You should read Sakai's book on the lumpenproletariat. One of the most interesting observations is that the history of the lumpenproletariat is one of contingent alliances between them and other classes - Mao's Red Army recruited heavily from them.
Not sure Aimee has a ton of sympathy for Sakai, or indeed Mao. That said nothing would be more to my satisfaction than seeing people actually talk about his work instead of retreating to it as a half joke when cornered.
