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AfroCubaWeb
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| Kwame Ture
Work-Study Institute and Library announces Spring 2001 Tour, 1/15/01 Bob Brown on Cuba's offer of medical assistance to people of African descent and others in the US, 9/15 Open Letter on the Kwame Toure Work-Study Institute and Library: a chronology and a mission statement, 6/00, Bob Brown Vision Statement on Cuba, 6/00, Bob Brown Contacting the Institute & Library |
Kwame Touré Work-Study Institute and LibraryA broad coalition is supporting the creation of the Kwame Touré Work-Study Institute
and Library, named after Kwame Ture, known in the 60's as
Stokely Charmichael and the formulator of the phrase "Black Power." Kwame paid
many visits to Cuba and was under the personal protection of Cuban forces wherever in the
world he happened to be. |
| January 15,
2001
Please Forward! Kwame Ture Work-Study Institute and Library announces Spring 2001 Tour Greetings: We hope that this email finds you and your family in the very best of health and spirits. The Kwame Ture Work-Study Institute and Library and Pan-African Roots announces and requests your assistance to help organize its Spring 2001 Tour. The theme is: "To Prevent the Rise of A Messiah: "The US Government’s War against Kwame Ture." Bob Brown, the Director of the Kwame Ture Work-Study Institute and Library and Co-Editor of Pan-African Roots, will make a 60-minute, computerized, multi-media presentation that offers a perspective on: (1) Kwame Ture: who he is; his work, study and struggle; his service,
sacrifice and suffering; his contributions and achievements; and his
enduring and continuing legacy. The objectives of this Spring 2001 Tour include: (a) Researching, identifying and collecting where possible the
archives (governmental, media, organizational and individual) by and
about Kwame Ture, and the movements, organizations, activities and
events with which he worked. The Kwame Ture Work-Study Institute and Library and Pan-African Roots had planned to launch this Tour in Fall 2000, but we postponed it in order to assist the Pan-Africanist Congress (PAC) of Azania in its local government elections campaign. We request assistance from all progressive and revolutionary forces in the United States and Canada to help make this Spring 2001 Tour a success. We also plan to conduct a Summer 2001 Tour in the Caribbean, Central and South America, and in Europe as well. We need and request your assistance for this Fall 2001 Tour as well. We are also negotiating with several African and progressive booking agencies to assist us in or outreach and organizing efforts as well; and would entertain any offers/proposals from others. If you or your organization(s) are willing to endorse our Spring 2001 and Fall 20001 Tours, and help organize them on your campus or in your community, please contact us at: paroots02@yahoo.com. The proposed itinerary [updated 1/01] includes: Sat 11-Feb Baltimore Sun 12-Feb Baltimore Mon 13-Feb Washington Tue 14-Feb Washington Wed 15-Feb Richmond Thurs 16-Feb Richmond Fri 17-Feb Raleigh Sat 18-Feb Raleigh Sun 19-Feb Winston-Salem-Greensboro Mon 20-Feb Charlotte Tue 21-Feb Columbia Wed 22-Feb Miami Thurs 23-Feb Miami Fri 24-Feb Miami Sat 25-Feb Atlanta Sun 26-Feb Atlanta Mon 27-Feb Atlanta Tues 28-Feb Montgomery-Selma-Lowndes County Wed 29-Feb Montgomery-Selma-Lowndes County Thurs 1-Mar Birmingham Fri 2-Mar Nashville Sat 3-Mar Nashville Sun 4-Mar Memphis Mon 5-Mar Memphis Tue 6-Mar Jackson Wed 7-Mar Jackson Thurs 8-Mar New Orleans-Baton Rouge Fri 9-Mar New Orleans-Baton Rouge Sat 10-Mar Houston Sun 11-Mar Houston Mon 12-Mar Dallas Tue 13-Mar Dallas Wed 14-Mar Denver Thurs 15-Mar Denver Fri 16-Mar Denver Sat 17-Mar Denver Sun 18-Mar Albuquerque-Las Cruces Mon 19-Mar Albuquerque-Las Cruces Tue 20-Mar Phoenix Wed 21-Mar San Diego Thurs 22-Mar Los Angeles Fri 23-Mar Los Angeles Sat 24-Mar Los Angeles Sun 25-Mar Los Angeles Mon 26-Mar San Francisco Tue 27-Mar San Francisco Wed 28-Mar Seattle Thurs 29-Mar Seattle Fri 30-Mar Minneapolis Sat 31-Mar Minneapolis Sun 1-Apr Milwaukee-Madison Mon 2-Apr Milwaukee-Madison Tue 3-Apr Milwaukee-Madison Wed 4-Apr Kansas City Thurs 5-Apr Kansas City Fri 6-Apr St. Louis Sat 