Indigenous Mayan workers in Justice for Janitors strike, Los Angeles, US
I am Not the Virus. I am a Communist.
An incident happened during the week that disgusted me and made me raise my voice angrily. Two workers, who I consider friends, began to hide when they saw me, and to say, “Here comes the Chinese guy,” and “Hide because he’s bringing the virus.” I have put up with their sarcastic jokes at other times about communism, but at the same time they have sometimes agreed with some of the party’s ideas.
I use a mask to cover my mouth because I suffer from allergies. I am also indigenous and have slanted eyes like many other Mayans. A little annoyed, I explained that these jokes did a lot of damage to the working class. But one of them, also an indigenous Mayan, ignored this and continued to bully me.
It was hard for me to contain my anger and fight racism, but I tried. I explained that although China is now capitalist, the Chinese masses struggled to have a more egalitarian society during the Chinese Proletarian Cultural Revolution, even if they failed in their attempt.
The fight against the coronavirus that has already claimed hundreds of thousands of infected and thousands dead, has also created panic and especially more racial prejudice against Chinese and Asians in general. Racism, created and promoted by capitalism, has also infected the working class. It starts with jokes, jokes in bad taste, and has gone to violent attacks against Asians and other people just for having slanted eyes.
In separate incidents, I have heard workers say: “The Chinese are dirty,” and that they are the cause of the virus. Or, “Avoid going to Koreatown and Chinese restaurants” so as not to be infected. That “The virus is going to disappear soon because it comes from China,” implying that everything the Chinese make is bad.
In each case it has given me the opportunity to explain what racism is and how it works to have the working class fighting each other, for the benefit of the bosses. It also gave me the opportunity to introduce myself as a communist to some who didn’t know me and to show them the Red Flag website on the phone.
That has made me stronger. I have spoken with more workers to find out what they think and how they are preparing in case of an eventual quarantine. Many blame Trump for inventing the crisis and accuse the news of being alarmists.
I have had two meetings with indigenous Mayan workers, to talk about the virus: its origin, prevention and consequences, and, above all, how can we stop it with a communist revolution. I have explained to them that, in a communist society, we would fight it more efficiently and with fewer casualties. We would put all our effort collectively to make sure that those who were on the front line— hospital workers, nurses, doctors, etc.—have enough material needed to fight an epidemic and to avoid these workers getting infected.
With a Kaqchikel indigenous friend we are planning to have more meetings with other indigenous workers living in the San Gabriel Valley area, in Los Angeles County, to inform them more about the virus and the prevention. Many indigenous people from Guatemala speak different dialects, and some speak very little Spanish. It will be a very interesting and good effort to promote communist ideas.
I must admit, it was hard for me, but I called the friend who bullied me and I apologized for yelling at him. He also apologized to me and we had a good political talk. It made me feel better.
I am not the virus. I am an indigenous Mayan. I am a communist. And I am a member of the International Communist Workers’ Party.
—Comrade in Los Angeles
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