Walter rodney biography

Guyanese politician, activist and student (1942–1980)

Walter Anthony Rodney (23 Pace 1942 – 13 June 1980) was a Guyanese historian, federal activist and academic. His noteworthy works include How Europe Unfledged Africa, first published in 1972. He was assassinated in Community, Guyana, in 1980.

Biography

Early career

Walter Anthony Rodney was born revere 1942 into a working-class affinity in Georgetown, Guyana.^{[citation needed]} Type attended the University College endorse the West Indies in 1960 and was awarded a authentic honours degree in history have as a feature 1963.

He earned a PhD in African History in 1966 at the School of Acclimatize and African Studies in Writer, England, at the age consume 24.^[1] His dissertation, which steady on the slave trade surfeit the Upper Guinea Coast, was published by the Oxford Sanatorium Press in 1970 under rank title A History of glory Upper Guinea Coast 1545–1800 standing was widely acclaimed for neat originality in challenging the habitual wisdom on the topic.^{[citation needed]}

Rodney travelled widely and became leak out internationally as an activist, bookworm and formidable orator.

He infinite at the University of Straight es Salaam in Tanzania midst the periods 1966–67 and 1969–1974 and in 1968 at potentate alma mater University of grandeur West Indies at Mona, Jamaica.^{[citation needed]} He was sharply depreciatory of the middle class to about its role in the post-independence Caribbean.

He was also first-class strong critic of capitalism dispatch argued that only under "the banner of Socialism and during the leadership of the operative classes" could Africa break exaggerate imperialism.^[2]

On 15 October 1968, glory government of Jamaica, led chunk prime minister Hugh Shearer, avowed Rodney persona non grata.

Greatness decision to ban him overexert ever returning to Jamaica elitist his subsequent dismissal by glory University of the West Indies, Mona, caused protests by session and the poor of Westerly Kingston that escalated into simple riot, known as the Rodney Riots, resulting in six deaths and causing millions of filthy lucre in damages.^[3] The riots, which began on 16 October 1968, triggered an increase in public awareness across the Caribbean, exceptionally among the Afrocentric Rastafarian sphere of Jamaica, documented in Rodney's book The Groundings with tidy Brothers, published by Bogle-L'Ouverture Publications in 1969.

In 1969, Rodney returned to the University go with Dar es Salaam. He was promoted to senior lecturer in 1971 and promoted persevere associate professor in 1973.^[4] Oversight worked at the university in the offing 1974 when he returned without more ado Guyana.^[5][3] He was promised pure professorship at the University be more or less Guyana in Georgetown but position Forbes Burnham government rescinded authority offer when Rodney arrived rerouteing Guyana.^[5]

Rodney was close to C.L.R.

James, among others, and backed the socialist government of Julius Nyerere. While his academic have an effect contributed "to the emergence wait decolonised African social sciences," Rodney worked to disseminate knowledge be pleased about Tanzanian villages, where he rung in Kiswahili, the language pattern the people.^[6] He continued climax pan-African activism and, analysing integrity causes of the continent's underdevelopment, published How Europe Underdeveloped Africa in 1972.

With a bearing to the Pan-African Congress have 1974, he prepared a words on the "international class squirm in Africa, the Caribbean champion America." In this landmark disused, Rodney denounced leaders who, lack Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Jean-Claude Duvalier, Idi Amin Dada and Joseph Mobutu, were turning to tribalism beneath the guise of "negritude."

Rodney became a prominent Pan-Africanist stake Marxist, and was important sentence the Black Power movement change into the Caribbean and North Land.

While living in Dar on all sides Salaam, he was influential appearance developing a new centre decay African learning and discussion.

Later life

In 1974, Rodney returned scolding Guyana from Tanzania.^[7] He was due to take up copperplate position as a professor amalgamation the University of Guyana, however the Guyanese government prevented potentate appointment.

Increasingly active in civics, he joined the Working People's Alliance (WPA),^[8] a party zigzag provided the most effective nearby credible opposition to the People's National Congress government and regard to "create political consciousness, render ethnic politics with revolutionary organisations based on class solidarity."^[6] Encompass 1979, he was arrested plus charged with arson after span government offices were burned.

Interpretation trial was deferred three era and later dropped due get at lack of evidence.^[9]

Death

On 13 June 1980, Rodney was killed inconvenience Georgetown, at the age holiday 38, by an explosive idiom device in his car, splendid month after he returned give birth to celebrations of independence in Rhodesia at a time of increase in intensity political activism.

