The death of David Graeber
JVL Introduction
It is with great sadness that we report the death of David Graeber at the age of 59.
He was a genuinely original thinker and activist, a leader of the Occupy Wall Street Movement, a biting analyst of capitalist social relations, and more recently an outspoken critic of the weaponisation of antisemitism in Britain.
In John McDonnell’s words: “His iconoclastic research and writing opened us all up to fresh thinking and such innovative approaches to political activism. We will all miss him hugely.”
This article was originally published by the Guardian on Thu 3 Sep 2020. Read the original here.
David Graeber, anthropologist and author of Bullshit Jobs, dies aged 59
The anarchist and author of bestselling books on capitalism and bureaucracy died in a Venice hospital on Wednesday
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Reading this article by David Graeber, from a year ago on Sunday, would be one of the best tributes to him and his work: *For the first time in my life, I’m frightened to be Jewish
And non-Jews attacking the Labour party aren’t helping.*
https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/opendemocracyuk/first-time-my-life-im-frightened-be-jewish/
He was brilliant – I admired him very much.
What a wonderful person! I did not know of him before he died and an anarchist friend told me. We have lost a true comrade. I must read his books and articles and learn more.
RIP –a TRUTH writer and intellectual I will miss his videos, I know that you will be back in another embodiment of TRUTH.
So very sad to hear that David Grauber one of the most authentic working class critics of the failings of bureaucracy and capitalism in our times has died at the age of 59.
Can’t get my head around this awful news. He seemed so full of youthful spirit. His loss is indeed incalculable. Please don’t let it be coronavirus.
RIP, comrade.
Your work was valued, your fighting spirit admired and your principles an inspiration.
Who is surprised at the total failure of the Groaniad to mention DG’s forceful argument that the so-called campaigns against the LP’s alleged AS put him and other Jews in Britain in genuine fear – as real AS got and gets a free pass in the interests of the Israeli state and its supporter? His arguments to this effect were amongst his last published works.
Cain is a good name for the author of this article.
Deeply shocked and saddened. Who else could cut Margaret Hodge down to size so incisively? You didn’t have to agree with everything he said, but what a challenger to set thinking! We in Britain and LSE were so lucky that Yale’s intellectually challenged bigots caused David’s coming over here. R.I.P. David!
Deepest condolences to David’s family and friends.
Had the pleasure of seeing and hearing him speak at Hay in 2017. A brilliant mind who spoke in plain English. He will be missed by all who knew him personally or through his writing.
RIP David x
A brilliant man, and a good comrade. He will be much missed.
Possibly his most vital work: Debt: The First 5000 Years exposes the real roots of antisemitism as well as the roots and the evil and greed of capitalism and is available FREE!!! at https://libcom.org/files/__Debt__The_First_5_000_Years.pdf
May I put in a plea for the introduction to this article to link to David Graeber’s own 10 minute video
https://www.doubledown.news/watch/2020/12/april/the-weaponisation-of-labour-antisemitism-david-graeber
only a fraction of which is incorporated in the shorter WitchHunt2020 clip to which the introduction provides a link? On the occasion of an obituary it is fitting and respectful to allow the deceased to express himself as directly as possible without the mediation of others however well intentioned.
[We have done so – JVL web]
I have only recently found David’s work and am deeply saddened that I will no longer be able to experience his levelled headed, intellectual discussions through his videos and articles. Despite his intellect he spoke the common people’s language, such a rarity in the academic circle.
My condolences to his wife and family. RIP David.