Mogniss H. Abdallah

John La Rose - Disparition d'un grand homme de culture populaire et ami

C'est avec une grande tristesse que nous avons appris la mort de John La Rose hier mardi 28 février 2006 à Londres, suite à une soudaine crise cardiaque. John avait 78 ans.

Né en 1927 à Trinidad, John La Rose a enseigné au college St. Mary's puis dans l'enseignement secondaire au Vénézuela, avant de s'installer en Grande-Bretagne en 1961. A Londres, John La Rose fonde New Beacon Books, (maison d'édition et librairie), et co-fonde en 1966 le Carribean Artists Movement. Il préside en 1972/73 The Institute of Race Relations qui s'émancipe de la tutelle gouvernementale, puis se lance dans le mouvement des Supplementary schools, qui se bat contre les discriminations scolaires, tant dans le domaine de l'orientation que des programmes. Avec le Black Parents Movement, le Black Youth Movement et le journal Race Today, il constitue une Alliance qui sera à l'origine de nombreuses initiatives politiques et culturelles, parmi lesquelles le Black Peoples Day of Action qui réunit 20 000 personnes le 2 mars 1981 après la mort de 13 gamins dans un incendie criminel à New Cross. De 1982 à 1995, il dirigera aussi l'International Bookfair of Radical Black and Third World Books, un salon du livre annuel tenu à Londres, Manchester et Leeds/Bradford, qui a permis la rencontre d'artistes et de militants de tous les continents. En 2005, le livre-document A Meeting of the Continents relate cette expérience unique. Il est publié par New Beacon et le Georges Padmore institute, un centre de recherche et de documentation présidé par John La Rose.

Editeur, poète et essayiste, militant syndicaliste, John La Rose nous a beaucoup aidé à comprendre le monde et à développer une vision politique et culturelle sans oeillères sectaires, afin de mieux lutter pour "l'égalité raciale" et la justice sociale. Cet homme chaleureux de grande culture populaire va nous manquer. Nous adressons nos sincères condoléances à sa famille et à ses amis, et nous nous associerons pleinement à l'hommage qui lui est dû.

© Mogniss H Abdallah

Paris, le 1er mars 2006

 

Tajudeen Abdul-Raheem

I join Kassahun in celebrating the life of John La Rose, a father, teacher, mentor but always a comrade to all of us.

We are indeed impoverished by the exit of this great nurturer of both our intellect and human will.

John has finally joined the ancestors, after a lifetime of being ancestral to many of our struggles, interfaces, connections and interconnections, for so many years and across so many continents and peoples. Baba Wole, go well.

© Tajudeen Abdul-Raheem

 

Napoleon Abdulai

It was a call from Accra that informed me of the death of our great Uncle, Comrade and Friend John La Rose.

John, as we all knew him was a principled and committed revolutionary in all aspects. I first got to know John from our comrades who settled in London in the early 1980s after the brutal attacks on us, the progressive forces by the military dictatorship of Jerry John Rawlings in October/November 1982. John, Sarah, Gus and a whole of others supported our comrades to settle down, build new relationships including links across Africa, Europe and The Americas.

These linkages are still important today to us as a group as we witness the frontal brutalisation of globalisation in its negative forms.

The Radical Book-fair was rich scholarship, working with Sarah, John and Uncle Ho to produce the Agenda was a source of inspiration. Finally, when John knew us well, he led us in the write-up on Ghana, which is the only definite study on the Rawlings Dictatorship in Ghana. A principled comrade, John would not disassociate with us, the United Revolutionary Front of Ghana even when the security supremo Kojo Tsikata 'decided to take' the publishers Beacon to court. This was the last desperate attempt by Rawlings and the rump of the left in Ghana to prevent the publication of Ghana: Popular Struggle for Power: Rawlings Demagogue, New Beacon, 1991.

Uncle John is gone, but his revolutionary spirit lives on.

Rest in Peace!

3.3.06

© Napoleon Abdulai

 

J.D. Akumu

Ndugu, Pepukayi. Accept my very sincere condolence for the untimely death of br. John La Rose. Please convey my feeling to the family. .He was a strong supporter of pan-african liberation. I have always called on him at his bookshop.

I am also sick in the USA but when I have left the hospital, I will have time to convey my feelings to the family. .The best thing we can do in his memory is to continue the struggle.

J.D.Akumu

© J.D.Akumu

 

Bankie

The news of the passage of John La Rose was received with respect and fortitude.

