Dialogue on 'La Revolución Bolivariana' Insights: A Chat with Kali Akuno
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Jackson, Mississippi is home to Cooperation Jackson, a cooperative-based organization with a revolutionary vision. Kali Akuno, activist and writer, is one of the project's founders. This in-depth conversation sheds light on Cooperation Jackson, its connection to Africa’s struggle for self-determination, and Akuno’s long-time affiliation with the Bolivarian Revolution in Venezuela.
For those unaware, can you explain what Cooperation Jackson is all about?
Cooperation Jackson is a network of worker cooperatives and associated groups working towards Black self-determination and economic democracy in Jackson, Mississippi. The fundamental goal is to build community land trusts, which secures land from capitalist speculation and encourages collective ownership. This serves two essential purposes: defending our community and promoting another conception of property.
Capitalist interests are trying to remove the African and/or Black majority from Jackson, according to Akuno. The forces of capital may claim to be cleaning the city, but in reality, they are eliminating radical politics that could challenge their power and influence. Cooperation Jackson is our reply to this, showcasing the power of people-led, worker-owned enterprises. Furthermore, the initiatives taken by Cooperation Jackson are part of the broader anti-imperialist and anti-capitalist movement, sharing common ground with the revolutionary process in Venezuela.
Having reviewed the collective history of the Bolivarian Process and Cooperation Jackson, can you discuss your personal journey in supporting the movement in Venezuela?
I first learned about Hugo Chávez and the Bolivarian Process from the radical left around 1997 and at the meetings leading up to the World Conference Against Racism in Durban, South Africa [2001]. The Venezuelan comrades highlighted the strength of the social movements supporting Chávez and explained how his movement was dealing with the socio-political contradictions within Venezuela.
My connection deepened in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina [August 2005], when President Chávez reached out to aid the people of New Orleans. This opportunity allowed me to connect Cooperation Jackson with Venezuelan government efforts to provide aid and support, contributing to the organization's growth and resilience. In 2006, I attended the World Social Forum in Caracas and met Chávez, establishing a strong connection that continues to this day.
Fast forward to 2010, when Chokwe Lumumba and I visited Venezuela to advance a Left, Pan-African Agenda in collaboration with the Afro-Venezuelan Network. Sadly, these efforts failed due to US government intervention. Since then, I have remained active in solidarity movements, such as the Black Alliance for Peace, which continually supports the Venezuelan people and their revolutionary process.
Though I haven't visited Venezuela since 2019, I continue to advocate for Cooperation Jackson's ties with the Bolivarian Revolution and share our goals for a more equitable and just world.
You've mentioned that there have been significant challenges to forging stronger connections between Cooperation Jackson and the Bolivarian Process. Can you discuss some of these obstacles?
The US government has been consistently opposed to the Bolivarian Revolution since the early stages, demonizing its leaders and imposing sanctions to crush the movement. This opposition has caused frustration when attempts at cooperation have been blocked, as seen in 2006 and 2010 when our food aid initiatives to Venezuela were effectively shut down.
The US government has claimed numerous excuses to justify its blockade—citing the so-called "unusual and extraordinary threat" posed by Venezuela—but the reality is that it wants to ensure that no nation presents an alternative to the status quo. This blockade has long existed, well before the later waves of election manipulation allegations and Obama Decrees.
More recently, international solidarity efforts have faced additional challenges as imperialist aggression ramps up. The US has obstructed essential initiatives like Chokwe Lumumba's and my attempts to develop a two-way exchange between the municipal government of Jackson and the Government of Venezuela, showing its malicious intent to paintings the Bolivarian Revolution as a negative example for other nations.
Yet, we continue to push back against these imperialist forces and their efforts to undermine the Bolivarian Revolution. Solidarity with Venezuela is crucial to combat the lies spread by imperialism, break the political siege, and resist the US forces of repression and death by any means necessary.
- Cooperation Jackson's mission includes promoting Black self-determination and economic democracy in Jackson, Mississippi, through the creation of community land trusts, which secure land against gentrification and encourage collective ownership for the community's defense and a unique conception of property.
- Kali Akuno, one of Cooperation Jackson's founders, claims that capitalist interests are attempting to remove the African and/or Black majority from Jackson, under the guise of city cleaning, to eliminate radical politics that could challenge their power and influence.
- Akuno's personal journey in supporting the Bolivarian Revolution in Venezuela began in 1997 when he learned about Hugo Chávez and the movement from the radical left, and his connection deepened in 2005 after President Chávez aided people affected by Hurricane Katrina.
- The US government's consistent opposition to the Bolivarian Revolution, as seen through demonization, sanctions, and blocking cooperation efforts, has been a significant obstacle for Cooperation Jackson in forging stronger connections with the movement in Venezuela.
