6. “New Addition to ‘Finished’ Introduction to the New Book.”

May 14, 2015

Dunayevskaya presentation to the Resident Editorial Board, given Sept. 26, 1984. On additions to “Introduction and Overview” on “Life” and organization, with marginalia by Dunayevskaya on entire minutes. Included also are Dunayevskaya letter to “Dear Friends,” written Sept. 27, 1984, on developing “a full body of ideas”; Dunayevskaya letter to Simon Silverman, written Sept. 17, 1985; Dunayevskaya letter to Michelle Landau, written Sept. 26, 1984; bibliographic table of contents for the new book, compiled by Landau, December 1984, with marginalia by Dunayevskaya.

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5. Dunayevskaya presentation to the Resident Editorial Board, given Aug. 21, 1984.

On the title, form, and introduction to the new book, especially a discussion on Lenin’s interest in “Life” in Hegel’s Science of Logic and on “private enclaves” existing apart from Absolute Method. Contains marginalia by Dunayevskaya. Included also is “Tentative table of contents for new book” with marginalia by Dunayevskaya; Dunayevskaya letter to “Dear Friends,” written on Aug. 23, 1984, on new features of the new book as “Absolute Method”; marginalia by Dunayevskaya on Eugene Walker letter and notes to Dunayevskaya, both written Aug. 23, 1984, on the draft introduction; Dunayevskaya letter to Simon Silverman, written Aug. 31, 1984, on the book as an “encounter with myself.” For discussion on the chapter on Latin America, see 16262-4.

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2. Dunayevskaya letter to “Dear Revolutionary Sisters,” written May 1, 1984.

Announces that “a collection of some of the extensive writings on Women’s Liberation by Raya Dunayevskaya” will be published before the end of 1985. Included also are Olga Domanski essay on Dunayevskaya’s writings on women’s liberation in “Pre-Convention Bulletin No. Two,” July 1983; Domanski letters to South End Press, written Sept. 29, 1983, and to Simon Silverman, written Feb. 20, 1984, proposing the book; April Silverman letter to Dunayevskaya and Domanski, written April 26, 1984, agreeing to publish book; Domanski letter to Judy Camlin, written May 7, 1984, on the content and form of the book.

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d. Notes by Dunayevskaya.

On Maurice Bishop, fragment; the relationship of philosophy to revolution in Grenada, handwritten fragment; the appendix to new edition of Black Jacobins by C.L.R. James, handwritten fragment; presenting the Black dimension in Marxist-Humanism; Race First by Tony Martin.

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b. Dunayevskaya letter to “Dear Friends,” written Nov. 16, 1983.

Outline of Dunayevskaya’s lead-editorial article for News & Letters titled “Reagan’s Imperial Invasion and Conquest of Grenada: The Three-Way Drive to War: Grenada, Endless Militarization, Retrogression on Black Rights.” For Dunayevskaya’s article, her Political-Philosophic Letter, and an eye-witness account from Grenada, published as “Grenada: Revolution. Counter-Revolution and Imperialist Invasion,” see 8036. Included also is a “P.S.” added to Political-Philosophic Letter, written Jan. 7, 1984.

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c. Dunayevskaya letter to “Dear Friends,” written Oct. 19, 1983.

On ramifications of the death of Denby for News & Letters. Included also are remarks by Dunayevskaya to the Resident Editorial Board, made Oct. 18, 1983, and Dunayevskaya letter to Dave Park, written Oct. 25, 1983, typed copy of handwritten letter. Both are on her article, “Charles Denby, Worker-Editor.” For article, written Oct. 24, 1983 and published in News & Letters, November 1983, see 8033.

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a. Dunayevskaya letter “To Marxist-Humanists, Nationally and Internationally, and Friends of Charles Denby, Editor of News & Letters,” written Oct. 11, 1983.

Announces the death of Charles Denby on Oct. 10, 1983. Included also are Dunayevskaya letter to “Dear Friends,” written Oct. 12, 1983, on the impact of Denby’s life, arrangements for a memorial, and reorganization of News & Letters; Harry McShane letter to Dunayevskaya, written Oct. 26, 1983, typed copy of handwritten note.

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h. Notes and marginalia on articles and letters studied by Dunayevskaya for work on the Miners’ General Strike pamphlet.

Included are “‘Chronology’ re 1949-50” compiled by Olga Domanski; Weaver (Dunayevskaya), “A New Stage for Our Organization,” June 30, 1951; Asher (M. Franki), “History of a Southern Local, Early 1953”; “Volume XIII. Raya Dunayevskaya, C.L.R. James and Grace Lee (Boggs): Philosophic Correspondence, 1949-50,” a section of the 1978 guide to the Raya Dunayevskaya Collection and partially reprinted as “Appendix A” of the Miners’ General Strike pamphlet.

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f. Dunayevskaya remarks to the Resident Editorial Board, made May 8, 1984.

