He was a brilliant writer, orator, educator, critic and political activist…a key figure in much of 20th century black radicalism…a brilliant intellectual…

He is at the center of the birth and development of the socialist and communist movements in America…

Here is a super list of online resources on Hubert Harrison

Here is a 1500-word description of “Hubert Harrison: The Voice of Harlem Radicalism, 1883-1918″ by the author at Blackpast.org

Please comment on and discuss this post in the comments section. I am very interested to hear everyone’s thoughts on the politics and the music.

I wrote this song to encourage people to join the protest and against Dean Edley on Saturday, May 16, 2009 (details)(8-9:15am is the most important) and to help explain UC Berkeley Law School’s Dean Edley’s role and responsibility in obstructing the international movement against torture. Edley’s employee, John Yoo looms large on this planet for the damage he has done to the law of torture and the thousands of lives that have been ruined through the War on Terror torture programs – and the related effects of warping reason, ethics and behavior internationally. Dean Edley is dissembling on the subject of John Yoo’s torture positions and ideology. Dean Edley always turns the subject to “Academic Freedom”.

See the video I made with Mark K. of last years Berkeley Law graduation protest against John Yoo and Dean Edley:

Dean Edley has a right and a responsibility professionally as a lawyer and as the Dean of a law school as well as his human right and a personal responsibility to take a stand against John Yoo and the torture program of the Bush Regime. Sure, it’s complicated to maintain the academic freedom of his employee while doing that. But, Edley is a lawyer. He can figure it out. But, he will not.

Not unlike John Yoo, Edley is affable and friendly with a warm smile. This is the basis for defense of their actions by many students sprinkled vague positions on academic freedom. C’MON UC BERKELEY. DO SOMETHING WITH THAT EDUCATION! Dean Edley will not stand against John Yoo and the torture program Yoo penned and provided legal cover for. Dean Edley stands with torture and obstructs the progress of human rights and the international movements against torture.

This song is a rough job. I will probably continue the process of evolving these lyrics, music and video. You can read about the 100 year history of Guantanamera as social commentary in “The song used as social “newspaper”“. This is the most popular song of all time in Cuba. Richard Stallman wrote the first “Guantanamero” variation in 2006. Mine here is the second. I encourage all of my comrades – resisting and standing against torture and this American Juggernaught of war and repression – to learn this song, study it’s history and create your own version. This can be one of the thousands of political art forms we need to blossom in America today to “Fight the power and prepare the people for revolution!”

LYRICS

Guantanamero speak
from your cell of Gitmo lies.
with compassion for all the tortured
help us call out this complicit dean

First let me say that I don’t understand
I don’t know how I wound up here
I’ve had no trial, no justice
I’ve been here six long years
Is there anyone out there?
Is there anyone who cares.

Guantanamero speak.
John Yoo created your hell on earth.
Dean Edley pays his check
with no morals, no compassion, no truth.

They come and get me in the morning.
They make me stand until I fall.
Then angered they aproach me.
My head then hits the wall.
Is it they want me to die?
Sometimes I wish I would die.

Guantanamero speak.
Your Torture isnt just a war crime.
It’s a disgusting abomination
and a crime against humanity.

The blood is running down my face now.
But I can see that there’s a dog.
It’s getting closer to attack me.
I’ll be dead before to long.
How long can this go on?
Don’t they know this is wrong?

Guantanamero speak.
But Dean Edley stands in the way.
Freedom for John Yoo
Means Edley’s linked to your torture too.

Oh no don’t take me there now.
Don’t make me lie there on that board.
I’m gaging then I’m choking.
Please God let me have some air.
Why do they not just kill me?
How much longer will this go on?

Guantanamero speak.
It’s not only the chain of command,
the pens of Bybee and Yoo.
Torture needs friends like edley too.

I miss my children and my wife.
They do not know if I’m alive.
What evil people do this to me?
How can they think that this is right?
How can they let this go on?
How can you let this go on?

Guantanamero speak.
Some feel its wrong to blame this not-so-simple dean.
or Berkeley’s provost or the president of UC.
Where do you end complicity?

Guantanamero speak.
John is walking free.
Teaching at UC,
Dean Edley knows it gives legitimacy.