Moving Against the System

The 1968 Congress of Black Writers and the Making of Global Consciousness

By: David Austin

Narrated by: Chimwemwe Miller

In 1968, as protests shook France and war raged in Vietnam, the giants of Black radical politics descended on Montreal to discuss the unique challenges and struggles facing their brothers and sisters. For the first time since 1968, David Austin brings alive the speeches and debates of the most important international gathering of Black radicals of the era.

Against a backdrop of widespread racism in the West, and colonialism and imperialism in the “Third World,” this group of activists, writers, and political figures gathered to discuss the history and struggles of people of African descent and the meaning of Black Power.

With never-before-heard texts from Stokely Carmichael, Walter Rodney, and C.L.R. James, Moving Against the System will prove invaluable to anyone interested in Black radical thought, as well as capturing a crucial moment of the political activity around 1968.

©2018 David Austin (P)2022 Between the Lines

Critic reviews

"A singular contribution to our understanding of the intellectual and political convergence of that historical moment, including the cross-currents and tensions within the emerging black radical tradition. With this book, Austin further establishes himself as a leading light within that tradition.” (Steven High, professor of history, Concordia University)

“A must-read for all who would truly understand why and how the activist history of the 1960s continues to resonate with and to influence current activist politics.” (Harry Edwards, professor emeritus, University of California, Berkeley, Consultant: NFL, NBA)

“This collection is a treasure chest of Canadian, Caribbean, and African diasporic history. David Austin is a remarkable archivist, curator, detective, and analyst of this decisive moment.” (Karen Dubinsky, professor of global development studies and history, Queen’s University)