AFROSOC (Afrosocialists and Socialists of Color Caucus) is an activist group advocating increasing the number of persons of color (POC) members of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). Its stated aim is to build a “multiracial working-class base,” which it describes as the only viable path for creating a “socialist future.” ^{1 2}

Background

AFROSOC (Afrosocialists and Socialists of Color Caucus) is an activist group claiming to advocate for increasing the number of persons of color (POC) members of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA). ^{1 2}

The group was reportedly formed after POC members of the DSA claimed “discomfort and frustration” with the “majority white” DSA. The group continued to promote AFROSOC during community “happy hours” for other DSA chapters. ¹

As of 2025, AFROSOC’s bio on its X (formerly Twitter) account was a quote from Fred Hampton, a 20^th century Marxist-Leninist activist and leader of the Chicago chapter of the Black Panther Party. ³

Activities

AFROSOC’s claims to advocate for building a “multiracial working-class base,” which it alleges is the only path towards a “socialist future.” ^{1 2} AFROSOC promotes socialist-aligned educational materials and programs for both “public and internal” as well as “agitation,” viewing its work as continuing the “Black radical tradition.” ¹

AFROSOC advocates for non-white Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) members to become leaders in its regional chapters and in the national organization at large. ¹

In 2017, AFROSOC held a training seminar in New York City for 45 DSA members from chapters across the United States. The seminar involved socialist organizing tactics, leadership training, and campaign strategy ideas. That year, AFROSOC also held a presentation for students of NYC’s City of a School (the New York City Department of Education) called “Walk It Like We Talk It: The Lifecycle of a Jordan Sneaker,” which featured a discussion on the “capitalist” production of sneakers and promoted the idea of work co-operatives. ¹

In 2018, AFROSOC held a public education program in honor of Black History Month, featuring one event each week. One was a discussion on “decolonization” and immigration moderated by Wendi Muse of the Left POCket Project and Kazembe Balagun of the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung. Another was a screening of Lorraine Hansberry’s documentary Sighted Eyes/Feeling Heart. A third was a panel discussion on gentrification with tenant activists Anderson Fils-Aime, Chris Colon, Robert Robinson (senior advisor for Partners for Dignity & Rights), and Wanda Salaman (executive director and founder of Mothers on the Move). ^{1 4 5}

In July 2020, AFROSOC joined the Sunrise Movement in co-organizing a four-day “crash course” to train activists in “how to turn the mandate to ‘Defund the Police’ into tangible action.” Other organizers included Mijente, Southerners on New Ground (SONG), and Dream Defenders. According to Sunrise, the course’s goals included “Understand[ing] what exactly the demand “Defund the Police” means,” “Envision[ing] what a world without police could look like, and “Get[ting] ready to take action to defund police in your community.” ⁶

Funding

AFROSOC received funds from the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung, a think tank associated with the German socialist political party Die Linke (The Left), ⁷ to support its “Afrosocialists Training” program. ¹

1. “Afrosocialists and Socialists of Color Caucus.” Democratic Socialists of America. Accessed May 30, 2025. https://www.dsausa.org/working-groups/afrosocialists-and-socialists-of-color-caucus/.
2. “AFROSOC.” AFROSOC. Accessed May 30, 2025. https://afrosoc.org/.
3. “DSA Afrosocialists & Socialists of Color.” X (Twitter). Accessed May 30, 2025. https://x.com/afrosocdsa?lang=en.
4. “Staff.” Partners for Dignity & Rights. Accessed May 30, 2025. https://dignityandrights.org/team/staff/.
5. “Wanda Salaman.” Race Forward. Accessed May 30, 2025. https://facingrace.raceforward.org/speaker/wanda-salaman.
6. “Defund the Police: a 4-day Crash Course.” EveryAction. Accessed May 30, 2025. https://secure.everyaction.com/jXJg_qqNz06j42m0Q-0R9w2?ms=smvmt-email-text1&emci=8feccceb-0ebb-ea11-9b05-00155d039e74&emdi=cd5895a2-14bb-ea11-9b05-00155d039e74&ceid=114028. Archive: https://www.influencewatch.org/app/uploads/2020/08/sunrise-movement-defund-police-crash-course.pdf.
7. ^[1] “About Us.” Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung. Accessed October 29, 2023. https://www.rosalux.de/en/foundation/about-us.