Welcome to the "Marxism Quick Reference Guide - Concepts, Leaders and Intellectuals." This guide serves as an introduction to the complex and broad theory of Marxism, breaking it down into digestible sections and providing you with a fast reference source to key concepts, significant figures, and influential intellectuals related to this school of thought.

Marxism, a theory originating from the work of 19th-century philosophers Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, has significantly influenced the course of political, economic, and social history across the globe. Through this guide, we'll explore foundational concepts such as historical materialism, class struggle, dialectical materialism, alienation, revolution, and communism, among others. Each of these sections will provide a brief definition, mention a key work for further reading, and share an impactful quote that encapsulates the essence of the concept.

Moreover, we delve into the lives and contributions of key Marxist leaders who championed the cause, ranging from revolutionaries like Lenin, Mao, and Castro, to lesser-known but equally impactful figures like Thomas Sankara and Eugene Debs. In each profile, you'll learn about the leader's origin, their accomplishments, the attempts by capitalist powers to impede their work, and their significant writings if any.

Lastly, we shed light on intellectuals who, while not always self-proclaimed Marxists, have shown affinity or advocacy for Marxist beliefs. These figures span multiple disciplines, including scientists, writers, artists, and entertainers.

This guide is not exhaustive but is designed to provide a springboard for further exploration. Whether you're a student, an educator, a researcher, or a curious mind, we hope that this reference guide will provide valuable insights and inspire a deeper understanding of Marxism.

Historical Materialism

• Definition: Historical Materialism is an approach to understanding history and societal development which holds that social and political changes arise primarily from the material conditions of society, most notably the evolution of the productive forces, like technology and human labor capacity. It suggests that the relations of production (how societies are organized around work and resources) form the economic base, which in turn shapes the superstructure—culture, institutions, political power, etc.
• Key Work: "Capital, Volume 1" by Karl Marx provides a comprehensive critique of capitalist political economy, with particular focus on how the dynamics of capitalism reproduce the relations of production and thus the structure of society.
• Expanded Thoughts: Marx argued that the development of the productive forces eventually comes into conflict with the existing relations of production. This tension between the forces and relations of production gives rise to social revolution, facilitating the transition from one mode of production (and associated societal structure) to another.
• Key Quote: "The mode of production of material life conditions the general process of social, political and intellectual life."

Class Struggle

• Definition: Class struggle is the conflict of interests between the workers (proletariat) who sell their labor power, and the owners of the means of production (bourgeoisie) who benefit from this labor. Marx proposed that this struggle was not an aberration, but a necessary and defining condition of capitalist society.
• Key Work: "The Communist Manifesto" by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels is the seminal work outlining the theory of class struggle, the historical role it plays, and the anticipated emergence of a classless society.
• Expanded Thoughts: Marxists argue that class struggle is the motor of history, propelling societal change and development. Economic inequality, exploitation, and power imbalances between classes lead to conflicts and, ultimately, revolutions. Marxists envision a future where class struggle culminates in a revolution that overthrows the bourgeoisie, leading to the establishment of a classless society.
• Key Quote: "The history of all hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles."

Alienation

• Definition: Alienation refers to the estrangement of individuals from their humanity in capitalist societies. Marx identified four types of alienation: from the product of labor (since it belongs to the employer), the process of labor (which is controlled by the capitalist), species-being (creative and fulfilling work), and from other human beings (as everyone is seen as a competitor).
• Key Work: "Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844" by Karl Marx. This series of notes written by Marx reveal his early thoughts on capitalism and its dehumanizing effects.
• Expanded Thoughts: Marx's theory of alienation suggests that under capitalism, workers lose control over their lives and destinies by being bound to sell their labor power in order to survive, thus losing their ability to realize their full creative and human potential. The products of their labor, owned and sold by capitalists, appear to them as alien, hostile forces.
• Key Quote: "The worker becomes all the poorer the more wealth he produces, the more his production increases in power and size."

Dialectical Materialism

• Definition: Dialectical Materialism is an analytical framework that Marxists use to understand the dynamics of societal change and development. This method, influenced by Hegel's dialectics, focuses on understanding the contradictions and conflicts within a given social and material context, and how these tensions drive change over time.
• Key Work: "Anti-Dühring" by Friedrich Engels is where Engels most comprehensively explains the concepts of dialectics and dialectical materialism.
• Expanded Thoughts: Engels and Marx took Hegel's dialectical method and argued that contradictions inherent in the material world, rather than in ideas, led to societal evolution. For them, historical change was not a simple linear progression but a complex process driven by conflicts and contradictions within each socio-economic system.
• Key Quote: "Motion is the mode of existence of matter. Never anywhere has there been matter without motion, or motion without matter."

