A Direct Production Workers’ Workshop
A Direct Production Workers’ Workshop, led by Dan Nickerson (International Liberation Reference Person for Working-Class People), was held (on Zoom) in October. People from over fifteen different countries attended.
This was the land acknowledgment:
Before the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492, there were aboriginal communities in the Americas that could coexist with nature. They were able to identify which plants to take for food and which for medicine. They had an advanced way of life in which the family was a key unit.
I also want to acknowledge the presence at this meeting of people from Africa and of African heritage. Four hundred years ago, our brothers and sisters were taken as slaves and sold all over the world. In contrast, between three and five thousand years ago, African people in Sudan and Egypt constructed the pyramids—one of the architectural miracles of the world. Over three thousand years ago, Ethiopians discovered the binary concept—which is widely applied today in computers and which the Ethiopians have never gotten credit for.
My tribe is Gikuyu, my language is Kikuyu, my second language is Kiswahili, and my colonial language is English. I’m proud that I can speak my own language and that I’m able to practice my culture.
Kamau Gacheru
Nairobi, Kenya
The workshop was an eye opener. I benefited so much. I was able to identify the effects of class oppression, war, genocide, “mental health” oppression, and more. As a working-class person, I have been oppressed in many ways that I haven’t even known about. Because we don’t have knowledge of it, we can be oppressed but feel that we are okay or that things are normal—until it is brought to our attention.
People’s general perception of the working class is not good. We in the RC Community need to challenge that. At the workshop I had flashbacks of my wounds as I repeated the working-class commitment. The words were sweet, but my past experience and my feelings were painful and bitter. I need to work on this and experience the healing.
[The RC working-class commitment:
I solemnly promise that, from this moment on, I will take pride in the intelligence, strength, endurance, and goodness of working-class people everywhere.
I will remember to be proud that we do the world’s work, that we produce the world’s wealth, that we belong to the only class with a future, that our class will end all oppression.
I will unite with all my fellow workers everywhere around the world to lead all people to a rational, peaceful society.
I am a worker, proud to be a worker, and the future is in my hands.]
This wonderful workshop enabled me to have a connection with RCers from other countries, a privilege I don’t take for granted. I look forward to another workshop on class oppression.
J-
Kenya
I loved the Direct Production Workers’ Workshop with Dan Nickerson. It was a great discharge time for me.
As a worker, I’ve needed encouragement to be happy, to feel loved and cared for, and to be connected to other workers worldwide. I liked Dan’s reminders throughout that as a worker I should be pleased with and feel good about myself.
I am someone who understands what the world requires every day. I feel that my efforts as a worker are important and are helping to make the world a better place. This realization was a major highlight from the workshop.
Griffins Ndhine
Nairobi, Kenya
I loved giving people my delighted and respectful attention while they discharged and not interrupting or directing them on what to do or say. It felt good to support others, and I’m glad I can do that with everyone irrespective of the language.
Dan kindly led us to thinking about how classism has been hurting us. I am happy that I can discharge on the oppression that my heart has been carrying for so long.
Thank you for making these forums available. As a young person I can learn about and even take leadership in organizing and conducting Zoom meetings.
Christian Kabasu
Kinshasa, R.D., Congo
I got the opportunity to discharge on the oppressions we experience, including classism. I was made aware of the dominance and oppressor patterns we carry, and I made a commitment to fight against them in the society around me. The oppressions all lead in one direction—toward hatred and war among people. They also make people feel like they aren’t good enough or important.
We can love ourselves, be proud of who we are, and know that nothing is wrong with any of us. It was helpful to be told that it isn’t important that we aren’t “perfect.” Being part of the workshop made me pleased with myself. I discharged a lot. I am glad I had this opportunity. I deserve to live my life as I wish.
Najma Jama
Nairobi, Kenya
I am grateful I was able to attend the Direct Production Workers’ Workshop. It was a great opportunity for me to discharge. I felt connected and cared for throughout. Dan reminded us that we should be pleased with ourselves, that we are important because every day we produce what the world needs in order to function.
The mini-sessions were good. I loved giving my friends my whole attention and being there for them as they discharged. I felt happier and more connected after each discharge session.
I also loved participating in my mother tongue, Kikuyu. It was encouraging that despite the language difference, people were supportive and loving. They were ready to listen to me discharge in another language.
Kennedy Mwangi
Nairobi, Kenya
Discharging while reciting the working-class commitment made me feel appreciated as a worker. I’m glad that I can connect with other workers. I feel that as a worker I have a responsibility to build an inclusive and peaceful society for all workers everywhere and that I will end all the oppressions.
Contradicting the hurts and repeatedly discharging will heal the hurts I’ve endured as a result of classism. It will liberate my mind and also keep me from transferring the hurts to other people.
As a young person I find it particularly encouraging that I can play a supportive role in facilitating the meetings. I am growing confident about myself. I’m glad to have the opportunity and support to continue learning more about leadership and how best to have an impact on myself and others. I’m looking forward to more of these workshops—to discharging, connecting, and learning.
My workshop highlight was seeing faces from all over the world and hearing the interpretation into my language, Kinyarwanda. Thank you to all who want to build the best world. Let’s make it happen.
Nshuti Alphonse Uwimana
Kigali, Rwanda
(Present Time 202, January 2021)