Posted June 13, 2010
Today marks the 30th anniversary of the assassination of Afro-Caribbean intellectual and revolutionary Walter Rodney. On June 13, 1980, Rodney was killed by a car bomb planted by an agent of the authoritarian and nominally “socialist” Forbes Burnham regime in Guyana–a regime he had mounted critical opposition against through the Working People’s Alliance. Rodney was the author of several groundbreaking books and pamphlets, most notably How Europe Underdeveloped Africa.
If you’re unfamiliar with this legend of Pan-Africanist and Marxist thought (or with Guyana, which has a fascinating history of struggle against capitalism and white supremacy), you owe it to yourself to check out some of the links below. If you are already among the many touched by his legacy, take a moment to encourage others to engage his writings and political activism. Please also utilize the comments section below to tell us how you first encountered Rodney or how he’s influenced your work or thought!
Walter Rodney writings archive
Revolutionary Centennial: Guyana’s 1905 Rebellion — Nigel Westmaas
Cheddi Jagan’s Politics and Legacy — an interview with Clive Y. Thomas
The Caribbean Left’s Legacy — Sara Abraham interviews Eusi Kwayana
The Targeting of Walter Rodney — Michael O. West
The Terror and the Time — Interview with Rupert Roopnaraine by Monica Jardine and Andaiye
Coming soon to the webzine: videos and reports from the 2010 Walter Rodney Symposium!
Comments
2 responses to “Walter Rodney, 30 Years Since Assassination”
Thanks for remembering Walter Rodney 30 years after his assassination! Here’s another article Against the Current published on this remarkable revolutionary thinker and activist:
Sara Abraham’s “The Message and Meaning of Walter Rodney,” ATC 118 (Sept./Oct. 2005), http://www.solidarity-us.org/current/node/46
“Walter Rodney, Prophet of Self-Emancipation” – tribute at Pambazuka