The 12-Point Program of RAM


First Issued: 1964
Transcription, Editing and Markup: Paul Saba
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PROJECTS AND PROBLEMS OF THE REVOLUTIONARY MOVEMENT

1. DEVELOPMENT OF A NATIONAL BLACK STUDENT ORGANIZATION MOVEMENT

ASM, the Afro-American Student Movement, the student branch of RAM was formed to organize black students into a strong, well-organized student movement that can fight against injustices, against Afro-American students and black people in general.

PURPOSES:

1. To educate the Afro-American to the economic, political, and cultural basis of the racial situation in the United States and the world.
2. To develop unity with Africans in the United States and the world.
3.To unite and organize Afro-American students to become active in the Afro-American Liberation Struggle.

These purposes would develop revolutionary cadres in the high schools, junior high and colleges . The climax of such a program would be the development of a nationwide black student school strike which would repudiate the educational system. This strike would be over what black students are and are not taught. ASM’s purpose is to show black students that the only way to succeed in life is to cause a revolution in this country. ASM would develop groups around black history, students rights, and also over conditions under which Afro-American students must operate. This all-black national student organization would build to establish total social dislocation. With students demonstrating the guerrilla force will have a base for mass support. It should be noted that this support is coming from youth. This will eventually rally young black workers and the unemployed. ASM will politicalize the black student community and will serve as the vanguard in the struggle. When the Afro-American student strike is initiated it will be left to RAM to have other segments of the black community to strike in sympathy. If guerrilla warfare is being waged, this strike would be in support of the guerrillas. ASM on campus would develop political parties to take over student government. The objective is to obtain power in black colleges.

2. DEVELOPMENT OF IDEOLOGY (FREEDOM) SCHOOLS

The purpose of the “Freedom” schools would be to develop cadres, with the revolutionary theory and doctrine of RAM. These schools will teach the history of the movement, current events, political theory methods of social action, methods of self-defense, basic principles of guerrilla warfare, techniques of social dislocation, propaganda techniques and indoctrination, black history, etc. Essentially the schools will be political.

3. DEVELOPMENT OF RIFLE CLUBS

The rifle clubs will be made up of local veterans and other people from community. The purpose of the rifle club is to develop a black militia capable of protecting the black community. This militia would work with the liberation army and would serve as a base for the establishment of a community government.

4. DEVELOPMENT OF LIBERATION ARMY (GUERRILLA YOUTH FORCE)

The purpose of the Liberation Army is to carry out political, economic, physical overthrow of this system. The Liberation Army’s role is to take over cities, cause complete social dislocation of communications, etc. “Our countryside is the cities all over the country”. Therefore, the major part of guerrilla warfare in the U.S.A. will take place in the cities. The cities are the pockets of power and heart of the economy.

5. DEVELOPMENT OF PROPAGANDA, TRAINING CENTERS AND NATIONAL ORGAN

The purpose of this center is to train cadre in techniques and methods of propaganda and also to act as a center for the movement. Classes in intelligence, etc., will be taught. The two most import ant things are a press and a publishing company. Black America is RAM’s national organ. It will act as an organizer and coordinator for the movement. It will be a journal of ideas and direction.

6. DEVELOPMENT OF UNDERGROUND VANGUARD

RAM can be classified as an underground vanguard. All RAM members will be working to spread the vanguard as far as possible. The purpose is to develop a revolutionary machine that is capable of continuing the revolution if the leader or leaders are wiped out.

7. DEVELOPMENT OF BLACK WORKERS “LIBERATION” UNIONS

The purpose of the liberation movements are to fight for better conditions on jobs, to organize Afro-American to spy, etc., for the purpose of a national strike, etc. Women’s leagues will also play an important role in the national strike. The purpose of Women’s leagues is to organize black women who work in whitie’s homes.

8. DEVELOPMENT OF BLOCK ORGANIZATION (CELL)

Our plan is to have black community organized by blocks. A person’s job, once becoming a member of RAM, is to organize his or her block. This can be done by telling friends about RAM, having informal meetings or parties discussing issues, etc., and/or having a RAM field organizer on the scene to make new contacts. Once two or more RAM members are in one block they become a cell which works in the neighborhood to make the cell larger and to make more cells. Once a group of cells are developed they make a section. This will be left to the judgment of local cadre.

9. DEVELOPMENT OF NATION WITHIN NATION CONCEPT, GOVERNMENT IN EXILE, ROBERT WILLIAMS IN EXILE

RAM’s position is that the Afro-American is not a citizen of the U.S.A., denied his rights, but rather he is a colonial subject enslaved. This position says that the black people in the U.S.A. are a captive nation suppressed and that their fight is not for integration into the white community but one of national liberation. RAM’s program is one of overthrow meaning simply the overthrow of white rule, capitalist rule, in other words, white America by black America Stated even simpler, it means the black man taking over this country. To do this we will have our government already in exile, of which Robert Williams is leader. Also RAM’s job is to educate the black community to who Robert Williams is and what he stands for. The program will build up for Robert Williams for President in ’68 in the black community, signifying a complete repudiation of the existing political system.

10. DEVELOPMENT OF WAR FUND (POLITICAL ECONOMY)

The political economy and war fund was developed to build our war machine. The political economy works as follows: each person capable makes a weekly pledge. From this pledge comes a weekly sum to keep the war fund going, thus we have a political economy. Also fund raising activities and methods will be used to develop the war fund.

11. DEVELOPMENT OF BLACK FARMER COOPS

In the delta area (black belt) in the South, especially Mississippi, this is necessary. This can keep a community and guerrilla forces going for a while.

12. DEVELOPMENT OF ARMY OF BLACK UNEMPLOYED

The brothers and sisters who are unemployed are an army to be organized. The struggle should put continued pressure on the Federal government by demonstrating North and South against racial discrimination on Federal backed industry. Also in the North, the struggle against union discrimination will bring things to a head.