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EPISODE 5: CLAUDIA JONES

Written, recorded and produced by Carolin Hachmeister, Melissa Lázaro, Aleksandra Musiol and Leon Rösler

© Claudia Jones, likely during her time in the CPUSA, nd, Wikimedia Commons.
Claudia Jones, likely during her time in the CPUSA, nd, Wikimedia Commons.

Claudia Jones (1915–1964) was a Trinidad-born activist, journalist, and pioneering figure in the fight for civil rights and social justice. A committed communist, she championed the rights of Black and working-class communities in both the United States and the United Kingdom, where she was exiled in 1955. Jones is best known for founding The West Indian Gazette, a key publication for Caribbean diaspora issues, and organizing the first Caribbean Carnival in London, laying the foundation for the modern Notting Hill Carnival. Her work addressed issues of race, gender, and class, leaving a lasting impact on anti-racist and feminist movements. In this episode we look at some of her writings on women’s rights and talk about her political activism.

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TRANSCRIPT

Introduction

[Music]

“Any true assessment of women's present status in the United States must begin with an evaluation of the effects of the growing economic crisis upon the working women, farm women, workers' wives, Negro women, women of various national origins, etc." (Jones, 1950)

Claudia Jones’ 1950 essay, "International Women's Day and the Struggle for Peace,"offers profound insights into the role of women in social movements, the integration of women in the Communist Party, and the broader struggle for socialism. But before we delve into the essay, let's explore the remarkable life of Claudia Jones.

Claudia Jones‘ Early Life and Activism

[Soft city noises, distant traffic and faint chatter]

Claudia Jones was born on February 21st, 1915, in Belmont, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, to Charles Bertrand Cumberbatch and Sybil (Minnie Magdalene) Cumberbatch. In 1924, she arrived in New York City with her sisters and aunt. Despite the challenges of adjusting to a new country, Jones thrived academically and became active in the Junior NAACP during her high school years at Wadleigh High School. Her early life was marked by the economic hardships of the Great Depression, which significantly impacted African American communities.

[Typewriter keystrokes]

Jones' involvement in activism began in the 1930s, influenced by events like the Scottsboro Boys case, which highlighted racial injustice in the United States. In 1933, her mother died of spinal meningitis, just two years before Jones graduated from high school. Despite these challenges, she remained committed to her education and activism. After graduating two years later, she worked various jobs, including in a laundry and a factory, while becoming involved in organizing for the Scottsboro Boys.

[Music]

Jones' activism deepened when she joined the Communist Party and the Young Communist League in 1936 and dedicating her life to fighting for the rights of the working class and African Americans. She quickly rose through the ranks, becoming an Associate Editor of the Weekly Review and the Secretary of the Executive Committee of the Young Communist League in Harlem.

[Music]

At this time, the Harlem Renaissance also played a crucial role in shaping her political consciousness, exposing her to a rich cultural and intellectual environment. Her involvement in the Party included attending training schools and working in the business department of the Daily Worker.

[Music]

"Consequently, this is a question of attacks, not only against the masses of women, but against the working class as a whole. When we deal with the situation of women workers, we do so, not only to protect the most exploited section of the working class, but in order to rally labor-progressives and our own Party for work among the masses of women workers, to lead them into the emerging anti-fascist, anti-war coalition." (Jones, 1950)

Rising Influence and Challenges

[Radio broadcast]

Jones' activism was further influenced by the post-World War II geopolitical climate, particularly the Cold War. The rise of McCarthyism and the Red Scare in the United States led to intense persecution of communists, including Jones.

[Typewriter keystrokes]

Despite these challenges, she remained committed to her cause, working tirelessly for women's rights, worker's rights and the liberation of black communities. By 1938, Claudia Jones had become the New York State Chair and a National Council member of the Young Communist League. She was actively involved in the organisation named National Council of Negro Youth, the Southern Negro Congress, and the National Negro Congress. Her work extended to filing preliminary papers for U.S. citizenship, highlighting her commitment to both her adopted country and her political beliefs.

