The Teachings of John Africa: Life, System, and Resistance

This course provides a detailed examination of the teachings of John Africa and the philosophy of the MOVE organization. At the core of this study is the distinction between 'Life,' defined as the divine natural order, and 'The System,' which represents the artificial and destructive institutions of modern society. The lectures analyze 'The Guidelines,' a dictated manual for living that advocates for a return to primal instincts and communal discipline. Key topics include radical naturalism, the rejection of processed foods and technology, and biological egalitarianism—the belief that all living things are equal. The course further explains the adoption of the surname 'Africa' as a symbolic rejection of systemic hierarchies and a commitment to shared identity. Beyond lifestyle practices, the series covers MOVE's critiques of institutional racism, police brutality, and capitalism. It details the group's refusal to engage with modern medicine and state-run education, opting instead for survival-based learning and natural healing. The curriculum provides historical context regarding the friction between MOVE and municipal authorities, including the violent clashes in Philadelphia in 1978 and 1985. By situating MOVE within the frameworks of anarcho-primitivism and radical environmentalism, the course evaluates the group as both a political movement and a religion. It addresses the consequences of totalizing belief systems and the challenges of living in constant opposition to the state. Listeners will gain a grounded understanding of how these teachings challenged the status quo and what they suggest about the relationship between humans and the systems they inhabit.