When Africa calls, Cuba Answers!
Special contribution by Rosemary Mealy*
Today is Africa Day, May 25, 2023. This day is also a reminder where on May 19, 2023, we also commemorated the 98th birthday of Malcolm X (El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz). These two dates in the month of May, invoke the reverence of those African leaders as well as Malcolm X who inspired and led their people and countries in the struggles to defeat colonialism and the ongoing struggles against racism. These historical seeds of liberation have sprouted along some very glorious paths in our long walks of resistance against tyrannies. They stretch from the Continent of Africa to the Americas.
The long history of interacting and acknowledging these two dates in Cuba has always been seen as part of the Cuban people’s own commonality in resisting all attempts by governments and regimes that are set up to serve United States imperialism. Three years after the OAU founded African Liberation Day, Havana was the host to the 1966 Tricontinental Conference, which initiated the first anti-imperialist alliance of the peoples of the three continents. The concept of Tricontinentalism did offer a useful framework for understanding global, antiracist, and anti-imperialist politics. I also think that for many the term is another way to affirm the centrality and importance of internationalism. At the closing session of the conference Fidel spoke where he reminded the participants:
Therefore, this has been a great victory for the revolutionary movement. Never has there been a gathering of such dimensions and of such magnitude, a gathering in which the revolutionary representations of 82 peoples have met to discuss problems of common interest. Never has there been such a large meeting, because the peoples of three continents have been here; the revolutionary movements of the peoples of three continents who have a common anti-imperialist stance; who represent the struggle of their peoples with differing philosophical ideas or positions, or with differing religious beliefs; who on many occasions represent differing ideologies. But they have something in common. What the peoples have most in common to unite the people of three continents and of all the world today is the struggle against imperialism (applause); the struggle against colonialism and neocolonialism, the struggle against racism and, in short, all the phenomena which are the contemporary expression we call imperialism, whose center, axis, and principal support of Yankee imperialism."
Fidel was a global voice for human rights and justice so was Malcolm X (El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz). Both were men of integrity. As an Internationalist. Immediately after the Triumph of the Cuban Revolution, the mood and strength of both the people in Harlem and in Cuba was broaden in 1960 when Fidel and the Cuban Delegation were welcomed to Harlem and the two leaders met. The meeting symbolized and provided a keener awareness of how these two great leaders had profound foresight and understanding of their surroundings. Both men exhibited a keen awareness, and they respected each other, and the world became far better which represents another aspect of their combined legacies. These are the seeds that continue to sprout on May19th and African Day May 25th.
Malcolm taught us to respond when Cuba calls to answer, because when Africa calls, Cuba Answers!
*Lawyer, Universiy professor and friend of Cuba. Author of the book "Fidel and Malcom X".