In 1941, Jones became the Educational Director of the Young Communist League, and in 1943, she was appointed Editor-in-Chief of the Weekly Review.

[Faint echoes and whispers]

Despite facing aggressive surveillance by the FBI, she continued her work unabated, becoming the Editor of News Paper called “Negro Affairs for the Daily Worker” by 1945 and a full member of the National Committee of the Communist Party USA.

Jones' dedication to women's movements and United Front movements was particularly notable during this period. She played a significant role in organizations like the Congress of American Women and the NCNW. Her leadership and activism were integral to advancing the rights and visibility of women within the Communist Party and the broader social justice movements.

[Music]

"Women workers still find a large gap between their wages and those of men doing the same work, while wages of Negro women are particularly depressed below the minimum wage necessary to sustain life." (Jones, 1950)

Integration of Women Cadres

[Crowd chatter]

In her 1950 essay, "International Women's Day and the Struggle for Peace," Claudia Jones emphasizes the importance of integrating women cadres into both mass and Party work to end their isolation. She argues that women must be assigned tasks that directly connect them with the broader masses of women, both in the Party and in social movements. This integration is not just about participation but about ensuring that women's issues receive the same level of attention and support as other areas of Party work.

Jones challenges the notion that work among women represents "second-class citizenship" within the Party. She insists that all Party departments and commissions engage more consistently with women's issues. This means strengthening the Women's Commissions and ensuring that their work is seen as vital to the Party's mission.

This integration is crucial for building a stronger movement. By promoting working-class and Black women in all spheres of Party and mass activity, the Party can better address the specific struggles these women face. This inclusion not only empowers these women but also strengthens the overall movement.

[Music]

"Such ideology accompanies the developing economic crisis and penalizes especially the Negro women, the working women and the working class generally, but also women on the farms, in the offices and in the professions, who are increasingly entering the struggle to resist the worsening of their economic status." (Jones, 1950)

Promoting Working-Class and Black Women

Jones highlights the necessity of integrating the struggles and issues of Black women into the broader agenda of the CPUSA. She recognizes their significant participation and militancy in various struggles and argues that promoting working-class and Black women in Party work is essential. This approach helps ensure that their specific challenges and contributions are acknowledged and addressed.

[School bell and children playing]

Jones also identifies the field of education as a major area for Party work. She notes that reactionary forces and the Roman Catholic hierarchy are instilling militarist, racist, and pro-fascist ideologies in children. Progressive efforts in education can counteract these influences and promote a more democratic and inclusive educational environment.

By connecting everyday issues, like overcrowded schools and unsanitary conditions, with larger political struggles against racism and militarism, the Party can raise the political consciousness of parents and communities. This helps them see the connections between their immediate needs and broader societal issues.

[Music]

 "The uprooting of this ideology, which emanates from the ruling class and is sustained by centuries of myths pertaining to the 'biological inferiority' of women, requires a sustained struggle." (Jones, 1950)

Mobilization for Peace and Socialist Consciousness

[Sounds of campaign rally]

In the spirit of International Women's Day, Jones calls for the mobilization of women in the fight for peace and against fascism and imperialism. She advocates for the inclusion of women in the 1950 election campaign to help them break away from the two-party system and support the third-party movement.

Through their participation in the struggle for peace and their experiences in the political process, Jones believes that working-class women will develop Socialist consciousness. This will enable them to continue their fight for the full emancipation of women within a Socialist America.

Jones argues that women cadres must end their isolation from the masses of women by being assigned to tasks that connect them with broader social movements. Strengthening the Women's Commissions within the Party is crucial to this effort.

[Music]

Legal Battles and Continued Activism

Jones faced significant legal challenges due to her political activities. She was first arrested in 1948 and threatened with deportation to Trinidad. Despite these threats, she continued her work, touring the U.S. to reorganize state-level women's commissions and recruit new party members. Her deportation hearings were repeatedly postponed due to a lack of willing witnesses against her.

