In an article titled “Lessons from Fidel: Black Lives Matter and the Transition of El Comandante,” Black Lives Matter discusses lessons derived from the late Communist dictator of Cuba and explains that “Although no leader is without their flaws, we must push back against the rhetoric of the right and come to the defense of El Comandante.”
Black Lives Matter emphasizes the theme of revolution throughout the article.
“Revolution is continuous and is won first in the hearts and minds of the people and is continually shaped and reshaped by the collective. No single revolutionary ever wins or even begins the revolution. The revolution begins only when the whole is fully bought in and committed to it. And it is never over.”
The article contains a list of “requirements of any humane society,” including, “ … healthy food, clean water, decent housing, safe communities, quality healthcare, mental health services, free and quality education, community spaces, art, democratic engagement, regular vacations, sports, and places for spiritual expression … ”
In the paragraph following this list, Black Lives Matter declares its commitment to collectivism over individualism: “Revolution requires that the determination to create and preserve these things for our people takes precedent over individual drives for power, recognition, and enrichment.”
Black Lives Matter also expresses appreciation that Castro provided a haven for individuals including, “Mama Assata Shakur,” “Brother Michael Finney[,] Ralph Goodwin, and Charles Hill” and “Brother Huey P. Newton.”
Cliff Kincaid has previously reported that Assata Shakur is “ … a cop-killer on the FBI’s list of Most Wanted Terrorists who fled to Cuba and is being protected by the Communist regime there.”
The FBI identifies the name “Assata Shakur” as an alias for Joanne Deborah Chesimard and explains that Chesimard and “two accomplices” engaged police in a gun fight in which “One trooper was wounded and the other was shot and killed execution-style at point-blank range.”
Cheismard is a prison escapee who has been “found guilty of first degree murder, assault and battery of a police officer, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault with intent to kill, illegal possession of a weapon, and armed robbery.” The FBI also states that she “ … was part of a revolutionary extremist organization known as the Black Liberation Army … ”
Black Lives Matter says in the article that Shakur, “ … continues to inspire us.”
According to cnn.com and nytimes.com, Michael Finney, Ralph Goodwin, and Charlie Hill are accused of murdering a police officer, however they escaped to Cuba by hijacking an airplane and never went to trial; Finney and Goodwin have deceased. CNN.com also states that, “All three men were members of the Republic of New Afrika, a black power militant group that sought to break off Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina into a separate nation for African-Americans.”
According to an LA Times story about Huey P. Newton “In 1974, after being accused of killing a 17-year-old prostitute and pistol-whipping his tailor, Newton fled to Cuba and claimed political asylum,” but after reentering the US his trials yielded two hung juries. The same article describes him as “ … a leading proponent of African-American militancy in the 1960s and a co-founder of the radical Black Panther Party for Self Defense … ”
Drawing inspiration from Castro, Black Lives Matter’s article concludes:
“As Fidel ascends to the realm of the ancestors, we summon his guidance, strength, and power as we recommit ourselves to the struggle for universal freedom. Fidel Vive!”
Alex Nitzberg is an intern at the American Journalism Center at Accuracy in Media and Accuracy in Academia. Follow him on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Photo by lezumbalaberenjena 
