Since 1968, the Uhuru Movement — first as the Junta of Militant Organizations (JOMO), then as the African People’s Socialist Party (APSP) following its 1972 founding — has been publishing The Burning Spear Newspaper. From then until now it has served not only as the Party’s press but as a tool used by people around the world to understand the world and their place in it. It has functioned as the voice of the International African Revolution calling forward its best sons and daughters to take up the revolutionary mantle to unite and liberate our Africa.
However, in the recent period, publication of The Burning Spear has been inadequate, with a number of months having passed with no Spear to provide leadership for our toiling people. While our staff has made advancements with our online news service UhuruNews.com, this does not serve as a substitute for the publication of a print edition of The Spear for those of our readers without access to the Internet.
The Spear’s absence is particularly problematic in the face of intensified ideological warfare being waged by a crisis-ridden imperialism to undermine the revolutionary drive of the African working class. Not the least of the weapons used in imperialism’s ideological war is the selection, then election of an African to the presidency of the United States — a move to win African people away from revolution and to imperialism’s embrace and to serve as a cover for the war it is waging on the rest of us to maintain its parasitic grip on our resources.
In the face of this crisis of imperialism —which can be witnessed in the impending financial collapse and the continuing struggles of oppressed peoples for self-determination — and its intensified assault on Africans and other oppressed peoples, ideological clarity and a vision of the way forward is critical. We must have The Burning Spear!
It has been a disservice to the struggle against imperialist white power and to you, our loyal subscribers and readers, that The Spear has not been published regularly. As imperialism’s crisis deepens it is being felt even by forces within the ranks of the revolution.
We in The Burning Spear’s staff have been reorganizing and making fierce struggle within our own ranks to develop our capacity. While some forces experience imperialism’s crisis as their own, we recognize that it is in taking advantage of this crisis of our oppressors that we advance the interests of the African working class and liberate and unite our dispersed African nation.
This is an affirmation of our commitment to serve you, giving voice to the African working class with ever greater efficiency and dedication.
Development of the Burning Spear Newspaper Online
With that, we are making serious developments. Recognizing that the Internet is increasingly becoming the primary means of information distribution throughout the world, we are developing our web presence. By the end of March, our online news service, UhuruNews.com, is becoming the Burning Spear Newspaper Online with weekly publication of new articles.
We also want the participation of our readers in discussing the issues facing oppressed peoples around the world. In this vein, we will be developing the capacity for you to post comments on each of the articles that we publish. We will also be creating a message board where you can even begin discussions and raise questions or issues that we may not yet have spoken to in The Burning Spear.
Of course, Uhuru News will continue to be home to our online radio station UhuruRadio.com, which will now be broadcasting 24 hours per day.
The print edition of The Burning Spear Newspaper will continue to be published as a quarterly, still providing leadership and analysis on the current world situation and the way forward.
Again we want to thank you, our loyal subscribers and readers, for your patience and your struggle with us to keep the Spear burning!
The future belongs to the oppressed peoples of the world. The struggle to liberate and unite Africa must be lead by the African working class. The voice of the African working class will continue to be here, in The Burning Spear Newspaper!
Nyabinga Dzimbahwe
Managing Editor of The Burning Spear Newspaper
