (circa 1550) involved Sepúlveda and Bartolomé de las Casas, debating the morality of the conquest.
• Sepúlveda argued that indigenous people could be enslaved because they were "barbarians" and not Christian.
• Las Casas, while advocating for humane treatment, still viewed indigenous people as intellectually inferior and in need of Christianization.
• Las Casas proposed importing enslaved Africans to address the labor shortage caused by the decline of the indigenous population, leading to the transatlantic slave trade.

Dimensions of Colonialism

The speaker outlines five dimensions of colonialism:

1. Economic: Wealth extracted from colonized lands was transferred to colonizers.
2. Political: Colonizers established administrations run by white people.
3. Social: Social relations were organized based on race, with white people at the top.
4. Cultural: A new form of knowledge production emerged, with Western knowledge seen as superior. This included "enslavement of the mind" and "colonization of the mind."
5. Geographical: The creation of a global world economy through the transatlantic slave trade and plantation systems.

The Legacy of Colonialism and Forms of Racism

The speaker discusses the legacy of colonialism and the evolution of racism.

• Racism is not just individual prejudice but a system of human classification that divides the world into superior and inferior races.
• Three Phases of Racism:
  • 1492-1650 (Theological Racism): Justification based on religious differences (Christians vs. non-Christians).
  • 1650-1850 (Biological Racism): Justification based on race and color, with European philosophers elaborating racist ideas.
  • 1850-Present (Cultural Racism): Justification based on cultural differences, with Western cultures seen as advanced and non-Western cultures as backward. This is evident in contemporary Islamophobia.

The Colonial World and the Nation-State

The speaker argues that we still live in a colonial world, even without direct colonial administrations in many places.

• The European concept of the nation-state, with its emphasis on a single nation, language, and culture, was imposed on diverse colonized regions.
• Political organizations in Europe demand that immigrant identities conform to the nation-state, leading to racism.
• The nation-state faces a "crisis of diversity" as it struggles to integrate people of color with different religions, languages, and values.
• Questioning Dutch colonial legacy involves questioning Dutch identity.

Examples of Colonial Legacy: Swart Piet and Indonesian Independence

The speaker provides examples of how colonial history is distorted in the Netherlands.

• Swart Piet (Black Pete): The celebration of Swart Piet is seen as a racist caricature tied to slavery, despite claims that it is a harmless cultural tradition.
• Indonesian Independence: The Dutch celebrate the end of negotiations with Indonesia (December 27th) rather than recognizing Indonesia's declaration of independence (August 17th), revealing a reluctance to acknowledge their colonial past.

The Construction of Lies and Erasure of Resistance

The speaker argues that Western narratives are presented as objective and impartial, but they are often untrue.

• Example: A teacher calling Palestinians "soap bubbles" who "always blow themselves up" is dehumanizing and erases the history of Palestinian resistance.
• Colonial narratives erase the memory of resistance by not teaching the names, events, and strategies of resistance leaders.
• Five Techniques for Creating Lies:
  1. Using Terminology that Covers Up the Truth: E.g., calling colonial banditry "entrepreneurship."
  2. Using Only Some Facts to Distort the World: E.g., compensating slave owners but not enslaved people after abolition.
  3. Denying the Existence of Indigenous Populations: E.g., claiming "there is no such thing as Palestine."
  4. Creating a Narrative of Lies with General and Specific Elements: E.g., emphasizing abolition in the UK, egalité in France, denial in the Netherlands, and "benevolent colonialism" in Spain and Portugal.
  5. Leaving Ethics Out of the Story: Focusing on "true or false" rather than "good or bad."

Decolonizing the Mind and Attacking Lies

The speaker emphasizes that mental slavery involves accepting lies, and decolonizing the mind involves attacking these lies.

• It would be unacceptable to have a Hitler street or statue in Amsterdam because people recognize his crimes against humanity.
• Mental slavery is about accepting those lies.

Recognizing the Incomplete Narrative and Western Civilization's Claims

The speaker discusses the consequences of colonialism and the need for Europe to recognize its self-delusions.

• The narrative is incomplete because it doesn't speak about slavery or the colonial past.
• Black people are in Europe because Europe was in Africa and the Americas, not because Europe is civilized and advanced.
• Historical narratives shape the present and future, conditioning people's views of the world.
• The Palestine narrative often portrays Arabs and Muslims as terrorists.
• Democracy must be redefined to include people of color.

Western Civilization's Hypocrisy and the Need for Decolonization

The speaker criticizes Western civilization for claiming achievements as its own while attributing failures to "the human."

• Western civilization has caused unprecedented death and destruction, mismanaging ecological systems and causing mass fatalities.
• A long-term process of decolonization is needed.

Uniting the Plantations and Building Alliances

The speaker emphasizes the need for unity among people of color and alliances between different groups engaged in decolonization work.