7-Apr St. Louis Sun 8-Apr Carbondale Mon 9-Apr Champaign Tue 10-Apr Chicago Wed 11-Apr Chicago Thurs 12-Apr Chicago Fri 13-Apr Chicago Sat 14-Apr South Bend Sun 15-Apr Indianapolis Mon 16-Apr Louisville Tue 17-Apr Lexington Wed 18-Apr Cincinnati-Dayton Thurs 19-Apr Cincinnati-Dayton Fri 20-Apr Columbus Sat 21-Apr Columbus Sun 22-Apr Sandusky-Loraine Mon 23-Apr Cleveland Tue 24-Apr Cleveland Wed 25-Apr Detroit-Ann Arbor Thurs 26-Apr Detroit-Ann Arbor Fri 27-Apr Pittsburgh Sat 28-Apr Buffalo Sun 29-Apr Toronto Mon 30-Apr Halifax Tue 1-May Montreal Wed 2-May Rochester Thurs 3-May Rochester Fri 4-May Ithaca Sat 5-May Ithaca Sun 6-May Boston Mon 7-May Boston Tue 8-May New Haven-Springfield Wed 9-May New Haven-Springfield Thurs 10-May New York Fri 11-May New York Sat 12-May New York Sun 13-May New York Mon 14-May New York Tue 15-May Newark Wed 16-May Newark Thurs 17-May Philadelphia Fri 18-May Philadelphia Sat 19-May Philadelphia Sun 20-May Baltimore Mon 21-May Baltimore Tue 22-May Washington Wed 23-May Washington Thurs 24-May Washington Thank for your past and continuing support, morally, politically, financially and personally. Mabel Carmichael and Nagib Malik |
The Cuban government has repeatedly made an offer to train Black, Native American, and low income folks in Cuban medical schools. Bob Brown sees the need for making this offer better known in the community and is offering to serve as contact point for those interested in working on this offer. Email him at paroots02@yahoo.com
| For almost forty years, Kwame Ture supported
the Cuban Revolution and People, and the steadfast leadership of Fidel Castro. On the eve
of his death, in his last political statement, Kwame made a declaration to Africa and the
world: "In 1967, U.S. imperialism was seriously planning to assassinate me. ... It
was Fidel Castro who before the OLAS Conference said "if imperialism touches one
grain of hair on his head, we shall not let the fact pass without retaliation." It
was he, who on his own behalf, asked them all to stay in contact with me when I returned
to the United States to offer me protection. I could never be ungrateful to the People of
Cuba nor to Cuba's incarnation - Fidel Castro. … ... U.S. imperialism is doing everything possible to corrode Cuba's ... support among the Africans in the United States and the world. … We have a heightened responsibility to help protect Cuba ... at this time. We must move before U.S. imperialism is strengthened and attacks, not after, by strengthening our people ideologically and practically now. We must cement Cuba ... to Africa, and to African People worldwide, and vice versa. … We must make it clear, that an embargo and travel ban against Cuba ... is an embargo and travel ban against Africa and against 1 billion African People who are scattered, suffering and struggling in every corner of the world. We must make it crystal clear that if you attack Cuba ... you attack all African People worldwide, and we must break U.S. imperialism's hands off Cuba .... We must end this illegal and immoral embargo and travel ban now." In an effort to fulfill this declaration, the Kwame Ture Work-Study Institute and Library seeks to help intensify the on-going efforts to develop principled and lasting relationships between the Peoples of the United States and the People of Cuba, and especially between the people and communities of African descent in the United States and Cuba. We seek to:
We need, and respectfully request your endorsement and support. You can contact us for further information, or send your tax-deductable contribution, (financial and material) to the Kwame Ture Work-Study Institute and Library, c/o the Black United Fund of Illinois, Inc., 1809 East 71st Street, Chicago, IL 60649. You can email us at: kwameture1941@yahoo.com -- Bob Brown |
From: Bob Brown
Director
Kwame Ture Work-Study Institute and Library
Conakry, Republic of Guinee
paroots02@yahoo.com
Date: 1 May 2000
Permit us, on behalf of the Kwame Ture Work-Study Institute and Library, to salute and thank AfroCubaWeb, H.E. Fidel Castro, and the People of Cuba for their sterling and steadfast commitment and contributions to the world-wide struggle for human rights, national liberation, Pan-Africanism, socialism, and world peace.