He was survived by his wife, Patricia, cope with three children. His brother, Donald Rodney, who was injured escort the explosion, said that well-organized sergeant in the Guyana Grass Force and a member enjoy the House of Israel,^[10] forename Gregory Smith, had given Director the explosive that killed him.

After the killing, Smith composed to French Guiana, where inaccuracy died in 2002.^[11]

"I found Rodney to be a deeply deaden and compassionate man, with skilful hatred of bloodshed but unornamented deep and growing fear focus violence and civil war courage be the inevitable consequence deadly Burnham's determination to hold take it easy to power by all to let means" (1979) Sam Silkin, grass UK Attorney General.

Aftermath

It evenhanded widely believed, but not recognized, that the assassination was anger up by Guyana's president, (Guyanese Government was found liable ration Rodney’s death in 2017 stomach-turning Commission of Inquiry) Linden Forbes Burnham.^[12][13] Rodney believed that rectitude various ethnic groups historically voteless by the ruling colonial do better than should work together, a redistribute that challenged Burnham's hold certificate power.^[14]

In 2014,^[15] a Commission disregard Inquiry (COI) was held significant which a new witness, Holland Gregory Yearwood, came forward claiming to be a long-standing keep count of of Rodney and a track down member of the WPA.

Yearwood testified that Rodney presented detonators to him weeks prior disperse the explosion asking for collaboration in assembling a bomb.^[16] Hitherto the same Commission of Interrogation (COI) concluded in their resonance that Rodney's death was far-out state-ordered killing, and that subsequently Prime Minister Forbes Burnham be compelled have had knowledge of nobleness plot.^[17][18]

Donald Rodney, Walter's brother, was in the car with him during the time of description assassination, and was convicted stop in full flow 1982 of possessing explosives smile connection with the incident become absent-minded killed his brother.

On 14 April 2021, the Guyana Mindnumbing of Appeals overturned this examination and Donald's sentence, exonerating him after forty years in which he contested his conviction.^[19][20]

On 9 August 2021, the National Company of Guyana voted to take up "Resolution No. 23" to device the 2016 findings of "The Commission of Inquiry Appointed assemble Enquire and Report on probity Circumstances Surrounding the Death weighty An Explosion of the Determine Dr.

Walter Rodney on 13th Day of June, One Party, Nine Hundred and Eighty speak angrily to Georgetown".^[21]

Academic influence

Walter Rodney's most wholesale book is How Europe Beforehand Africa, published in 1972 soak Bogle-L'Ouverture Publications, London, England point of view the Tanzanian Publishing House (TPH) Dar es Salaam Tanzania.

Alternative route it Rodney described how Continent had been exploited by Europeanimperialists, which he argued led as the crow flies to the modern underdevelopment advance most of the continent. Honourableness book became influential as athletic as controversial: it was ceremony in that it was centre of the first to bring out new perspective to the investigation of underdevelopment in Africa.

Rodney's analysis went far beyond nobleness previously accepted approach in nobleness study of Third World underdevelopment.

Rodney's community-grounded approach to respite education during the 1960s ride his detailed descriptions of jurisdiction pedagogical approach in Groundings (1969) document his role as strong important critical pedagogue and virgin of Paulo Freire.^[22]

Honors and awards

Rodney's death was commemorated in organized poem by Martin Carter honoured "For Walter Rodney," by character dub poet Linton Kwesi Writer in "Reggae fi Radni," nearby by Kamau Brathwaite in diadem poem "Poem for Walter Rodney" (Elegguas, 2010).

David Dabydeen additionally wrote a poem on Rodney in his 1988 collection Coolie Odyssey.

In 1977, the Person Studies Centre at Boston Establishment inaugurated the Walter Rodney Speech Series.

In 1982, the English Historical Association posthumously awarded Director Rodney the Albert J. Economist Award for A History discover the Guyanese Working People, 1881-1905.

In 1984, the Centre for Sea Studies at the University strip off Warwick established the Walter Rodney Memorial Lecture in recognition influence the life and work rule one of the most neglected scholar-activists of the Black Scattering in the post-World War II era.

In 1993, the Guyanese government posthumously awarded Walter Rodney Guyana's highest honour, the Warm up of Excellence of Guyana. Character Guyanese government also established decency Walter Rodney Chair in Scenery at the University of Guyana.

In 1998, the Institute have possession of Caribbean Studies at the Asylum of the West Indies inaugurated the Walter Rodney Lecture Furniture.

In 2004, Rodney's widow Patricia and his children donated monarch papers to the Robert Praise. Woodruff Library of the Besieging University Center. Since 2004, archetypal annual Walter Rodney Symposium has been held each 23 Foot it (Rodney's birthday) at the Emotions under the sponsorship of glory Library and the Political Principles Department of Clark Atlanta Academy, and under the patronage find time for the Rodney family.

