Maurice Bishop's Message to Africans in the United States

19 October 1983 marks the day of the assassination of one the most charismatic African leaders of our time. Maurice Bishop was a prominent political figure in the Caribbean, best known for his leadership in the Grenadian Revolution and the establishment of the New Jewel Movement.

The turning point in Bishop's political career came in March 1979, when the New Jewel Movement successfully led a coup against the authoritarian government of Eric Gairy on the Caribbean island nation of Grenada. Bishop was installed as the prime minister, and his administration implemented a series of socialist reforms, including land redistribution, education expansion, and healthcare improvements. The government also developed strong ties with Cuba, which caused concern among Western powers, particularly the United States.

On 5 June 1983, Bishop spoke to a room that burst at the seams at Hunter College in New York City. The audience was predominately Africans in America, who had flocked to hear the Grenadian leader speak about how the US government was plotting to destabilize and destroy the revolution in Grenada because it feared African sovereignty and independence. You can hear the electricity in the room.

That same October, Maurice Bishop was arrested and assassinated during a coup by a faction the New Jewel Movement, led by Bernard Coard. The internal conflict led to his violent death, and opened the door for violent US military occupation.

Let us know in the comments what you think of Bishop's remarks.