Hari Kondabolu

Revo Lessons

It was 33 years ago today that the New Jewel Movement seized state power on the Caribbean island of Grenada – a textbook cold war revolution, but with several elements that gave it exciting potential.

Grenada is a small island with just over 100,000 people. On this scale, socialist theorists have an opportunity to rethink collective production and ownership without the size burdens of the Soviet model. These are an English-speaking people of African decent. What happens on Grenada can be easily shared with a large African-American and pan-African audience.

We tend to remember the Grenadian Revolution through the historical lens of its tragic demise; but, what lessons are there to be learned from all that was done right during this period?

Cuban Solidarity Poster (1982)
by Rafael Morante Boyerizo












GRENADA: The Future Coming Towards Us
-A documentary on the Grenadian Revolution.

The Grenada Tapes
-John Douglas (one of the "Future Coming Towards Us" filmmakers) has begun digitizing some of the tapes he made while living in Grenada.

The Grenada Revolution Online
-Learn the basics of the story of The Grenadian Revolution.







The Revo Blog
-One woman's personal account of the Grenadian Revolution, the coup and U.S. invasion.






Freire in Grenada
-Professor Rich Gibson's analysis of Paulo Freire's Grenadian Literacy Project.







Working Out Grenada: An Interview with Merle Collins
-From Calabash Magazine.






Requiem for Revolution: Perspectives in the U.S. / OECS Intervention in Grenada
-by William Eric Perkins from Contributions in Black Studies.











-An audio reminder of the historical events of March 13, 1979.

The Lost Bishop Photos
-During the invasion, a U.S. paratrooper finds a box of books, pamphlets and unprocessed film in a drainage ditch. A few years later, he develops the film and is surprised to discover photos of Maurice Bishop, Unison Whitman and various scenes from the Revo years.

United States PSYOP in Grenada
-Sergeant Major Herbert A. Friedman (Ret.) outlines some of the Psychological Operations carried out by the U.S military during the invasion.

GRENADA: Rescued From Rape and Slavery
-Post-invasion comic book put out by the CIA.






The Grenada Documents
-A selection from the over five tons of documents collected by US armed forces during the invasion. This collection has been edited and released by the U.S. Department of Defense, ostensibly to show the inner workings of a hostile regime arming itself against the United States. It also makes an interesting read for anti-poverty activists who wish to see some of the activities of a state-run national development plan.










-In October 2011, the Grenada Arts Council hosted an exhibition: "The Grenada Revolution 1979-1983: Artists' Perspective."

March 13, 2012

Mandela Mandala

Rebrand Occupy Wall Street

Occupy Together

The Wall Street occupation is gaining support. Business as usual in corporate America is making people angry. The gap between rich and poor continues to widen. The top 1% of the population now owns 40% of this country’s wealth; the bottom 40% holds less than 1%.

Finding creative solutions to these problems will require us all to work together. Start conversations with family, friends and neighbors. Find common passions. Address human needs in our communities. Pressure elected officials to do the same.

Organize

Choose an issue that is important to you. Join together with like-minded family, friends and neighbors. Learn how to run a meeting. Set broad goals and specific objectives.

Don’t rely solely on the Internet. Reach out to poor people, people of color, high school and college students, working mothers. Find common ground. Build a diverse movement.

Practice democracy. Struggle through the process of building consensus. Commit to nonviolence. Choose your battles.

Have Fun

Practice sharing. Use theater and art to get your message out into the world. Create a drum circle. Throw a party.

Practice civil disobedience. Practice civility. Use theater to rehearse your nonviolent actions. And remember, if you happen to get arrested for a cause that you believe in...smile!



Click Here for PDF Version

Gandhi Spinning

I Have a Dream