 

He was one of the few of his generation, like Babu, who kept integrity and an adherence to first principles into the grave. A tenacious fighter has left us. May he rest in peace.

Bankie

 

Date: 15/03/2006 00:11 PM

RE: Tribute to John La Rose

Greetings

I am pleased to report that at an enlarged student meeting held at the National Youth Council in Windhoek, held on Monday 13th March, convened in preparation for the 18th All Africa Students Confernce, scheduled for South Africa, for later this year, Linton Kwesi Johnson's Tribute was read out. Bankie

(c) Bankie

 

Imruh Bakari

Dear Sarah & Family,

It is with deep sadness that I have received the news of the passing of John La Rose. I am also greatly disappointed that I don’t think I will be able to attend the funeral on 13 March. I am currently in Tanzania and though I am due back in London around that time, I don’t think it will be possible to get there in time. However please except my condolences.

As a tribute I would like to say that John La Rose has been one of the inspirational figures in my life. As an activist, his work is widely known. However I fear that like so much that is African-Caribbean, the details are not yet part of the popular memory. The details are indeed important and I trust these will be celebrated for years to come.

I have been inspired by my own knowledge of his work in the Caribbean labour movement, as part of the contribution to the ideal of Caribbean unity and integrity. Equally, the related struggles on the African continent for human rights and independence. In Britain the establishing of New Beacon Books was indeed a beacon for African Caribbean people. Importantly this initiative was directly linked to the campaigns and struggles which many now take for granted. It is a proud tradition of resistance and independent organisation that has unassumingly shaped so much that is Britain today. All of this I think will be well taken care of by the George Padmore Institute.

However, it is as an artist that I would like to make special mention of John La Rose. For me, discovering a copy of his early collection of poems was an occasion that helped to develop confidence in my own work. It is an area of John’s which is not often referred to. I have always hoped that his poems could be more widely known.

When put in the perspective of his more well known activity, I draw a profound inspiration from an artist who could promote freedom and justice, sustain integrity and independence; and remain connected to the “ordinary” people without being condescending or pandering to populism. If anything this is what I have gained most significantly from knowing John La Rose.

For my self, John La Rose will always be a monumental reference point for the path of the artist. Until later, may I extract these few lines from one of my unpublished poems ‘Dreamworker’ and dedicate them to him at this moment:

And so to sleep

is to dream of builders

more skilful

than a hurricane tail wind.

 

And so to sleep

is to dream of Kaieteur's

grandeur as a measure

for the soul's aspirant flight.

 

One Love

Imruh Bakari

Dar es Salaam, 6 March 2006

© Imruh Bakari

 

Kassahun Checole

Dear Margaret:

I am sorry you are a bearer of bad news as well, but John La Rose is a life we should celebrate and thanks for sharing the information. He was a great Pan-Africanist, and one who gave his all without expecting much in return.

John was one of the inspirations in my publishing venture. I met with him and Ngugi wa Thiong'o early in 1983 after having visited his wonderful bookstore in London and having read the likes of Kamau Braithwaite and Andrew Salkey that he had published.

Ngugi was at that time staging a play at the Africa Centre. He was a pull that brought many progressive Pan-Africanists together. Out of those meetings was produced, the first Africa World Press book which was co-published with New Beacon Press: Barrel of a Pen by Ngugi.

John was very supportive and encouraging of Africa World Press' beginnings. He overlooked my naivety and my beginner’s over-optimism and took me seriously. We will miss his presence among us as he joins the generations of our elders.

© Kassahun Checole, Publisher, Africa World Press, Inc. & The Red Sea Press, Inc. 541 W. Ingham Avenue, Trenton, N.J. 08638 (609) 695-3200 (609) 695-6466

 

Robert Chrisman

Dear Sarah,

I and the Black Scholar express our deepest regrets on John's passing. He was a dear personal friend and a friend, contributor, and supporter of Black Scholar as well. John was instrumental in making my first trip to London in 1978 a success, accessing so many people and institutions in Nottingham for me.

I remember so many of our conversations, and all of the ways John embraced black community struggles in London: the Carnival, the arson attacks, the battle against police harassment, the campaign to free Darcus Howe, the publication of Walter Rodney and Andrew Salkey's works … the support of Linton Kwesi Johnson's poetry. He worked constantly for all of us. My life and the world's have been the richer for him.

