‘Is freedom we makin’: Lessons from the Grenadian Revolution 1979 to 1983 | Black History Month Keynote Lecture by Dr. Nicole Phillip

This lecture focuses on Grenada’s third revolutionary upheaval.  It posits that while time moved on and spaces were transformed, the fundamental issues of paternalistic leadership, racial and class conflict remained an integral part of Grenada’s political landscape. Forty years later, it examines the question, did the 1979-1983 revolution attain its objective of ‘making freedom’? It further examines the lessons we can learn from the processes, programmes and demise of Grenada’s third revolution.

In just under two hundred years 1795 -1979, three revolutions have marked the Grenadian landscape. In the 1790s, the ideas of radicalism, revolution and the alienable rights and freedoms of man, had permeated the minds of many seeking an end to repressive regimes. In 1951, the island reverberated with the freedom cry of the working class. The radicalism that had swept through the Caribbean in the 1930s had belatedly hit Grenada’s shores. Through riot and strike action, Grenadian estate, road and domestic workers demanded increased wages and better working conditions.

The third revolution of 1979, saw the staging of a military coup by the New Jewel Movement (NJM) that marked the beginning of a new political epoch for the English Speaking Caribbean with the formation of a  socialist People’s Revolutionary Government (PRG). Led by the charismatic Maurice Bishop, this revolution promised radical social and economic transformation that would benefit the people. ‘is freedom we making’ is the title of a book written during the Grenada’s third revolution. It epitomizes the ideals of the revolutionary government. It speaks to the idea that in taking power by the nontraditional route of usurpation and force, the actions of the revolutionaries were geared towards the creation of freedom; towards the creation of a space as Maurice Bishop defined it ‘this revolution is for work, food, shelter, education, and decent medical services for our children and our grandchildren’.

At Durham, Black History Month activities and events are organised by various groups, colleges and departments from across the University. Have a look at our consolidated programme on this page.