• Colonialism divides and rules, preventing communication and solidarity between different groups.
• People of color must become a political force and build alliances based on shared goals.
• There must be a focus on developing broad-based unity on fundamental issues.
• The struggle against Black Pete is related to the struggle against Zionism in Palestine and other struggles for liberation.

Organizing People of Color and Political Expression

The speaker highlights the importance of organizing people of color and gaining political expression.

• Communities of color in the Netherlands have made tremendous progress.
• The struggle against Black Pete has evolved into a broader fight for democracy, free speech, and political rights.
• Political parties like DENK provide political expression for marginalized communities.

Legal Processes and Reparations

The speaker discusses the role of legal processes in telling untold stories and the issue of reparations.

• Legal processes can open the door to telling stories that couldn't be told otherwise.
• The legal process started by Jeffrey Pondaag against the Dutch state has revealed more information about colonial history.
• The discussion about reparations is now on the agenda, highlighting the hypocrisy of the Dutch demanding reparations from colonized people but refusing to pay reparations themselves.

Strategies for Resistance: BDS and Collective Mobilization

The speaker outlines various strategies for resistance, including the BDS movement and collective mobilization.

• The BDS movement is a nonviolent way to demand rights and bring down the State of Israel.
• Organizations like EuroPalestine and Students for Justice in Palestine organize demonstrations, lectures, and academic boycotts.
• Collective social mobilization and organization are essential.

The March of Dignity and Strategic Thinking

The speaker discusses the March of Dignity in Paris, led by women of color, as a strategic way to deliver a message against police crimes.

• The march aimed to make visible the presence and concerns of black and Arab communities in the center of Paris.
• Strategic thinking is crucial in the decolonial struggle.

Confrontation and Intimidation

The speaker emphasizes that social struggle involves confrontation and that those involved should be prepared for intimidation.

• People who speak out are often personally attacked, with the criminal turned into the victim and vice versa.
• Protesters against Black Pete are criminalized, while those who block civil rights are seen as defenders of Dutch culture.
• Accusations of anti-Semitism, Islamophobia, and anti-white racism are used to silence dissent.
• This is a form of repression aimed at discouraging others from standing up.

Divide and Rule and the Importance of Solidarity

The speaker warns against the divide-and-rule tactics used by oppressors and emphasizes the importance of solidarity.

• Narratives are created to incite hate and tension between different communities.
• People need to remember how oppressors work and resist the pressure to self-censor.

The Spirit of Resistance and Celebrating Victories

The speaker emphasizes the importance of the spirit of resistance and celebrating every victory, however small.

• Non-white people are not alone in their struggle.
• Resistance forces oppressors to react.
• It is important to celebrate every victory to maintain momentum and hope.

Freedom and Spiritual Fortitude

The speaker discusses the concept of freedom and the importance of spiritual fortitude.

• The Palestinians, who have endured immense suffering, serve as an inspiration.
• Our biggest strength is within; with spiritual fortitude, we cannot be defeated.

Revolutionary Love and Long-Term Struggle

The speaker emphasizes the importance of revolutionary love and a long-term perspective in the decolonial struggle.

• Revolutionary love involves loving ourselves, having confidence, and not hating our enemies.
• We must fight against racism but still treat white people with humanity, recognizing that they have been deformed by the institution of color and ethnicity.
• The decolonial struggle is a long-term project that requires thinking in terms of centuries.

Training the Next Generation and Resisting Self-Censorship

The speaker emphasizes the importance of training the next generation and resisting self-censorship.

• Leaders must focus on developing structures that can reproduce over a prolonged period of time.
• People should not self-censor because that achieves the oppressor's goal.

Historical Examples of Liberation and the Power of Mobilization

The speaker cites historical examples of liberation, such as Haiti, Vietnam, and Algeria, and emphasizes the power of mobilization.

• Social struggle is effective, and progress has been made through the sacrifices of those who fought the narrative.

Inspiring Figures and the Importance of Remembrance

The speaker lists inspiring figures who fought against oppression and emphasizes the importance of remembrance.

• Figures like Cuauhtemoc, Angela Davis, Malcolm X, and Martin Luther King serve as sources of inspiration and pride.
• We need to remember these names and stories to build our power and empower our community.

Building a New Civilization Based on Diversity

The speaker discusses the possibility of building a new civilization based on diversity and drawing on concepts from various cultures.

• We must move from a world based on universalism to a world based on diversity.
• Indigenous concepts like Pachamama and ideas from Muslim, Hindu, and African civilizations can contribute to this new civilization.
• This new civilization would recognize multiple nations within a single state.

The End Game of Colonialism and a Bright Future

The speaker concludes by emphasizing that we are in the end game of colonialism and that we have a bright future.

• The Western Enlightenment is going down, and the Sun of the colonized people will rise again.
• The decolonial movement is gaining ground across the globe.
• We are here because you were there, and we will remain here forever.