Kwame Ture, formerly known as Stokely Carmichael, made his transition into the ranks of the Ancestors on November 15, 1998. Kwame worked, studied, and struggled for Pan-Africanism, and for World Humanity, until the last second, of the last minute, of the last hour, of the last day.
Before his death, Kwame asked Mrs. Mable Carmichael, his eighty-one year old mother, to head a world-wide effort to build a small library in Conakry, Guinee, to house his books and papers, so that they would remain forever in the Guinee, in the Africa that he loved.
Mrs. Carmichael and her family have been quietly working and travelling all over the world, on this mission of love!
Permit us to take this opportunity to offer a brief report of our work, introduce the
Kwame Ture Work-Study Institute and Library, and request your moral, political and
material support.
Chronology of Activities
November 5, 1998 - Ten days before his death, Kwame authorized Bob Brown, "to file, immediately, a comprehensive and all-encompassing "Freedom of Information Act" request with all levels, branches, departments and agencies of the United States government, (federal, state, county, and local), to secure copies of all records, reports, files, audio-visual and other materials pertaining to me, and all of the movements and organizations with which I have worked". Kwame "further requested that forces, in the world, who truly love justice and seek peace, help us in this massive and historic effort."
January 1, 1999 - We filed a Freedom of Information Act Request with 75 U.S. Government Department and Agencies including President Clinton and the White House, Secretary Warren M. Christopher and the Department of State, Attorney General Janet Reno and the Department of Justice, Secretary William J Perry and the Department of Defense, Secretary Robert M. Rubin and the Department and the Treasury, the Secretary Bruce Babbitt and the Department of Interior, the President of the Senate and the Senate Committees, the Speaker of the House and the House Committees, the National Archives & Records Administration, the Eisenhower Library, the Kennedy Library, the Johnson Library, the Nixon Library, the Ford Library, the Carter Library, the Reagan Library, Bush Library, the Librarian and Library of Congress, and all of their branches, field offices, resident agencies and committees throughout the United States and the world, including (but not limited to) the Air Force, the Army, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, the Central Intelligence Agency, the Community Relations Service, the Customs Service, the Defense Intelligence Agency, the Drug Enforcement Agency, the Executive Office of US Attorneys, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Federal Emergency Management Administration, the INTERPOL-USCNB, the Immigration and Naturalization Service, the Internal Revenue Service, the Marine Corp, the Marshals Service, the National Reconnaissance Office. the National Security Agency, the National Security Council, the Navy, the Postal Service, the Secret Service, the Selected Service System, the Social Security Administration, and the U.S. Information Agency.
We estimate that these records will exceed one million pages. They will be permanently housed in the Kwame Ture Work-Study Institute and Library in Conakry, Guinea. Agreements will be negotiated to share them with other universities and libraries throughout Africa and the world, including Howard University in Washington, DC, and the Gamal Abdel Nasser University in Conakry, with which we hope to affiliate. We hope to share them, and affiliate with universities and libraries in Cuba as well.
