Uhuru Movement
Encyclopedia
The Uhuru Movement is a political organizations centered around the principles of "African Internationalism," which adheres to liberation of Africans in both the continent of Africa and in the African diaspora
, as well building economic and sustainable development in these communities. 'Uhuru
' is the Swahili
word for freedom. Since 1972, The Movement has been led by Omali Yeshitela
's African People's Socialist Party
(APSP). http://asiuhuru.org/ontheground/apsp-usa/about/history.shtml
The APSP has formed several organizations, each with specific tasks and purpose. Affiliated organizations include The International People's Democratic Uhuru Movement, African Socialist International
, UhuruNews.com, African People's Solidarity Committee, Uhuru Solidarity Movement, The Black is Back Coalition, Burning Spear Productions, Uhuru Foods, Uhuru Furniture All African People's Development and Empowerment Project (AAPDEP),and African People's Education and Defense Foundation (APEDF).
The Uhuru Movement has spoken out against police brutality, and refers to police presence in the African American community as "police occupation" or "police containment". They have rallied and supported many people who have died as result of being shot by police officers, like Tyron Lewis, Aiyana Jones, Lovelle Mixon, Sean Bell, Javon Dawson, and many others.
The organization came to national attention during the 2008 Presidential campaign season when Uhuru member, Diop Olugbala, interrupted Barack Obama at a town hall meeting in St. Petersburg, Florida, and questioned the candidate asking "What about the black community?" alleging that he was not speaking out for African-Americans on issues like police brutality, high unemployment, predatory lending, and Hurricane Katrina.
In 2009, the International People's Democratic Uhuru Movement organized a march in support of Lovelle Mixon and against the Oakland police. Mixon was an Oakland, California
, resident who killed four Oakland police officers and died during a shoot out after a traffic stop, coincidentally just blocks away from the local Uhuru headquarters.
In June 2011, AAPDEP and INPDUM initiated the Marcus Garvey Saturday School in Washington, D.C.
African diaspora
The African diaspora was the movement of Africans and their descendants to places throughout the world—predominantly to the Americas also to Europe, the Middle East and other places around the globe...
, as well building economic and sustainable development in these communities. 'Uhuru
Uhuru
Uhuru may refer to:, a Lake Victoria ferry in East Africa*Uhuru , campaigns for and achievement of national independence in Africa especially in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania*Uhuru Kenyatta , Kenyan politician...
' is the Swahili
Swahili language
Swahili or Kiswahili is a Bantu language spoken by various ethnic groups that inhabit several large stretches of the Mozambique Channel coastline from northern Kenya to northern Mozambique, including the Comoro Islands. It is also spoken by ethnic minority groups in Somalia...
word for freedom. Since 1972, The Movement has been led by Omali Yeshitela
Omali Yeshitela
Omali Yeshitela the founder of the Uhuru Movement a left wing, African Internationalist organization based in St...
's African People's Socialist Party
African People's Socialist Party
The African Peoples Socialist Party is a revolutionary organisation whose goal is to improve the living conditions of Black people in the United States and around the world. The Party was formed in May 1972 by the merger of three Black power organisations based in the US states of Florida and...
(APSP). http://asiuhuru.org/ontheground/apsp-usa/about/history.shtml
The APSP has formed several organizations, each with specific tasks and purpose. Affiliated organizations include The International People's Democratic Uhuru Movement, African Socialist International
African Socialist International
The League of African Democratic Socialist Parties, initially known as the Socialist Inter-African, is a union of social democratic political parties in the continent of Africa.It was set up to provide an international forum for moderate socialists in Africa, and proclaimed that "democratic...
, UhuruNews.com, African People's Solidarity Committee, Uhuru Solidarity Movement, The Black is Back Coalition, Burning Spear Productions, Uhuru Foods, Uhuru Furniture All African People's Development and Empowerment Project (AAPDEP),and African People's Education and Defense Foundation (APEDF).
Area of work
The Uhuru Movement is an international organization working for economic development programs in several African communities. These programs include community gardens, rainwater-harvesting projects, community kitchens, and many more. The Uhuru Movement recently helped to build a birthing clinic in Sierra Leone.The Uhuru Movement has spoken out against police brutality, and refers to police presence in the African American community as "police occupation" or "police containment". They have rallied and supported many people who have died as result of being shot by police officers, like Tyron Lewis, Aiyana Jones, Lovelle Mixon, Sean Bell, Javon Dawson, and many others.
The organization came to national attention during the 2008 Presidential campaign season when Uhuru member, Diop Olugbala, interrupted Barack Obama at a town hall meeting in St. Petersburg, Florida, and questioned the candidate asking "What about the black community?" alleging that he was not speaking out for African-Americans on issues like police brutality, high unemployment, predatory lending, and Hurricane Katrina.
In 2009, the International People's Democratic Uhuru Movement organized a march in support of Lovelle Mixon and against the Oakland police. Mixon was an Oakland, California
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
, resident who killed four Oakland police officers and died during a shoot out after a traffic stop, coincidentally just blocks away from the local Uhuru headquarters.
In June 2011, AAPDEP and INPDUM initiated the Marcus Garvey Saturday School in Washington, D.C.
Further reading
- Tactics and Strategy for Black Liberation in the US,by Omali Yeshitela, 1978
- The Struggle for Bread, Peace and Black Power,by Omali Yeshitela, 1981
- Stolen Black Labor,by Omali Yeshitela, 1982
- Reparations Now!,by Omali Yeshitela, 1983
- A New Beginning and Not One Step Backwards,by Omali Yeshitela, 1984
- The Road to Socialism is Painted Black, by Omali Yeshitela, 1987
- Izwe Lethu i Afrika, by Omali Yeshitela, 1992
- Overturning the Culture of Violence, by Penny Hess, 2000 (ISBN 978-1891624025)
- Omali Yeshitela Speaks, by Omali Yeshitela, 2005 (ISBN 978-1891624032)
- African Internationalism - Political Theory For Our Time, by Omali Yeshitela, 2005 (ISBN 978-1891624032)
- One Africa! One Nation!, by Omali Yeshitela, 2006
- One People! One Party! One Destiny!, by Omali Yeshitela, 2010 (ISBN 978-1891624070)
See also
- Uhuru (independence)
- Omali YeshitelaOmali YeshitelaOmali Yeshitela the founder of the Uhuru Movement a left wing, African Internationalist organization based in St...
- Black PowerBlack PowerBlack Power is a political slogan and a name for various associated ideologies. It is used in the movement among people of Black African descent throughout the world, though primarily by African Americans in the United States...
- Marcus GarveyMarcus GarveyMarcus Mosiah Garvey, Jr., ONH was a Jamaican publisher, journalist, entrepreneur, and orator who was a staunch proponent of the Black Nationalism and Pan-Africanism movements, to which end he founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League...
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