50
PARTISAN REVIEW
revolution has been propounded not only by V. F. Calverton who re–
cently described the NRA as a "direct anti-fascist front" and who
stated previously, in a Current History article, that the "Roosevelt adminis–
tration is not even a potential fascist regime"-but even by Scott N caring.
Stuart Chase has recently expressed the same point of view. It is true
that fascist movements recruit their mass basis largely from the middle
class, and at the beginning adopt hypocritical anti-capitalist slogans. But,
as Dutt proves, Fascism "from the outset is fostered , nourished, maintained
and subsidized by the big bourgeoisies." Moreover, it is " enabled to grow,
and is saved from being wiped out in the early stages by the working class
movement solely th10ugh the direct protection of the bourgeois dictator–
ship." Finally, it is ridiculous to assume that Fascism has ever "seized"
power in any country, as Mr. Chase declares. "In every case Fascism has
been placed in power from above by the bourgeois dictatorship. The
bourgeoisie, in fact, has in practice passed power from one hand to the
other and called it a "revolution,' "
One aspect of Fascism that is neglected in this book is the problem
of its attitude toward culture. Of course it is difficult to devote much
space to such a question in a socio-political study. Dutt does trace the
connection between the dominant trends of .modern capitalist ideology–
the attack upon science and rationality-and the whole process of the
economic decay of capitalism. He also points out how this ideology is not
only the reflection of capitalist relationships but is also a reactionary
weapon-with its race theories and other quackeries-used to keep capital–
ism in power a little longer. But he fails to deal with the treatment of
culture under Fascism, particularly the nature of literature and art under
fascist rule.
Despite this omission, the book is an invaluable antidote for intellec–
tuals who have been poisoned by the reformist and revisionist interpreta–
tions of Fascism which are alredy legion in American thought.
ALAN CAI.MER
NEGROES AND WHITES
THE WAYS OF WHITE FOLKS,
by
Langston Hughes. Alfred
A.
Knopf.
$2.50.
Those who have followed Langston Hughes' literary work for the
last few years will be somewhat disappointed in this collection of fourteen
stories.
There is no doubt that the author of this volume is one of the more
talented among the younger American writers. He is, however, more
than that. He is also known as one of the outstanding revolutionary
interpreters of Negro life in America. And yet, there is very little that
is revolutionary about
The If?ays of White Folks.