Revolution

• Definition: Revolution in Marxist terms refers to a radical change in social and political structures. Marxists believe in the necessity of a proletarian revolution— a collective uprising by the working class—to overthrow the capitalist system and replace it with a communist society.
• Key Work: "The Communist Manifesto" by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels lays the foundation for the Marxist belief in the inevitability of a proletarian revolution.
• Expanded Thoughts: Marxists believe that inherent contradictions and class struggles within capitalist societies will lead to their downfall. They see revolution as the necessary means for the working class to seize political power, abolish capitalist structures, and reorganize society along communist lines.
• Key Quote: "Let the ruling classes tremble at a Communistic revolution. The proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains. They have a world to win."

Communism

• Definition: Communism is the envisioned end-goal of Marxism. It refers to a stateless, classless society where the means of production are collectively owned, and wealth is distributed according to need. In this society, exploitation and class antagonisms would cease to exist.
• Key Work: "The Communist Manifesto" by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels presents their vision of communism as the antidote to the exploitation and inequality inherent in capitalism.
• Expanded Thoughts: Communism for Marx and Engels represented the resolution of class struggle, brought about by the revolutionary actions of the proletariat. It involves the abolition of private property, the end of exploitation, and the realization of human freedom and potential. The principle "from each according to his ability, to each according to his needs" would govern the distribution of resources.
• Key Quote: "In place of the old bourgeois society, with its classes and class antagonisms, we shall have an association, in which the free development of each is the condition for the free development of all."

Analytical Marxism

• Definition: Also known as the 'No Bullshit Marxism', Analytical Marxism is a modern branch of Marxist thought that uses the tools of analytical philosophy, along with rational choice theory, game theory, and other methods of social science, to clarify and develop the theories of Karl Marx and his followers.
• Key Work: "Philosophical Foundations of Analytical Marxism" by Graeme Kirkpatrick offers an insightful overview of this trend within Marxist thought, highlighting the application of rigorous analytic techniques to traditional Marxist topics.
• Expanded Thoughts: Analytical Marxists tend to avoid what they see as the often obscurantist and jargon-heavy language of traditional Marxist discourse. They aim to make Marxist theory clearer, more coherent, and more scientifically rigorous. Important concepts in Analytical Marxism include class struggle, exploitation, and historical materialism, but these are analyzed with formal methods to expose their underlying mechanisms.
• Key Quote: "Marx’s theory of history contains at its core a dialectic between inherited material circumstance and its incessant social transformation by contemporary human agency. Men make their own history, but they do not make it just as they please; they do not make it under circumstances chosen by themselves, but under circumstances directly encountered, given and transmitted from the past."

Hegelian Dialectics and Marx

• Definition: Hegel's dialectical method, which is about the contradiction and resolution of ideas, was a significant influence on Marx's thought. Marx applied this dialectic method to his analysis of political economy, turning Hegel's idealist dialectic into a materialist one.
• Key Work: Hegel's "Phenomenology of Spirit" is a crucial work that explores the dialectical process, and Marx's "Capital, Volume 1" provides an example of how Marx used and transformed Hegel's dialectic.
• Expanded Thoughts: Hegel's philosophy focuses on the process of becoming and the unfolding of the spirit through a dialectical process. Marx took this dialectical structure and grounded it in material life, arguing that material conditions determine consciousness, not the other way around. Thus, the clash of contradictions (class struggle, for example) in the material world, according to Marx, drives history forward.
• Key Quote: Hegel's: "The bud disappears when the blossom breaks through, and we might say that the former is refuted by the latter; in the same way when the fruit comes, the blossom may be explained to be a false form of the plant's existence, for the fruit appears as its true nature in place of the blossom." Marx's reflection of this influence in "Capital, Volume 1": "My dialectic method is not only different from the Hegelian, but is its direct opposite. To Hegel, the life process of the human brain, i.e., the process of thinking, which, under the name of 'the Idea,' he even transforms into an independent subject, is the demiurgos of the real world, and the real world is only the external, phenomenal form of 'the Idea.' With me, on the contrary, the ideal is nothing else than the material world reflected by the human mind, and translated into forms of thought."

