Remembering Al Vann Series
A Wind of Change ‘A Blowin’ (cont.)
From left to right: Dr. Sam Pinn, Baba Jitu Weusi, Assemblyman Al Vann, Rev. Herbert Daughtry, Dr. Karen Daughtry
From left to right: Al Vann, Rev. Herbert Daughtry, Basil Paterson
From left to right: Assemblyman Al Vann, Reverend Jesse Jackson, Mayor David Dinkins, Rev. Dr. Herbert Daughtry
Thus, the representatives of Southern Africa did not bring us words of despair, did not bring us words of discouragement, but rather brought us words of hope that the day is not long when indeed justice shall prevail in Southern Africa because the wind of change is blowing; likewise for Central America. Surely the Ambassador of Nicaragua was clear that the U.S. government, its leadership, and corporate structure, were intensifying its intervention, that big ships were speeding that way, and that mercenaries were being trained in Honduras, but there was no note of despair.
Likewise from the representatives of the FDR and El Salvador who talked about the odds against them because of the U.S. presence in that region; but there was no note of despair , no note of discouragement. Consistently, they conveyed the unmistakable impression that they were on the side of history, and the wind of change is blowing in their favor. The wind of change is blowing in their direction.
It reminded us of what Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. remarked before he was assassinated — that he believed that America was on the wrong side of history; that they seem to have a death wish which evidences itself so in support of reactionary regimes, the rightist regimes, the dictator regimes in Central and South America. And the words of Martin Luther King junior still apply. Thank God there is a wind of change a ‘blowing.
The wind of change is blowing in Central America. The wind of change is blowing in the Caribbean. And although, as I indicated, our great friend and distinguished Ambassador of Grenada was not here, had he been on the program and brought U.S. news of the Caribbean, using his great country as an example, I’m certain that he, too, would not have had any words of despair — would not have had any words of disappointment — would not have had any words of discontent. But he too would have struck a note. Would have sounded the bell of hope and excitement. For the wind of change is blowing in the Caribbean. So whether in Southern Africa whether in Central America, whether in Grenada, or in the Caribbean in general, when we look across the world we need not despair for the wind of change is blowing.
To be continued...