NO ONE’S BACKYARD! REVOLUTION IN THE CARIBBEAN

In 1823, the infamous declaration from President James Monroe called for an “end” to European colonization in the Caribbean, but instead ushered in a new era of exploitation at the hands of the United States. From the region’s strategic location to its rich wealth of natural resources, the Caribbean was the perfect place from which the growing imperialist power could set up shop, propping up dictatorships, establishing military bases, and imposing itself upon the entire Western Hemisphere.

But the Caribbean refuses to be the “backyard of the United States.” Looking back to the victory of the Haitian Revolution in 1804, to the Cuban Revolution, to Maurice Bishop and the New Jewel Movement in Grenada, it becomes clear that there is a long history of Caribbean resistance. But even today, the U.S. and its allies continue to push for military intervention, its only offering to the region. The Caribbean is at a crossroads, but the choice is clear. The struggle for freedom, steeped in the legacy of a revolutionary tradition, resonates across nations as the people demand an end to domination—there is no choice but revolution! Take up its history and learn about what a liberated and truly sovereign Caribbean could look like!

Everyone is welcome to apply, from all contexts, backgrounds, and identities! We encourage applications from those who are involved in, or seeking to become involved in, an organization in struggle.

Participants can choose to engage in the SELF PACED TRACK, which gives access to all live classes, recordings, and optional discussion groups, or the COLLECTIVE WORK TRACK, which in addition to the above, also places you in a group with other participants to engage in collective discussion and a collaborative project.

Our instructors include movement leaders, intellectuals and popular educators joining us from the frontlines of struggle today.

This course runs from November 1 – December 7, with an orientation session on Monday, October 30 at 7 PM ET. Classes are held on Wednesdays and Thursdays (with the exception of the week of Nov. 22/23) from 6:30 – 8:30 PM ET. The collective work groups will meet during a separate day in the week to work on a group project, researching the political economy of the Caribbean.

For those in different time zones or with work and life schedules that complicate live participation, you will have access to class recordings.

This course is hybrid, so you can participate from anywhere in the world.

For those in the New York area, please join us in-person at The People’s Forum on 320 W 37th St. New York, NY 10018 (between 8th and 9th Avenues). To get to TPF, you can take the 1, 2, 3, 7, A, C, E, M, N, Q, R trains. TPF is an accessible building, with elevators and wheelchair-accessible gender-neutral bathrooms.

For participants who will be attending virtually, a zoom link will be sent prior to each session.

To apply, please submit your information using this form. Applications for the collective work track close on October 28 at midnight, but participants can still apply to join the self-paced track throughout the course Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, so please apply as soon as possible!

There are two ways to participate in the course. Please select how you would like to join the course on the application form.

A. Collective Work Track: In addition to the weeknight classes, participants in the collective work track are assigned to a work group for the duration of the course. Workgroups will meet at a time self-organized by the group for discussion on lecture topics and to work on completing a group research project, focusing on mapping the political economy of the Caribbean, throughout the 5 weeks.

*Please note that the applications to join the collective work track close on October 28, and assignments will be finalized after orientation.

B. Self-Pace Track: Participants can join us for weeknight live classes, whether in-person or online, and will be put in touch with other participants in this track to organize discussion groups that work for your schedules, and will receive all course materials. Participants are not assigned to a work group and are not required to work on a project.

**Regardless of which option you choose, you will have access to all class resources!