You have our support. I wish you strength and peace in this difficult time.

Sincerely,

Robert Chrisman

1.3.06

© Robert Chrisman

 

Blyden (Nurse) Cowart

To the family of John La Rose, Irma, Michael and Keith; John’s partner Sarah White, and their son Wole, my family and I send our heartfelt condolences.

The first time I met John La Rose, we were introduced by Lester Lewis at a conference to honour George Padmore in London. I walked away humbled by his efforts. We meet again (in spirit) in London to say goodbye to a man who I have since learned had dedicated his life to social and cultural change. Thank you John La Rose for your courage and enduring efforts. You will not be forgotten in the Padmore family.

To the George Padmore Institute and New Beacon Books, a sincere thank you for the truths you spread, the words you preserve and the light of knowledge you shed.

11/3/06

© Blyden (Nurse) Cowart

 

Pietro Deandrea

Dear friends of New Beacon,

My name is Pietro Deandrea and I am a lecturer/researcher in English and Postcolonial Literature at the University of Torino, Italy. I have just heard about John, and I wanted to express you my deepest sympathy and sorrow. You might not remember me, but I enjoy immensely visiting New Beacon very time I am in London. And I had the pleasure of visiting John a couple of times some years ago: he was incredibly welcoming and generous and warm with this poor PhD student, and full of advice for my research on Anancy. I feel I miss him, even though we haven't met for years.

Please accept my condolences. I hope I'll be back at New Beacon soon.

30/3/06

© Pietro Deandra

 

Yonas Endrias

Hi Akumu,

Yes, you are right brother. John La Rose was indeed incorruptible and a man of principle. He was one of the first to introduce me to the political culture and struggle of Black people in the UK. He came to Berlin to be part of the struggle against IMF where we organised a parallel conference to the official one. I visited the radical book fair several times where he introduced me to several Afrikans from all over the world. I would be very happy if we could organise some kind of commemoration or a booklet or something like this to pay tribute to this principled fighter.

With pan Afrikan greetings,

5.3.06

© Yonas Endrias

 

Jorge Giovanetti

To the Family, Friends and Colleagues of John La Rose:

From the Caribbean, a region to which John La Rose demonstrated a great commitment, we send our condolences and best wishes to his family and friends in this difficult time.

New Beacon Books is a compulsory stop on my trips to London, and certainly a landmark for many of us that studied there, one that stands as a symbol of his compromise and devotion to the region.

Peace and Love, Jorge

6.3.07

© Jorge Giovanetti

 

Cheryll Y. Greene

Hi Tony,

Thanks so much for keeping me informed. How I wish I could be there for John's funeral. On Saturday I attended a memorial for another friend who passed away a couple of weeks before John. He was a filmmaker, James Hinton, who I'd known since my really young days in publishing. It's a sad time, with Octavia Butler also leaving us.

I really appreciated Linton's piece on John; it captured his greatness. Also the pictures capture John's wide-ranging commitment to and activities on behalf of all o' we. I'll share them with Jayne and Louise, as I have the newspaper pieces.

I'll try Sarah again (and you) today. Please give my love and condolences to Michael. I'm not sure the contact info I have for him is current.

Take care, my dear,

Cheryll

The Editor's Eye 212.740.6003 (tel/fax), editorseye@mindspring.com

© Cheryll Y. Greene

 

Herman Hall

We at EVERYBODY'S, the Caribbean-American magazine, express our sympathy to the family and friends of the late John La Rose. There is no doubt that he is a part of Caribbean history for his contributions in the making of modern Trinidad & Tobago and the labour movement in the twin-island nation and the region in general. Here was a man who then settled in the UK where he made an immense impact on British society thru his involvement with Caribbean and other communities in Britain. He lived a productive life that we should all emulate.

May he rest in peace.

3.3.06

© Herman Hall, Publisher, New York

 

Yusuf Hassan

Dearest Sarah,

It is with the deepest grief that l have learnt of the death of John. I send you my sympathy and condolences. What a wonderful human being John was. I shall never forget his warmth, kindness and humour. He was a mentor and a constant source of inspiration for me. John was a true friend and a staunch supporter of the African people's struggle for freedom and justice. His death has robbed us of an extraordinary leader who had devoted his life for peace, justice and equality for all. He will always live in our thoughts and inspire our actions as we continue to pursue the ideals he fought and stood for.

