Let’s say, just for argument’s sake, that international white power was at its peak in 1884-1885 at the Berlin Conference when the European states formally shared up the continent of Africa amongst themselves. And then let us say, again for argument’s sake, that international black power was at its apogee two decades ago when Nelson Mandela was released from jail, the vile, racist system of apartheid was dismantled, and Mandela was then elected president of South Africa, black Africa’s richest and most powerful country.
Our argument now is that the murderous attacks upon the north African state of Libya by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) powers represent a resurgence of international white power to an extent which is noteworthy for those of us who view the world using racist imperialism as an analytical tool. Libya had been seeking to unify black Africa, and the Libyan leader/dictator, Moammar Gaddafy, is the regional Arab leader who is black Africa’s greatest friend. In fact, on his release from prison, Mandela publicly recognized him as such, despite the disapproval of the Western powers and press.
The door for NATO to begin military intervention in the sovereign state of Libya was opened when the Arab League gave approval for a “no-fly zone” to be established. Gaddafy has enemies inside the Arab League who saw an opportunity for revenge upon him. NATO seized the chance to bomb Gaddafy and gain control of Libya’s high quality petroleum resources. Once Gaddafy is removed, you will see how white power shares up Libya the same way they shared up Africa more than 125 years ago.
At the time of World War I (1914–1918) and World War II (1939–1945), white power nations became so divided in their fight for hegemony that their non-white colonies saw where they could force decolonization and achieve political independence. In Asia, the most important decolonization took place in India, when that nation became independent in 1947, but two years later, China became liberated from its medieval rulers when Mao Tse-tung’s communist revolution triumphed. Mao’s victory has changed world history.
In the late 1950s and the 1960s, the black African nations, led by Ghana and Nigeria, began to gain political independence. Internationally, non-white nations during the period of the so-called Cold War had some leverage, because they could use the option of doing business with communist Russia as a bargaining tool in negotiations with Europe, Great Britain, and the United States.
Coming out of World War II, Britain, the U.S., and Russia were considered as having defeated Germany, Italy and Japan. Soon after that war, however, ideological differences led to a split between Britain and America, on the one hand, and Russia, on the other. Ideologically, China was a Russian ally, but the Sino-Soviet friendship always had elements of tension.
The important thing for us in this region to know is that, were it not for the Russian option, Fidel Castro’s 1959 Cuban Revolution would have been overrun by the United States. Russia, a mighty nuclear power at the time, gave Fidel the leverage he needed to survive.
Russia was splintered and began to collapse as a dominant world power in 1989. Today, it is China of which NATO and white power are more aware. Russia has criticized NATO’s military intervention in Libya, but China has said nothing. It may be that the Chinese are preparing for white power’s next big move, which would be the invasion of Shi’ite Iran.
Belize is a sovereign, independent nation-state, but our leaders are being dictated to by regional and international white power in ways which are humiliating and colonial. Europe has said to Belize, for instance, you cannot impose the death penalty on your citizens. America has said to Belize, you cannot decriminalize marijuana under any circumstances.
Because our Belizean leaders are always trying to appear more in charge of things than they really are, the real nature of Belize’s situation is not being explained to the Belizean people. When an independent, nationalistic medium like this newspaper attempts to so explain, then the reaction of our leaders often reveals how confined they are by white power. They have to be realistic, we suppose.
On Partridge Street, however, we have always, always preached resistance, as opposed to realism. This is what the struggle is about – liberation from all forms of racism, colonialism and imperialism. We are fighting against centuries of oppression. Victory will not be achieved in a day. From time to time, there will be defeats. No matter, we must trod forward. Always and adelante.
Power to the people. Power in the struggle.