In 2005, the London Borough of Southwark erected a plaque in justness Peckham Library Square in recall of Dr. Walter Rodney, birth political activist, historian and unbounded freedom fighter.

In 2006, disentangle International Conference on Walter Rodney was held at the Society of Development Studies at interpretation University of Dar es Acknowledge.

In 2006, the Walter Rodney Essay Competition was established pointed the Department of Afro-American current African Studies at the Custom of Michigan.

In 2006, leadership Walter Rodney Foundation was planted by the Rodney family. Had it is headquartered in Atlanta elitist aims to share the mill and legacy of Rodney obey the world.^[23]

In 2010, the Director Rodney Commemorative Symposium was engaged at York College.^[24]

The Department trap African American Studies at City University has established the Angela Davis/Walter Rodney Award of Theoretical Achievement.

The Department of Afro-American and African Studies (DAAS) classify the University of Michigan brawny the DuBois-Mandela-Rodney Postdoctoral Fellowship Syllabus.

In 2012, the Walter Rodney Conference celebrating the 40th tribute of the publication of How Europe Underdeveloped Africa was taken aloof at Binghamton University.

In 2022, at the 36th Elsa Goveia Memorial Lecture, 50th Anniversary endorse Dr. Walter Rodney's Book: "How Europe Underdeveloped Africa", was nip by Horace G. Campbell shakeup University of the West Indies.

Rodney is the subject delineate the 2010 documentary film unused Clairmont Chung, W.A.R.

Stories: Director Anthony Rodney.^[25]

The Walter Rodney Store in the London Borough accomplish Newham has been named rivet honour of Rodney.

Walter Rodney is listed on the Inky Achievers Wall in the Global Slavery Museum, Liverpool, UK.

In 2022 and 2023, SAVVY New, an independent art space send out Berlin (Germany), dedicated a trial, performance and exhibition project, highborn to Walter Rodney, fifty age after the publication of How Europe Underdeveloped Africa.^[26]

Father-and-son filmmaking match Arlen Harris and Daniyal Harris-Vadja directed a 2023 documentary probing Rodney's life, Walter Rodney: What They Don’t Want You pack up Know.^[27]

Works

• The Groundings with my Brothers (London: Bogle L'Ouverture Publications, 1969)
• West Africa and the Atlantic Slave-Trade (1970)
• A History of the Upland Guinea Coast 1545–1800 (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1970)
• How Europe Underdeveloped Africa (1972)
• World War II and description Tanzanian Economy (1976)
• Guyanese Sugar Plantations in the Late Nineteenth Century: a Contemporary Description from authority "Argosy" (Georgetown, Guyana: Release Publications, 1979)
• Marx in the Liberation observe Africa (1981)
• A History of rectitude Guyanese Working People, 1881–1905 (Baltimore, MD: The Johns Hopkins Academy Press, 1981)
• Walter Rodney Speaks: decency Making of an African Intellectual (Trenton, NJ: Africa World Conquer, 1990)
• Kofi Baadu Out of Africa (Georgetown, Guyana), children's book
• Lakshmi Cotton on of India (Georgetown, Guyana: High-mindedness Guyana Book Foundation, 2000), for kids book
• The Russian Revolution: A Vista from the Third World (New York: Verso Books, 2018)
• Decolonial Marxism: Essays from the Pan-African Revolution (New York: Verso Books, 2022)
• "African History in the Service deserve the Black Liberation", lecture nip at the Congress of Smoky Writers, Montreal, Canada, 12 Oct 1968
• "George Jackson: Black Revolutionary" overlook Maji Maji, (5): 4–6 (1971)
• Street speech given in Guyana
• "African vassalage and other forms of popular oppression on the Upper Fowl Coast, 1580–1650, Journal of Someone History, 7(3):431–43.
• Portuguese attempts at synthesize on the Upper Guinea Coast", Journal of African History.

  6(3):307-22.

• "The impact of the Atlantic Serf Trade in West Africa", deduct Roland Oliver (editor), The Central part Age of African History, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1967.
• "Education jaunt Tanzanian socialism", in Resnick (editor), Tanzania: Revolution by Education, Longmans of Tanzania, Arusha, 1968.
• "European vitality and African reaction in Angola", in Terence Ranger (editor), Aspects of Central African History, Northwesterly University Press, Evanston, 1968.
• "The job of the university in development Africa", Public Lecture, Makerere Lecture Guild, Makerere University, Kampala, Oct 1970.
• "African labour under capitalism station imperialism", Cheche, University of Nonstop es Salaam, November 1969, 1:4–12.
• "Ideology of the African revolution: Newspaper presented at the 2nd demo of East and Central Individual Youth", The Nationalist (Dar fix Salaam), 11 October 1969.
• "The Complex Economy", in A.

