Carmichael himself has been quoted as stating, OLAS is "the most important meeting that there is in the world at the moment." (Reuters, July 27.)
Moreover, this historic antiimperialist meeting in Havana, coincides with the most dramatic struggle of black Americans since the period of the Civil War, one century ago.
From the articles and dispatches appearing in the world press, it is evident that the leader of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) is keenly aware of the significance of this conjuncture.
"We are going to be reunited with you in Havana," Carmichael stated in London, "because we think the Cuban victory is our victory and the courage of the Cuban people inspires our fight." (Associated Press, July 25.)
Carmichael has referred several times to Che Guevara's message to OLAS (see World Outlook, April 28, 1967).
"We must internationalize our struggle," he said in an interview with the Cuban newspaper Juventud Rebelde, "and, if we are go to turn into reality the words of Che to create two, three and more Vietnams, we must recognize that Detroit and New York are also Vietnam."
Carmichael continued by calling for the coordination of the Latin-American revolutionary struggle with the struggle of American blacks and said that the way Premier Castro had stood up to the U.S. was "truly admirable." (Reuters, July 27.)
In a Havana news conference, August 1, Carmichael expressed the solidarity of the Afro-American freedom fighters with the Vietnamese revolutionaries:
"The Vietnamese are not exploiting us, nor discriminating against us," he said. "Where we have to fight is in the United States in order to fight against the structure of imperialist society." (United Press International, August 1.)
The recognition of Carmichael's status as a delegate rather than an observer was announced August 1.
Carmichael's attendance in Havana has not gone unnoticed in U.S. ruling circles. In an editorial July 26, the New York Times stated:
"(Cuba] sees the United States as its greatest enemy, which is why a welcome guest for today's ceremonies is none other than Stokely Carmichael, for if it be recognized that he can do Cuba no good, it will be thought that he can do the United States some harm."
It is evident that revolutionary Cuba is not impressed by the gratuitous advice of the New York Times.
A