BAHAMAS—26 members and supporters of the African Socialist International (ASI) embarked on the 2019 Marcus Garvey Legacy Cruise—the annual fundraiser of the African Socialist International—from December 14-19, 2019. This group included members of the African People’s Socialist Party (APSP), USA; members of the African People’s Solidarity Committee (APSC) and Uhuru Solidarity Movement (USM) and the family and friends of some of our members.
The itinerary was originally slated for an overnight stay in Havana, Cuba and a visit to Nassau, Bahamas. This was changed as a result of U.S. president Donald Trump placing a travel ban on Cuba, as a method of imperialist starvation and economic isolation of the people of Cuba.
Thankfully, our recruits were won to supporting the work of the ASI; they chose to cruise with us despite being disappointed by the fact that we would not be able to visit Cuba and its historical sites. We were informed that our new itinerary would be Half Moon Cay, Nassau and Freeport—all of the Bahamas islands.
The Marcus Garvey Legacy Cruise to the Bahamas proved to be an enjoyable trip filled with powerful on- and off-board political education as well as a private tour of Nassau, provided by Alex Morley; member of the ASI and Chairman of the African People’s Socialist Party, Bahamas.
A little socialist competition
The first day was a “free” day with no official plans besides the group dinner we would have each night. The Marcus Garvey Legacy Cruise had our first scheduled political education—led by Chairman Omali Yeshitela—on the morning of Monday, December 16, 2019. We were joined by seven contacts made while on the trip during the first two days onboard. The study was titled “African Identity is Key” from the Chairman’s book titled “One Africa! One Nation!”
The Chairman brilliantly laid out why the question of the nation is such an important question; the significance of African identity; how Europe and “European” identity was consolidated (the process of committing genocide against the Indigenous peoples of the Americas and the genocide and enslavement of African people); black people being a part of a single African Nation; and most importantly, the ASI continuing the work of Marcus Mosiah Garvey.
A highlighted quote from the study is a question that has been stated by Chairman Omali Yeshitela for at least a decade: you can’t get on a boat in Africa, in 1419, as an African and then get off as a negro. We were Africans when we got on the boat and we were Africans when we got off the boat!
The study ended with questions and comments from those in attendance, including notable names such as Ona Zené Yeshitela, Deputy Chairwoman of the African People’s Socialist Party; Yejide Orunmila, President of the African National Women’s Organization; and Penny Hess, Chairwoman of the African People’s Solidarity Committee.
Questions were also asked by our onboard recruits and they also got a chance to win prizes for answering questions correctly:
A Sister, Ijeoma Iruke, won a wooden bracelet with a Haiti pendant for correctly repeating and translating Jean-Jacques Dessalines’ quote “Koupe Tèt, Boule Kay!”
Another Sister, Aszia Morgan, won a pair of purple elephant shaped International People’s Democratic Uhuru Movement (InPDUM) fundraiser earrings for correctly stating the colors and meaning of the African Nation’s flag.
Lastly, APSC member KC Mackey won a wooden bracelet with an Africa pendant for correctly stating the process that consolidated the “European” nation.
At the end of the study we announced our schedule for the next day, inviting the guests to join us for an exclusive tour of Nassau, Bahamas.
We would be joined by two of our guests, Va’Shun “Vash” Turner, District 5 City Councilman of Wilmington, Delaware, and his wife, on the next day.
The African Revolution on the ground in the Bahamas
Our second political education was held on Tuesday, December 17, 2019 and included a combination of our private tour of Nassau as well as an event at the Black Food Bookstore & Culture Shop.
APSP Bahamas Chairman Alex Morley met us at Carnival’s dock and began a tour of Downtown, which is also known as Bay Street.
We walked through and learned about Parliament Street, Rawson Square, Bank Lane.
Chair Alex also took us to see the statue of Queen Victoria and the busk of Milo Butler Sr.
We were finally led to the Straw Market and the Pompey Museum before Comrade Alex would leave us to go back to work at the courthouse.
Chairman Omali Yeshitela provided a brief political education while at the Pompey Museum, addressing the contradiction-filled narrative provided from the museum about the enslavement of African people and the celebration of resistance over revolution.
He also addressed the museum’s celebration of Toussaint L’Ouverture for the revolution of Haiti, while having no mentions of Jean-Jacques Dessalines who actually led the revolution after the French captured Toussaint L’Ouverture and locked him in a prison to his eventual death.
Our next stop was at the Black Food Bookstore & Culture Shop, owned by Comrades Alex Morley and Charo Morley, for their grand opening and inaugural “Lunch & Learn” event, which would have Chairman Omali Yeshitela as the keynote speaker.
The event’s theme was “The African Nation Must Unite!”
The Chairman’s presentation addressed the contradiction of Africans from Haiti being treated horribly by other Africans even in the Bahamas as an example of how white power has orchestrated division within the African Nation.
He stated the mission of the African Socialist International and that the ASI is a single organization that will guarantee the total liberation of Africa and African people around the world.
After the event, we went back Downtown to shop, before making it back onto the ship. The rest of the itinerary was freed up for the guests to enjoy themselves.
Start preparing to sail with us!
By the end of the week, all of the Marcus Garvey Legacy Cruise attendees expressed appreciation for the trip and extra appreciation for the political education provided throughout the trip by Chairman Omali Yeshitela.
Many are already planning to sign up for the 2020 Marcus Garvey Legacy Cruise to Jamaica!
We are inviting everyone to join us for an even more powerful cruise, taking place December 6-12, 2020, where we will be visiting the birthplace of Marcus Garvey on the 100th year anniversary of the Red, Black and Green flag developed by Garvey and the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) in 1920.
Long Live the African Socialist International!
One Africa! One Nation!
Uhuru!
To keep up with the Marcus Garvey Legacy Cruise and be notified about the payment schedule, visit the Marcus Garvey Legacy Cruise Facebook like page and our website, UhuruLegacyCruise.org.
