We have lost a great warrior in the person of Randall Robinson who passed recently. He was an international human rights activist, a civil rights attorney, a visionary with respect to freedom for South Africa, and one of the fiercest Anti-Apartheid demonstrator activists in the early years of that struggle, and he was a visionary who had a message for black people around the world.
Randall Robinson was known for his advocacy for so many important issues. In 1977 he founded TransAfrica Forum, which served as an organizing institution for the African American community for so many causes in the United States, in Africa, and in the Caribbean.
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He was an incredible man who took on issues that others would shy away from, but he was always there, always there fighting for freedom. Robinson was one of the leaders of the Free South Africa movement, which began in the 80s and pushed and pushed for the end of Apartheid with a whole range of demonstrations, foreign policy campaigns, and a long history of lobbying for justice for South Africa, and was one of the chief lobbyists for the tough sanctions against South Africa, which eventually led to the demise of Apartheid. Robinson exposed the US government’s policy towards Haiti and the ousting Jean-Bertrand Aristide the then President, and even went on a hunger strike, pressured the US to reinstate Haiti’s democratically elected President, Jean-Bertrand Aristide. He was unrelenting in his effort for Freedom.
Robinson led demonstrations against the US government and their policy towards the Caribbean banana industry when the Clinton administration literally decided through their policy to destroy the banana industry of the smaller Caribbean countries, instead supporting the big international growers, and Randall Robinson led demonstrations throughout Washington in support of the Caribbean nations and lobbied Congress.
Carib News had the privilege of covering Robinson in many of his activities and had to just admire the decency, sincerity and determination you always found within him, never one to draw away from controversy, never one to bite his tongue. He told you like it is. He was an impeccable person, tenacious and he was driven by justice
‘The Debt: What America Owes to Blacks’ was published in 2001 Robinson explained his position on reparations that should be given to African Americans and other black people for years of tyranny and discrimination against the community. He has written widely and lectured extensively on the matter.
During his book tour, promoting ‘The Debt: What America Owes to Blacks’, Carib News had the pleasure of hosting a book launch for Randall Robinson, bringing together the Caribbean community to support the book and to hear directly from Randall Robinson, who by now had taken up residence in St. Kitts in the Caribbean with his wife Hazel Ross Robinson. Hazel was also a determined advocate for freedom and justice within the Caribbean. As Randall once said, “I never believed my place was necessarily physically in America. I am as much a Nigerian, a Haitian, a South African, a Kittitian, a Jamaican as I am an American.
There shouldn’t be these partitions between people of color.
A brilliant voice is now silent, but it has made such a difference in so many ways over the years that his accomplishments will last, and his legacy will be appreciated. Randall Robinson made a difference and so many people benefited from his life’s work, so many people can appreciate it and so many will continue to learn from him.
May He Rest in Peace.