Key Leaders in Marxist History

Throughout the history of Marxism, numerous figures have risen to prominence, championing the cause and leading movements that have shaped societies across the globe. This section of the guide provides an overview of some of these key leaders, exploring their origins, achievements, written works, and the resistance they faced from capitalist powers. While some are strictly Marxist, others are included for their significant contributions to social and economic justice, and their influence on or alignment with certain Marxist principles. Each leader has uniquely interpreted and applied Marxist ideologies, offering different perspectives on the fight against capitalism and the quest for a more equitable world. Their legacies continue to inspire and inform contemporary struggles for justice and equality.

Thomas Sankara

Origin: Born in 1949 in the French colony of Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso), Thomas Sankara joined the military at a young age and was sent to Madagascar for officer training, where he was exposed to political ideologies including Marxism.

Achievements: Sankara came to power through a coup in 1983 and implemented extensive socialist reforms as President of Burkina Faso. He promoted women's rights, literacy, public health, and anti-corruption policies. Known as "Africa's Che Guevara", he also prioritized self-sufficiency and rejected foreign aid.

Written Works: Although Sankara did not produce extensive written works like other figures in this list, his speeches and quotes, such as those collected in "Thomas Sankara Speaks", are still influential.

Capitalist Opposition: Sankara was assassinated in another coup in 1987, widely believed to have been backed by France, who saw his policies and influence as a threat to their interests in Africa.

Eugene Debs

Origin: Born in 1855 in Indiana, USA, Eugene V. Debs started his career as a railroad worker, eventually becoming a labor activist and one of the founding members of the Industrial Workers of the World.

Achievements: Debs was a key figure in the early 20th-century American labor movement. He ran for U.S. president five times as the candidate of the Socialist Party of America, reaching a peak of nearly a million votes in 1912.

Written Works: His works include "Unionism and Socialism" and numerous speeches, articles, and letters advocating for workers' rights and socialism.

Capitalist Opposition: Debs was imprisoned multiple times for his activities, including his opposition to World War I on the grounds that it was a capitalist war. While in prison in 1920, he received nearly a million votes for President.

Fidel Castro

Origin: Born in 1926 in Cuba, Fidel Castro was a lawyer and activist before leading the Cuban Revolution.

Achievements: Castro served as the Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976 and then as President from 1976 to 2008. His regime was notable for its socialist policies, including nationalization of industry and collectivization of agriculture.

Written Works: "History Will Absolve Me" is a famous speech made by Castro in his defense during his trial following his failed attack on the Moncada Barracks.

Capitalist Opposition: The United States, seeing Castro's socialist government as a threat, made numerous attempts to assassinate him and even launched an unsuccessful invasion at the Bay of Pigs.

Fred Hampton

Origin: Born in 1948 in Illinois, USA, Fred Hampton was an activist and revolutionary socialist who became involved in the civil rights movement as a teenager.

Achievements: Hampton was a leader in the Black Panther Party in Chicago. He organized rallies, established a multicultural political alliance in Chicago called the Rainbow Coalition, and developed community service programs such as free breakfast for school children.

Capitalist Opposition: Seen as a threat by the FBI, Hampton was targeted by the controversial COINTELPRO operation. He was assassinated in a raid by the Chicago Police Department in 1969 when he was only 21 years old.

Vladimir Lenin

Origin: Born in 1870 in Simbirsk, Russian Empire, Vladimir Lenin was a revolutionary, politician, and political theorist.

Achievements: Lenin is best known for leading the October Revolution in 1917 and establishing the Soviet state. He served as the head of the Soviet government until his death in 1924, during which time he implemented socialist policies such as worker self-management and land redistribution.

Written Works: Lenin was a prolific writer, and his works, such as "State and Revolution" and "Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism," continue to be influential in Marxist thought.

Capitalist Opposition: Capitalist powers, fearing the spread of communism, attempted to undermine Lenin's rule, including through intervention in the Russian Civil War.

Martin Luther King Jr.

Origin: Born in 1929 in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, Martin Luther King Jr. was a Baptist minister and civil rights leader.