[Crowd chatter]

In 1950, her deportation hearing resumed, and she was appointed an alternate member of the National Committee of the Communist Party USA. Later that year, she was arrested again under the McCarran Act and detained at Ellis Island. Despite these setbacks, she continued to speak out and participate in political activities, including delivering the significant speech, "International Women's Day and the Struggle for Peace," in March 1950.

Her legal battles continued through the early 1950s. In 1951, she was arrested under the Smith Act alongside other communists, including Elizabeth Gurley Flynn. She faced a series of arrests, trials, and health challenges, including heart failure exacerbated by the conditions of her imprisonment. Despite these obstacles, Jones remained a dedicated activist and leader within the Communist Party.

[Music]

Exile and Later Life

In 1955, after a series of health issues and continued legal pressures, Claudia Jones was deported to London. There, she continued her activism, affiliating with Caribbean members of the Communist Party of Great Britain and working against racism, immigration restrictions, and the oppression of the Caribbean community in London.

Jones continued her work into the 1960s, organizing conferences and protests against apartheid and for the liberation of political prisoners. She met influential figures like Martin Luther King Jr. and Chairman Mao. Her health, however, remained fragile, and she passed away in 1964. Her funeral drew recognition from around the world, and she was buried next to Karl Marx in Highgate Cemetery, London.

[Music]

Reflecting on Claudia Jones' Legacy

Claudia Jones' life was a testament to resilience and unwavering commitment to social justice. Her work bridged the struggles against racism, sexism, and imperialism, and her contributions continue to inspire activists today.

Her essay, "International Women's Day and the Struggle for Peace," encapsulates that vision and her dedication to the cause of women's rights and socialism. Jones' legacy is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of social justice struggles and the importance of inclusive, intersectional activism.

But let us end this episode on a different note. Claudia Jones was not just a pioneering activist, a prolific speaker and writer, but a human being and a Person. For the last quote of this episode, we will turn to the main inspiration for the contents of this episode, apart from Jones herself.

[Music]

“I learned that Jones was a helpful, sensitive person who could cook potatoes in five minutes. She liked having a nice coat, having her hair done, and looking good. She moved with a black, New York City style and tempo in the more formal London. Taking a taxi to get somewhere quickly was automatic for her, while other black Londoners tended to wait for the bus or tube. She was serious, intuitive, and nice without arrogance. She liked a good time.” (Boyce Davies, 2008)

If you’re interested in the topics we touched on today or simply want to read and learn more about Claudia Jones, Carole Boyce Davies’ expansive and detailed work on her life and projects is essential reading. Feel free to check out the sources we provided in the shownotes as well, you will find other podcasts, articles and books diving deeper into Jones’s life and work.

REFERENCES

Literature:

  • Burden-Stelly, Charisse. “Introduction to Claudia Jones: Foremother of World Revolution.”
  • The Journal Of Intersectionality, vol. 3, no. 1, 2019, pp. 1–3.
  • Davies, Carole Boyce. Left of Karl Marx. Duke University Press, 2008.
  • Jones, Claudia. Beyond Containment. Autobiographical Reflections, Essays, and Poems. Ed. By Carole Boyce Davies. Ayebia Clarke Publishing, 2011.
  • Lynn, Denise. “Socialist Feminism and Triple Oppression: Claudia Jones and African American Women in American Communism.“ Journal for the Study of Radicalism, vol. 8, no. 2, 2014, pp. 1–20.
  • Sherwood, Marika. Claudia Jones: A Life in Exile. Lawrence & Wishart, 1999.

Sources:

Sounds:


Other podcast episodes on Claudia Jones:

Additional resources from organizations Claudia Jones was part of or founded:

Letzte Änderung: 21.02.25 Druckversion

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