--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The race question is subsidiary to the…" description: "\"“The race question is subsidiary to the class question in politics, and to think of imperialism in terms of race is disastrous. But to neglect the raci..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c38/clr-james-73491_class-race-politics_the-race-question-is-subsidiary-to-the-c_1950562.jpg" --- # The race question is subsidiary to the class question in… ![“The race question is subsidiary to the class question in politics, and to think of imperialism in terms of race is disastrous. But to neglect the racial factor as merely incidental as an error only less grave than to make it fundamental. There were Jacobin workmen in Paris who would have fought…” quote by CLR James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c38/clr-james-73491_class-race-politics_the-race-question-is-subsidiary-to-the-c_1950562.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c38/clr-james-73491_class-race-politics_the-race-question-is-subsidiary-to-the-c_1950562.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c38/clr-james-73491_class-race-politics_the-race-question-is-subsidiary-to-the-c_1950562.jpg) > ““The race question is subsidiary to the class question in politics, and to think of imperialism in terms of race is disastrous. But to neglect the racial factor as merely incidental as an error only less grave than to make it fundamental. There were Jacobin workmen in Paris who would have fought for the blacks against Bonaparte's troops. But the international movement was not then what is it to-day, and there were none in San Domingo. The black labourers saw only the old slave-owning whites.”” [CLR James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clr-james/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Class struggle is primary; race matters but should not dominate political analysis, though ignoring it entirely is also wrong. **In simple terms:** Class is primary, but race cannot be ignored. Key Takeaway Balance class and race in political critique. Themes politics class race Mood critical reflective Type theoretical historical When to use this quote - labor movements - policy debates - education - activism Key Concepts marxist analysis colonialism intersectionality Questions to Reflect On - How can movements integrate class and race? - What risks arise from ignoring either factor? A Different Perspective Overemphasis on class can erase racial experiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Question Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/question-politics-1507495/) [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Race Question](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race-question-532202/) [Racial Factor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racial-factor-2461222/) [Think Imperialism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think-imperialism-2461223/) ## Related quotes > [The race question is subsidiary to the class question in politics, and to think of imperialism in terms of race is disastrous. But to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-l-r-james/the-race-question-is-subsidiary-to-the-class-question-in-politics-and/) [C. L. R. James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-l-r-james/) > [You win a race, the next race it’s a question mark. Are you still the best or not? That’s what is funny. 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