Achievements: Although not a Marxist in the strict sense, King was deeply influenced by Marx's critique of capitalism, particularly its inherent inequalities. He was a key leader in the Civil Rights Movement, advocating for racial equality and economic justice.

Written Works: His "Letter from a Birmingham Jail" and "I Have a Dream" speech are among the most influential texts in American history.

Capitalist Opposition: King faced significant opposition from U.S. authorities. His opposition to the Vietnam War and his Poor People’s Campaign, which demanded economic and social justice, brought him under intense government surveillance. He was assassinated in 1968 by the FBI.

Chairman Mao Zedong

Origin: Born in 1893 in Hunan, China, Mao Zedong was a communist revolutionary and the founding father of the People's Republic of China.

Achievements: Mao led the Communist Party of China to victory in the Chinese Civil War, establishing the People's Republic of China in 1949. His tenure was marked by significant socio-political changes and campaigns such as the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution.

Written Works: Mao's "Quotations from Chairman Mao," also known as the Little Red Book, contains statements from his speeches and writings.

Capitalist Opposition: Mao's China was isolated and threatened by capitalist powers, particularly during the Korean War when the United States intervened against communist forces.

Ho Chi Minh

Origin: Born in 1890 in central Vietnam, which was then part of French Indochina, Ho Chi Minh was a Vietnamese communist revolutionary leader.

Achievements: Ho led the Viet Minh independence movement from 1941 onward, establishing the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in 1945 and defeating the French Union in 1954, ending the First Indochina War.

Written Works: Ho Chi Minh was a prolific writer, and his poems, articles, and letters explore themes of nationalism and communism.

Capitalist Opposition: His leadership during the Vietnam War made him a target of the U.S., which sought to contain the spread of communism in Southeast Asia. His forces fought a long and bloody war against U.S.-backed South Vietnam.

Josef Tito

Origin: Born in 1892 in the Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia, part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Josip Broz, known as Tito, was a Yugoslav communist revolutionary and statesman.

Achievements: Tito led the Yugoslav Partisans, recognized as the most effective resistance group in occupied Europe during WWII. He served as the Prime Minister and later President of Yugoslavia, during which time he implemented socialist policies and managed to maintain Yugoslav sovereignty against both the Eastern Bloc and NATO during the Cold War.

Capitalist Opposition: As a non-aligned leader who refused to conform to the Soviet model of socialism, Tito was subject to political pressures and threats from both the capitalist West and the communist East.

Che Guevara

Origin: Born in 1928 in Rosario, Argentina, Ernesto "Che" Guevara was a Marxist revolutionary, physician, author, and military theorist.

Achievements: Guevara played a key role in the Cuban Revolution alongside Fidel Castro. After the revolution, he held several important posts in the government and wrote extensively on Marxism and guerrilla warfare.

Written Works: His "The Motorcycle Diaries" chronicles his early travels across South America, while "Guerrilla Warfare" is a manual of armed revolution.

Capitalist Opposition: Guevara's efforts to spread revolution made him a target of capitalist powers, notably the United States. He was captured and executed in Bolivia with the involvement of the CIA.

Nelson Mandela

Origin: Born in 1918 in Mvezo, South Africa, Nelson Mandela was a South African anti-apartheid revolutionary and political leader.

Achievements: While not a strict Marxist, Mandela was influenced by Marxist thought and led the African National Congress in a decades-long struggle against South Africa's apartheid regime. His leadership resulted in the end of apartheid and the establishment of a multi-racial democracy.

Written Works: His autobiography, "Long Walk to Freedom," describes his early life, his political development, and his 27 years in prison.

Capitalist Opposition: Western capitalist powers initially supported the apartheid regime and labelled Mandela a terrorist. He spent 27 years in prison before his release in 1990. It is thought that the CIA was involved in his capture.

Malcolm X

Origin: Born in 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska, USA, Malcolm X was an African American Muslim minister and human rights activist.

Achievements: While not a Marxist, Malcolm X was a fierce critic of capitalism and its role in perpetuating racial inequality. His advocacy for Black empowerment and his critiques of the civil rights movement's integrationist policies were highly influential.

Written Works: "The Autobiography of Malcolm X," as told to Alex Haley, is a seminal work that continues to be widely read and cited.

Capitalist Opposition: Malcolm X faced extensive surveillance from the FBI and was assassinated in 1965. His radical politics and critique of American capitalism were heavily demonized.

