Gerald Horne Discusses His New Book: The Counter Revolution of 1836
The Socialist Program with Brian Becker
The Socialist Program
4.7 • 587 Ratings
🗓️ 28 July 2022
⏱️ 42 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Texans revolted against Mexico’s rule in 1836—because Mexico was moving to abolish slavery. The fascist element in the state has links into modern day, and the history of Texas is crucial as this decade unfolds.
Brian is joined by Dr. Gerald Horne, who holds the Moores Professorship of History and African American Studies at the University of Houston and is the author of many books. His newly published book, “The Counter Revolution of 1836: Texas slavery & Jim Crow and the roots of American Fascism,” is available through International Publishers.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Today we'll be talking about Gerald Horn's new book, The Counter Revolution of 1836, Texas |
| 0:09.9 | slavery and Jim Crow, and the roots of U.S. fascism. |
| 0:15.5 | We need a new system. We need a new society. We need to demand that which may have sounded impossible |
| 0:22.6 | even a few weeks ago, but is not only realizable, but an imperative necessity. Welcome back to the socialist program. I'm your host, Brian Becker. Today we're joined once again by |
| 0:57.3 | prolific author Dr. Gerald Horn. Dr. Horn, welcome back. Thank you for inviting me. |
| 1:04.0 | Let's talk about your book. I'm looking at my own library and I have numerous books by you, Gerald. And of course, as our audience might be aware, |
| 1:14.1 | but for those who might not, you're a prolific author, historian, you're living in Texas. |
| 1:21.0 | You've written a book now about Texas. And in particular, what happened, what you call the |
| 1:26.7 | counter-revolution of 1836, and link it to the roots of U.S. fascism, |
| 1:32.6 | which, of course, is a topic that is on everyone's mind, especially in the last couple years. |
| 1:39.1 | Let's first talk about how you decided to write the book and the basic thesis of the book. And then I'll ask |
| 1:46.3 | you some follow-up questions. Well, thank you. I decided to write the book because I see my |
| 1:52.6 | presence here in Texas and my ability to conduct research, in fact, all over the world, |
| 1:58.6 | as a result of struggle, particularly by black people in Texas |
| 2:03.5 | to put me into this position. And so this book, in some ways, is my attempt to pay back, pay forward |
| 2:13.3 | those who put me in this position, although I recognize ultimately it's a debt that can never be |
| 2:18.6 | repaid. With regard to the thesis, as the title suggests, this book should be seen as complementary |
| 2:27.0 | to my earlier book, the Counter-Revolution of 1776. What I mean is that just as in 1776, you had settlers who revolted against |
| 2:40.0 | European rule, not least so they could engage in further land grabs and engage in further enslavement |
| 2:47.0 | of Africans. Ditto in 1836, except in this case, you see the settlers, led by Stephen F. Austin, |
| 2:55.6 | Sam Houston, at all, who then ostentatiously fix their names to major cities after they triumph. |
| 3:03.6 | They revolt against Mexican rule, not least because Mexico, under a president of African descent, speaking of Vincent |
... |
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