On additions to the Miners’ General Strike pamphlet manuscript. Included also are Dunayevskaya letters to “Dear Friends,” written May 9, 1984; to Mike T., written June 20, 1984, typed copy; to Andy Phillips, written May 30, 1984; Raymond letter to Dunayevskaya, written April 28, 1984. For pamphlet, published as A 1980s View: The Coal Miners’ General Strike of 1949-50 and the Birth of Marxist-Humanism in the U.S., see 8123.

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7. Dunayevskaya letter to Cedric Robinson, written May 10, 1983.

On Dunayevskaya’s break with and critique of C.L.R. James. Included also are transcript of videotape of Cedric Robinson interview with Dunayevskaya, “The Revolutionary Consciousness of Minorities and Women,” made about April 25, 1983 at the University of California at Santa Barbara; “Notes by RD, 1/17/84 regarding transcript of CR interview”; marginalia by Dunayevskaya made in Spring 1983, on Mary Lewis review of Cedric Robinson, The Terms of Order.

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k. Correspondence between Dunayevskaya and Norman Levine.

Exchange includes four letters from Dunayevskaya and four letters from Levine, written between July 6, 1983 and Oct. 25, 1984, with marginalia by Dunayevskaya on two Levine letters. Dunayevskaya’s letters include a critical survey of several thinkers on the differences between Marx and Engels. Included also is citation of Philosophy and Revolution in Levine, Dialogue within the Dialectic.

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i. Correspondence between Dunayevskaya and Richard Bernstein.

Exchange includes two letters from Dunayevskaya, written Oct. 12, 1983, on publishing her paper in Praxis International, and Nov. 9, 1983, which is a typed copy; and two letters from Bernstein, written Oct. 4, 1983, with marginalia by Dunayevskaya, and Feb. 29, 1984. For essay as published, see 8066.

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b. Correspondence between Dunayevskaya and Teodor Shanin.

Two letters from Dunayevskaya, written May 25 and July 8, 1985, on Shanin’s “style” of writing on Marx’s last decade versus her own, with marginalia not by Dunayevskaya on July 8 letter; one letter from Shanin, written June 21, 1985, with marginalia by Dunayevskaya. Included also is Dunayevskaya’s letter to Michael Connolly, written June 10, 1984, on Connolly’s review of Shanin’s Late Marx and The Russian Road.

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i. The Philosopher’s Index Retrospective Bibliography, 1984. Abstract for “Marx’s ‘New Humanism’ and The Dialectics Of Women’s Liberation in Primitive and Modern Societies” and cover letter by Dunayevskaya, both written March 28, 1984, with marginalia not by Dunayevskaya.

Included also are entry on “Raya Dunayevskaya” as published; drafts of abstract by Olga Domanski; Dunayevskaya revision of Domanski draft with a note to Domanski. For other entries on “Raya Dunayevskaya,” see 10216 and 15556.

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b. Notes and marginalia by Dunayevskaya on research for New School conference.

Included are “Very rough notes from Raya’s comments on Marx and non-capitalist societies at Detroit local. Jan. 13, 1983 (by Mike),” transcribed by Michael Connolly, not checked by Dunayevskaya; Connolly letter to Dunayevskaya, written Feb. 10, 1983, outlining an article on Dunayevskaya’s studies on Marx’s Ethnological Notebooks in light of writings by modern theorists in anthropology and women’s liberation; Connolly’s draft of article; Dunayevskaya’s notes on letter and draft; Connolly notes on Stanley Diamond’s critique of Levi-Strauss, fragment; Connolly letter to Dunayevskaya, written March 11, 1983; “Mike’s letter to me of 3/11/83 on anthropology…,” Dunayevskaya’s notes on theorists on Marx and anthropology; Susan Van Gelder letter to Neda Azad, written May 24, 1983, on Claude Levi-Strauss; articles and article fragment by Stanley Diamond, also with marginalia not by Dunayevskaya.

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n. The Philosopher’s Index Retrospective Bibliography, 1983.

Abstract for Rosa Luxemburg Women’s Liberation. and Marx’s Philosophy of Revolution and cover letter by Dunayevskaya, both written Oct. 5, 1983. Included also are entries on “Raya Dunayevskaya” for this book and for the 1982 edition of Philosophy and Revolution. For other entries on “Raya Dunayevskaya,” see 10216 and 15790.

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e. Dunayevskaya letter to “Dear Friends,” written May 30, 1983.

Incorporates Mary Holmes letter to Dunayevskaya, written May 22,1983, on a Mexican edition of Rosa Luxemburg, Women’s Liberation, and Marx’s Philosophy of Revolution. Included also is Introduction and table of contents, translated into Spanish by Cesar McKay, unpublished. For selections from Rosa Luxemburgo, la liberación femenina y la filosofía marxista de la revolución, see 10244; see also 11173.

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a. Dunayevskaya letter to “Dear Friends,” written May 5, 1983.

Summation of tour and proposals to issue a pamphlet on Marxist-Humanism’s roots in the 1949-1950 Coal Miners’ General Strike, to establish Chicago as Midwest subcenter of News and Letters Committees, and to issue a new edition of American Civilization on Trial: Black Masses as Vanguard. Included also is Dunayevskaya presentation to Resident Editorial Board, given May 4, 1983.