Bernie Sanders

Origin: Born in 1941 in Brooklyn, New York, USA, Bernie Sanders is an American politician who has been the junior United States Senator from Vermont since 2007.

Achievements: Sanders identifies as a democratic socialist, advocating for policies such as universal healthcare, tuition-free higher education, and wealth redistribution. While he has not held executive office, his 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns brought socialist ideas into the mainstream of American politics.

Capitalist Opposition: Sanders' campaigns faced significant opposition from both Republican and Democratic establishments, with his proposals often criticized as too radical and costly. He has been vilified by right-wing media and faces resistance from corporate interests due to his critique of income inequality and advocacy for labor rights.

Socialist/Marxist Intellectuals

This section delves into figures who, while not always direct Marxists, were proponents of Marxist beliefs or socialist ideals. Their contributions to their respective fields often overshadow their political views in public memory. Nonetheless, their advocacy for social and economic equality played a significant role in their life and work.

Albert Einstein

Origin: Born in 1879 in the Kingdom of Württemberg, German Empire, Albert Einstein was a theoretical physicist who developed the theory of relativity, one of the two pillars of modern physics.

Socialist Advocacy: Einstein advocated for a number of socialist principles, particularly in his essay "Why Socialism?" published in 1949. In it, Einstein criticizes capitalism and advocates for a planned socialist economy.

Capitalist Opposition: While Einstein's scientific contributions are universally recognized, his socialist beliefs are often overlooked or ignored, particularly during the era of McCarthyism when left-wing beliefs were heavily stigmatized in the United States.

Helen Keller

Origin: Born in 1880 in Alabama, USA, Helen Keller was a renowned author, activist, and lecturer. Despite being deaf and blind from a young age, she became a celebrated public figure.

Socialist Advocacy: Keller was a committed socialist who linked her advocacy for people with disabilities to a broader critique of industrial capitalism. She was a member of the Socialist Party of America and the Industrial Workers of the World.

Capitalist Opposition: Despite her renown, Keller's socialist beliefs were often downplayed or ignored by mainstream narratives, focusing instead on her accomplishments as a person with disabilities.

Frida Kahlo

Origin: Born in 1907 in Mexico City, Mexico, Frida Kahlo was a prominent painter known for her raw, surreal, and symbolic works.

Socialist Advocacy: While Kahlo's work was deeply personal, it was also political. She was an active member of the Mexican Communist Party, and her work often reflected her beliefs in indigenous culture and anti-imperialism.

Capitalist Opposition: While Kahlo is celebrated for her art and feminist icon status, her political beliefs are often sanitized in popular portrayals, reducing her to her aesthetic and personal life rather than her political commitments.

Albert Camus

Origin: Born in 1913 in French Algeria, Albert Camus was a philosopher, author, and journalist. He won the Nobel Prize in Literature at the age of 44 in 1957.

Socialist Advocacy: Although he is often associated with existentialism, Camus had a complex relationship with Marxism throughout his life. He was a member of the French Resistance against Nazi occupation, which was primarily a communist-led movement, and he initially supported, but later critiqued, the Soviet model of socialism.

Capitalist Opposition: Camus' nuanced critiques of both capitalist and totalitarian regimes often resulted in him being somewhat marginalized in the dominant Cold War narratives that sought to clearly demarcate capitalism and communism.

Mark Twain

Origin: Born in 1835 in Missouri, USA, Mark Twain, whose real name was Samuel Clemens, was an author and humorist, renowned for his novels "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" and "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn."

Socialist Advocacy: Twain was a fierce critic of imperialism and spoke against economic exploitation. His quote, "Who are the oppressors? The few: the king, the capitalist, and a handful of other overseers and superintendents. Who are the oppressed? The many: the nations of the earth; the valuable personages; the workers; they that make the bread that the soft-handed and idle eat", reflects his views. Twain was associated with figures in the American labor movement, such as Ignatius Donnelly, and expressed sympathy with workers and the exploited.

Capitalist Opposition: Twain’s political views, particularly his anti-imperialist and labor rights stances, are often overshadowed by his literary fame. His critique of capitalism and imperialism is seldom discussed in mainstream educational contexts.

Aldous Huxley

Origin: Born in 1894 in Surrey, England, Aldous Huxley was a writer and philosopher best known for his dystopian novel "Brave New World."

