This is the second in the three-part series about Black communists in the Spanish Civil War. In the early 1930s the urban bourgeoisie (capitalists) of Spain, supported by most workers and many peasants, overthrew the violent, repressive monarchy to form a republic. In July 1936 the Spanish army, eventually commanded by Francisco Franco, later the fascist dictator, rebelled to re-establish the repressive monarchy. Hitler’s Germany and Mussolini’s Italy gave Franco massive military aid. The Western imperialist countries and the United States refused to help the Republic. Only Mexico and the then-socialist Soviet Union came to the Republic’s aid, to try to stop fascism before it engulfed the world.
In 1936 the International Communist Movement, called the “Comintern,” headquartered in the Soviet Union and led by Joseph Stalin, organized volunteers—mainly workers—from more than 60 countries into the “International Brigades” (IBs) to go to Spain to defend the Republic. But, in defending the Republic, they were defending capitalists. This was part of the united front against fascism, where communists united with so-called liberal capitalists against the fascist capitalists.
In the Progressive Labor Party we are now against any unity with capitalists. They all have to go and the working class must rule: that’s communism.
If the working class is to seize and hold state power throughout the world, Black workers and their leadership is essential. Our class cannot destroy racism - the lifeblood of capitalism - without their leadership. The following continues that story.
Oliver Law was the first Black worker to lead an integrated military force in the history of the United States. Born in west Texas in 1900, he joined the Army in 1919, serving as a private in the Black 24th Infantry. After leaving the army, Law first worked in a cement plant, then moved to Chicago where he drove a cab. During the Great Depression he worked as a dockworker, became unemployed again, then eventually worked for the Works Project Administration. While unemployed, Law joined the International Labor Defense and in 1932, the Communist Party.
His political activities led to frequent run-ins with the Chicago Police Red Squad during one of which he was seriously beaten:
After several hours, ninety-nine of the prisoners were released. Fourteen were booked for “special questioning.” Among this group was … Oliver Law, a Negro leader of the unemployed ... The fourteen were left in the big room … Nels [Kjar, a Communist Party leader] said, “This is a setup for a beating. Those Red Squad rats’ll be here soon-…Just look out, don’t fall for any proposals they make… If they divide us it’ll be tougher for each of us.
Five days later, 75,000 unemployed workers marched, demanding relief and unemployment insurance.…Oliver Law missed it; he was in the hospital because of the beating.
Black military commander leading mostly white troops - a first
In 1937 Law was one of the earliest American volunteers to join the Abraham Lincoln Brigades and go fight against the fascists in Spain. Before leaving for Spain, Law was arrested while leading a rally protesting fascist Italy’s invasion of Ethiopia. In Spain, his leadership ability and military experience were highly prized. He first served as Section Leader in the machine-gun company. Law was quickly promoted to company commander, then to Adjutant to the Battalion Commander, and finally to Battalion commander with the rank of captain.
While commanding the Abraham Lincoln Battalion on the fourth day of the Brunete Offensive, July 10, 1937, he was mortally wounded while leading an assault on Mosquito Ridge.
Sam Walter saw Oliver Law, our Black commander, wave the Americans over the top.… Sam grabbed his camera just for an instant and got a snapshot of Commander Law leading a predominantly white battalion into battle—the first time such an event ever took place in American history.
Oliver was in the U.S. Army for six years-talented, lots of courage, but a Negro, so he left the Army still a private -- but in Spain, in six months he became commander of the Battalion with the rank of Captain … His sober attitude had made him close to the boys, but in death the link tightened-all his qualities of honesty, reliability, selflessness were now discussed. His character was a model to everyone.
Thus Oliver had lived for seven years after the brutal beating at the hands of the Chicago Red Squad … While our fascists didn’t get him, Hitler’s friends got him. Someday, the working class of America will properly acknowledge the role this brave Negro Communist played in the fight for freedom.
[Sources: Steve Nelson, The Volunteers; alba-valb.org]