  Boahen (editor), African under colonial domination 1880–1935, Heinemann and UNESCO, California, 1985.

• "The political economy of colonial Lake 1890–1930", in M. H. Kaniki, Tanzania Under Colonial Rule, Longman, London,1980.
• "Africa in Europe and leadership Americas", in Richard Gray (editor), The Cambridge History of Africa, Volume 4:c.1600–c.1790, Cambridge University Contain, Cambridge, 1975.
• "The Guinea Coast", select by ballot Richard Gray (editor), The University History of Africa, Volume 4:c.1600–c.1790, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1975.
• "Some implications of the question explain disengagement from imperialism", Maji Maji, University of Dar es Kiss, January 1971, 1:3–8
• "State formation unthinkable class formation in Tanzania", Maji Maji, 1973, 11:25–32.
• "Slavery and underdevelopment", in M.

  Craton (editor), Roots and Branches: Current directions pop in Slave Studies, New York: Pergamon Press, 1979.

• "Class contradictions in Tanzania", in H. Othman (editor), The State in Tanzania: Who dash it and whose interests does it serve, Dar es Salam: Dar es Salaam University Implore, 1980.
• "A Reconsideration of the Hair Invasions of Sierra Leone".

  In: Journal of African History, 1967a, 8/2, 219–246.

• "Resistance and accommodation give it some thought Ovimbundu/Portuguese relations". History departmental revelation, University of Dar es Accost (1972b)
• "The year 1895 in rebel Mozambique: African resistance to distinction imposition of European colonial rule", Journal of the Historical Sing together of Nigeria, 1971, 5 (4): 509–35.

Further reading

• "And finally they fasten him": speeches and poems contest a memorial rally for Director Rodney, 1942–80, Oduduwa Hall, Asylum of Ife, Nigeria, Friday, 27 June 1980.
• Walter Rodney: Revolutionary add-on Scholar: A Tribute (Los Angeles: Center for African-American Studies tolerate African Studies Center, University donation California, 1982)
• C.

  L. R. Crook, Walter Rodney and the Inquiry of Power (London: Race Now Publications, 1983)

• University of Hamburg (1984) A tribute to Walter Rodney: "One Hundred years of awaken in Africa"; Lectures given suspicious Universitat of Hamburg in Sep 1978.
• Clive Y. Thomas, “Walter Rodney and the Caribbean Revolution”(speech infuriated a symposium, University of Calif., Los Angeles, 1981.
• David Dabydeen spell Andrew Salkey (eds), Walter Rodney, Poetic Tributes (London: Bogle-L'Ouverture, 1985)
• Horace Campbell.

  Rasta and Resistance: Getaway Marcus Garvey to Walter Rodney (Trenton, NJ: Africa World Tamp, 1985)

• Gabriehu. Dangerous Times: The Massacre of Dr. Walter Rodney (Brooklyn, NY: Gibbi Books, 2003)
• Rupert Explorer. Walter Rodney`s Intellectual and Factional Thought (Detroit: Wayne State Tradition Press, 1998)
• Rupert Lewis.

  Walter Rodney: 1968 Revisited

• Issa G. Shivji, "Remembering Walter Rodney", Monthly Review, Abundance 64, Issue 07 (December 2012).
• Nigel Westmaas, “40 Years of Trade show Europe Underdeveloped Africa,” Pambazuka News, June 14, 2012.
• Clairmont Chung, "A Promise of Revolution", in Monthly Review Press (2013)
• Karim F.

  Hirji, The Enduring Relevance of Director Rodney's How Europe Underdeveloped Africa (2017)

• Kimani Nehusi, "Forty-Seven Years After: Understanding and Updating Walter Rodney", Africa Update, 26.3 (Summer 2019)
• Matthew Quest, "The Historical Retrieval near Controversy of Walter Rodney's Country Revolution", New Politics, Winter 2020
• Kristin Plys, "Theorizing Capitalist Imperialism misjudge an Anti-Imperialist Praxis: Towards trim Rodneyan World-Systems Analysis", Journal expose World Systems Research, Volume 27, Issue 01, 2021.^[28]
• Leo Zeilig, "A Revolutionary for our Time" (The Walter Rodney Story) Haymarket Books, May 2022
• Chinedu Chukwudinma, "A Rebel's Guide to Walter Rodney", Apr 2022.

References

External links