Socialist Advocacy: While Huxley did not openly identify as a Marxist, his works often critiqued capitalism and expressed a vision for a more egalitarian society. He warned of the dangers of unchecked technological advancement under capitalist systems, which he believed would lead to an erosion of human freedom and dignity.

Capitalist Opposition: Despite the anti-capitalist themes in his works, the focus often remains on his commentary on technology and societal control, and his critiques of capitalism are often overlooked.

Charlie Chaplin

Origin: Born in 1889 in London, England, Charlie Chaplin was an actor, filmmaker, and composer who became a global symbol of silent cinema.

Socialist Advocacy: Chaplin's films often critiqued capitalism and inequality. His film "Modern Times" is a direct commentary on the hardships of workers in industrialized society. While he didn't identify as a Marxist, he had sympathies for socialist ideas and was a strong critic of social injustice and rampant capitalism.

Capitalist Opposition: Chaplin was eventually targeted by the U.S. government during the era of McCarthyism for his political beliefs and faced heavy opposition, leading to his re-entry denial into the U.S. after a trip abroad.

Tupac Shakur

Origin: Born in 1971 in New York, USA, Tupac Shakur was a rapper, actor, and activist. He is regarded as one of the most influential figures in hip-hop history.

Socialist Advocacy: Shakur often addressed contemporary social issues, particularly those affecting African American communities, in his music. His lyrics frequently highlighted economic inequality, police brutality, and the systemic oppression faced by Black people in America. Raised by parents who were members of the Black Panther Party, Shakur expressed sentiments aligned with socialism and communal living.

Capitalist Opposition: Despite his popularity, Shakur faced a substantial amount of controversy and legal trouble, in part due to his outspokenness about social and economic inequality. His critique of systemic racism and capitalism is often overshadowed by the more sensational aspects of his life and death.

Ernest Hemingway

Origin: Born in 1899 in Illinois, USA, Ernest Hemingway was an author and journalist, known for his distinctive writing style and his novels such as "The Old Man and the Sea," and "For Whom the Bell Tolls."

Socialist Advocacy: Hemingway's political views leaned towards socialism, demonstrated in his support for the Republican side in the Spanish Civil War, a conflict marked by the fight against fascism and the defense of a democratic and socialist republic. His book "For Whom the Bell Tolls" is set in this context and includes sympathetic portrayals of socialist characters.

Capitalist Opposition: Hemingway's political beliefs have been often overshadowed by his personal life and his stylistic influence on 20th-century fiction. The anti-fascist and socialist leanings in his works are less frequently highlighted. He was gang stalked by the FBI throughout the later half of his life.

Pablo Picasso

Origin: Born in 1881 in Spain, Pablo Picasso was a painter, sculptor, and one of the most influential artists of the 20th century, best known for developing the Cubist movement.

Socialist Advocacy: Picasso was a member of the Communist Party and an outspoken advocate for peace and against fascism. His painting "Guernica," depicting the Nazi German bombing of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War, has been heralded as a monumental anti-war and anti-fascist symbol.

Capitalist Opposition: While Picasso's artistic innovations are widely recognized, his political beliefs are often relegated to the background. His engagement with communist and anti-fascist movements are lesser-known aspects of his life.

George Michael

Origin: Born in 1963 in London, England, George Michael was a singer, songwriter, and record producer, known for his hit singles like "Careless Whisper" and "Last Christmas."

Socialist Advocacy: George Michael was a member of the Young Communists League in his early life. His music often reflected themes of social justice and equality, and he was known for his philanthropic activities, often aimed at aiding marginalized communities.

Capitalist Opposition: Michael's political beliefs have often been overshadowed by his music and personal life. The media's focus has often been on his pop icon status rather than his political affiliations or advocacy.

Lucille Ball

Origin: Born in 1911 in New York, USA, Lucille Ball was an actress, comedian, and producer, best known for her television show "I Love Lucy."

Socialist Advocacy: Lucille Ball listed her party affiliation as "Communist" when she registered to vote in 1936 and 1938. In 1936, she even sponsored a Communist Party candidate for the state's 57th district.

Capitalist Opposition: Despite her political affiliations, the focus on Ball's life has primarily been her comedic talent and groundbreaking role as a female producer in the television industry. Her political beliefs were controversial during the era of McCarthyism, leading to an FBI investigation, but she continued her career and remained an influential figure in American television.