We know that Kwame is smiling at the work that has been done so far. This is just the
beginning! These records will also be universally accessible through microfilm and CD-ROM
editions, and the Internet.
January 15, 1999 - We emailed, faxed, and mailed a Press Release announcing our filing of
this FOIA Request to over twenty thousand activists and organizations, institutions and
media worldwide.
February 1999 - Mrs. Carmichael and Bob Brown returned to the United Sates. Bob began the
year-long process of answering the FOIA correspondence, appealing their denials, answering
there requests for further information and clarification, exhausting all administrative
remedies, and preparing for a historic legal action to compel the United States government
to disclose of all of the requested records. Bob Brown also began a tour of key cities and
campuses in the United States to brief our Supporters on Kwame’s last days and
transition; to discuss the mission and work of the Kwame Ture Work-Study Institute and
Library; and to solicit their endorsement and support.
May 1999 - Mrs. Carmichael and Bob Brown traveled to Washington, DC to receive an Honorary Ph.D. on Kwame’s behalf from Howard University, Kwame’s alma mater. Later that evening, Jonathan Hutto and Randy Short, the Howard University Student Trustees who fought for this recognition, hosted a community reception and dinner at New Bethel Baptist Church. Mr. Rock Newman, a boxing promoter, and Rev. Walter Fauntroy of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference served as co-sponsors. Dr. Dorothy Height and the National Council of Negro Women hosted a reception at their National Headquarters. Mrs. Jackie Jackson (Rev. Jesse Jackson’s wife), Mrs. Cora Masters Barry (Mayor Marion Barry’s wife), Dr. Barbara Skinner, Ms. Julienne Malveaux and a host of other women were present. Contributions were made at both events towards the building of the Institute and Library.
June 1999 - Nagib Malik, Kwame’s sister, and Amadou Leigh, a member of the Guinee-Conakry Chapter of the All-African People’s Revolutionary Party, traveled to Banjul, Gambia to accept a posthumous award for Kwame f rom the Government of Gambia during its "4th Annual Roots Homecoming Festival".
August 1999 - Mrs. Carmichael and Bob Brown traveled to Port of Spain, Trinidad to accept on Kwame’s behalf, recognition and thanks from the Emancipation Support Committee at its annual "Emancipation Celebration and Pan-African Conference".
August 1999 - Mrs. Carmichael and Rosey Douglas, the newly elected Prime Minister of Dominica, traveled to Ireland to accept on Kwame’s behalf, recognition by Sein Fein.
September 1999 - Mrs. Carmichael, her grandson, and Bob Brown returned to Conakry. Work was completed, with God’s blessings, on Kwame’s gravesite.
November 15, 1999 - Mrs. Carmichael, her family, a number of Kwame’s close friends, and 25 students from the Gamal Abdel Nasser University held a "Gravesite Ceremony" in Kwame’s honor. The Ambassadors of Libya, Cuba and Palestine were present and offered brief remarks. We walked to the home of El Hadjj Thiam and family, one of Kwame’s friends for the past thirty years, where a cow was sacrificed, and its meat given to the poor. Ten Moslem Marabouts read from the Koran, and a sumptuous feast was enjoyed by all. Two Sisters and a Niece of President Ahmed Sekou Toure joined us to pay their respects.
November 20, 1999 - Over one hundred students at the Gamal Abdel Nasser University, and the Guinee-Conakry Chapter of the All-African People’s Revolutionary Party held a Symposium to discuss "Kwame Ture, the Man, his Works, and his Philosophical and Political Vision for the Continent of Africa". Bob Brown delivered the keynote address.
November 21, 1999 - We moved into a new house that will serve as the headquarters of the Kwame Ture Work-Study Institute and Library, until we can acquire a small piece of land here in Conakry, upon which to build. We began the process of organizing 1,700 of Kwame’s books and more than 150,000 pages (150 linear feet) of Kwame’s papers, letters, manuscripts, photographs, and recordings. One hundred cartons of Kwame’s intellectual property await shipment to Conakry. Bob Brown, as per his promise to Kwame, donated over 2,000 of his books, his papers, and 15 used computers, printers, and scanners. These books, papers, and equipment await shipment to Conakry. Dozens of Kwame’s former associates have also agreed to donate their books, papers, and archives.