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h. Presentations at the “Common Differences: Third World Women and Feminist Perspectives” conference at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, given April 10, 1983.

Included are notes for panel presentation on “Women in Revolutionary Movements”; manuscript of lecture on “The Trail from Marx’s Philosophy of Revolution to Today’s Women’s Liberation Movements,” later included in Women’s Liberation and the Dialectics of Revolution; Dunayevskaya letter to Ann Russo and Chantra Mohanty, written May 23, 1983; Dunayevskaya’s comments in conference evaluation.

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30. Carrying Out Constitutional Convention Decisions.

Presentation by Dunayevskaya to the Resident Editorial Board of News and Letters Committees, given Sept. 16, 1983. Dunayevskaya proposes to add a passage to Chapter 12 of the book, on the differences between Marx and Engels on the Asiatic mode of production, and on the development of society as a whole. A further expansion of this passage, added about one week later, is also included. Marginalia on that document are by Dunayevskaya.

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29. Dunayevskaya letter to “Dear Comrades,” written Aug. 26, 1983.

On the eve of the News and Letters Committees Constitutional Convention, which was to take up Rosa Luxemburg, Women’s Liberation, and Marx’s Philosophy of Revolution, Dunayevskaya restates and discusses all the passages added to the book since it was set in type and could no longer be changed. These include a new paragraph added to the Introduction on “post-Marx Marxists, beginning with Frederick Engels.”

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28. New paragraph added to the last chapter of the book. Written by Dunayevskaya for inclusion in her speech on “Marx and the Black World,” given at the Center for African and Afro-American Studies, University of Michigan, March 30, 1983.

During this period, Dunayevskaya embarked on a two-month long national “Marx Centenary Tour” with the new book. For a discussion of that tour, see #7667- 7670. Included here also are “Notes on the Black Dimension and RLWLKM” written during the tour.

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23. New paragraphs added to the last page of Chapter 12 of the book.

Written by Dunayevskaya as the conclusion of her Perspectives Report to the 1982 Convention of News and Letters Committees; presented Sept. 4, 1982. On the “further challenge to the form of organization which we have worked out as the committee-form rather than the ‘party-to-lead.’” A shorter version of this new addition to the book was offered in Dunayevskaya’s “Political-Philosophic Letter” of Oct. 15, 1982, “On the Battle of Ideas” (#7486).

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6. Kevin A. Barry letter to Dunayevskaya, written Sept. 20, 1981.

Responds to Dunayevskaya’s request for information on Rubel’s editing of Vols. II and III of Marx’s Capital. Included here are Dunayevskaya’s replies to Barry, written Sept. 28 and Oct. 8, 1981, which further discuss Rubel’s work, and that of Terell Carver. Barry’s note of Oct. 15, 1981 contains marginalia by Dunayevskaya on the “dialectics of fetishism.” Part of this note is missing.

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36. The Book as a Whole.

Presentation by Dunayevskaya to the Resident Editorial Board of News and Letters Committees, given March 16, 1981. A review of all the changes in the draft chapters of the book created under the impact of seeing “the book as a whole.” The book now has three parts, and 11 chapters.

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34. Dunayevskaya letter to “Dear Sisters,” written Jan. 22, 1981.

On her recent correspondence with Rowbotham and her view of Russian feminist Tatyana Mamonova’s call for an “International Feminist Union.” Following this letter, Dunayevskaya decided to expand her draft chapter on “Women’s Liberation, then and Now,” into a new “Part II” of the book, which would now have three parts. (See her letter of Jan. 30, 1981, #6465.)

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29. Dunayevskaya letter to Kevin A. Barry, written Dec. 2, 1980.

Asks for translation and review of a paragraph from Marx’s Capital, added to the French edition in 1872, but not included in Engels’ later editions. Also included here is Barry’s response, after his study of Maximilian Rubel’s edition of Le Capital. Barry’s letter, written Dec. 12, 1980, discusses the publishing history of the French edition since its first appearance.

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25. Dunayevskaya letter to Sheila Rowbotham, written Sept. 27, 1980.

On Dunayevskaya’s reading of Rowbotham’s Beyond the Fragments. In the following week, Dunayevskaya completed a draft of what she then called Chapter 6 of the book, on “Women’s Liberation, Then and Now,” and drafted Chapter 5, on “War, Prison and Revolutions, 1914-1919.” Dunayevskaya’s letter on this work, written Oct. 6, 1980, is already included in the Collection (#6459).

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21. Dunayevskaya letter to Harry McShane, written June 17, 1980.

A discussion of the problem of organization in the Marxist movement, from Marx through Lenin to our day, with reference to Dunayevskaya’s 1953 Letters on Hegel’s Absolutes. This letter follows Dunayevskaya’s May 4, 1980 presentation on “A Birthtime of History,” a discussion of Marx’s philosophy of revolution, and her projection of the first outline of the book as a whole. For her letter reporting on both events, see #6457.

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