January 2000 - Mrs. Carmichael and family return to the United States. Bob Brown remained in Conakry to continue work on the new building, organizing Kwame’s books and papers, answering the FOIA correspondence, sending thank you letters to donors, and responding to requests for information.
February …, 2000 - Bob Brown Over the next few months, resources permitting, Mrs. Carmichael and Bob Brown will attempt to fulfil the following requests:
June 2000 - Bob Brown will travel to the United States to retrieve and answer the mountain of FOIA Correspondence and mail that have piled up. He will also launch a 2000 Tour of 50 cities in the United States and Canada to collect Kwame’s records, conduct oral interviews, network key organizations and individuals; and solicit human, material and financial support.
June 29, 2000 - We will launch Phase #2 of our FOIA Project on Kwame’s fifty-ninth birthday, by filing "Open Records Requests" with every state, county, municipal, and campus agency in the United States. A request for voluntary compliance will also be made with every media agency, library and archive in the United States. Requests will be sent to select governments, organizations, media, libraries, and archives, worldwide. Press advisories will be sent out accordingly.
July 19-24, 2000 - Mrs. Carmichael, Nagib Malik, and Bob Brown have been invited to the "Centenary Pan-African Conference" in London that will celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the first Pan-African Conference. The relatives of William Blyden, George Padmore, and Kwame Nkrumah have agreed to participate. Invitations have also been extended to the children of Patrice Lumumba and others.
November 15, 2000 - Second Anniversary Commemoration of Kwame’s Transition.
The Kwame Ture Work-Study Institute and Library
The Kwame Ture Work-Study Institute and Library is a Pan-African, not-for-profit, non-governmental institution headquartered in Conakry, Republic of Guinee, with an office in Chicago, Illinois. It is a tax-exempt project of the National Black United Fund of Illinois, Inc., a 501c3 not-for-profit organization, which serves as its U.S.-based fiscal agent and sponsor. Its mission is to:
With God’s help, the Kwame Ture Work-Study Institute and Library will become:
The largest, non-governmental and not-for-profit library and archive in Africa and the world, of personal and organizational papers, declassified government records, media archives, and audio-visual materials by and about Kwame Ture, and the movements, organizations, activities, events and leading personalities with which he worked
Our first products will include:
The Kwame Ture Work-Study Institute and Library will:
Mrs. Carmichael, Kwame’s eighty-one year old Mother lives on a fixed income. She can not build Kwame’s institute and library alone! She needs your help, personally, materially, and financially. She brought Kwame into this world, and gave him to the "Movement" forty years ago. He chose to work, study, struggle, suffer, and die for African and Oppressed Peoples in every corner of the world. Mrs. Carmichael supported him as best she could, and continues to do so. Kwame never valued or sought money or material things. He died as if he lived, without two nickels to rub together. However, he was and remains rich in a worldwide network of friends like you. With your help, and God’s, the Kwame Ture Work-Study Institute and Library will render an invaluable and eternal service to the Cuba, to Africa, and to World Humanity. We are sure that Kwame would expect and demand nothing less. You can help by:
Please send your contributions, (financial and material) to the Kwame Ture Work-Study Institute and Library, c/o the Black United Fund of Illinois, Inc., 1809 East 71st Street, Chicago, IL 60649. kwameture1941@yahoo.com
We ask that you forward this letter to at least ten other people or organizations whom we might have missed, or who you think might be interested in helping us fulfil Kwame’s dying request.
Thank you in advance, for your consideration of this report, and of our request for assistance. In the meantime, as always, we stand Ready for the Revolution!
Sincerely,
Bob Brown
Director
Kwame Ture Work-Study Institute and Library
paroots02@yahoo.com
For the Library & US Cuba Sister City Organizing Tour, contact Bob Brown at paroots02@yahoo.com
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