I hope that your warm memories and the love of the many people whose lives he touched will be of comfort to you in the days ahead.

With lots of love,

Yusuf Hassan

3.3.06

© Yusuf Hassan

 

Grace Hill

Dear Sarah,

Recently, you and John have been very much in my thoughts. and I cannot recall whether I sent you a note after hearing of John's passing from Ifi Amadiume, Professor of Religion here at Dartmouth.

I just wanted to let you know I recall how much Errol admired the contribution you and John made with your bookshop in London, and the Padmore Institute besides the many other ways in which he encouraged and supported West Indians and other 'Colonials'.
Our deep appreciation goes too for your having republished Errol's book The Trinidad Carnival.
May he rest in peace.
Strength and courage to you and your family.
Sincerely,
Grace Hill

14.4.07

© Grace Hill

 

Biodun Jeyifo

Tony,

It is 11:22 p.m. here and I have just read your email about John. The world has come to a complete stop, all is darkness. But I am immensely grateful for his life and I am thinking now of all the priceless gifts that he bequeathed to all of us.

I have dreaded this moment for a long time and now that it has come, I don't know how to take it. Only thoughts of Sarah keeps me from total despair. And of Wole and Michael.

I have been trying to reach the house by phone. I will keep trying. Please, keep me posted about the funeral arrangements.

With unassuageable sadness.

BJ

28.2.06

© Biodun Jeyifo

 

Christopher and Alison Laird

Dear Sarah,

I have been trying to get up to the funeral but can't get passages with miles and can't make it any other way.

I wish I could be there to be with you and all John's family and extended family to stand in a solidarity of memory. Reading Linton's Obituary further brings home the fact that John was a father and mentor and inspiration for so many people of such a wide range of backgrounds and talents united in John to a Caribbean soul and vision that manifested for a time in CAM and continued in all the efforts and institutions that CAM spawned and the those that John himself continued and developed.

I have lost a father but am grateful that I am old enough to hold, for the rest of my life and work, my memory of him and all those parts of his own memory he continually rehearsed as he spoke and tirelessly, selflessly, excitedly and passionately gave to us all.

All our love to you

Christopher and Alison

8.3.06

© Christopher and Alison Laird

 

Kari Levitt

We are saddened to hear of the death of John La Rose, he will be missed by all who have known him.

May the memory of his life, dedicated to the struggle for freedom and justice inspire younger generations to continue what he has built.

London will not be the same without John La Rose.

Trinidad and Montreal

6.3.06

© Kari Levitt

 

Wally Look Lai

Sympathies on the sad news of John's death. He will be remembered not just by his peers in Britain, but by all in the Caribbean and elsewhere who were fortunate to have known him over the years.

Our thoughts and best wishes are with Sarah and family.

2/3/06

© Wally Look Lai

 

Tony Martin

To Milverton Wallace and Pepukayi:

Thanks for letting me know the sad news. I believe I first met John in London in the 1960s. I bought my first Garvey book from him. I was honoured to have his support during Mayor Ken Livingstone's dis-invitation adventure of 2003. Please convey my sincerest condolences to Sarah and his other friends and family.

© Tony Martin

 

Marc and Kamal Matthews

It is with regrets that we could not share physically in the ritual with you. We however were spiritually witnesses in our thoughts, which were of a celebratory nature in having the privilege and benefit of John’s wisdom and love.

Marc & Kamal Matthews

For John La Rose:

Deed & Faith

Another jouvay spring in

yellow white purple crocus

costume among a marching

band of playing snow

drops announce summer’s

carnival of love

 

elder you share in this day’s

miracle breath fresh as

island’s nourishing salt from

the bountiful pastures of sea

manifest of Carib beings

imagination

 

elder doh you tek

you georgie-bundle

an gone you way

you leff a neverdone

flambeau fuh show

d righteous track fuh

generations to follow

 

your purpose fulfilled

beloved elder is with

Thanks awee raise

Voice an Fashion

Praises songs.

 

Goodbye and Welcome

Tek you quarters inna

d- ajoupa of stars , moon

and sun

© Marc Matthews 12.3.2006

 

Abubakar Siddique Mohammed

Michael,

I have jus read your courageous but moving eulogy for our unforgettable John. John lives for ever in our lives. His death was double shock for us in Zaria coming soon after the death of his friend and our colleague, Dr Yusufu Bala Usman.

I remember John was the first to call me from outside Nigeria while we were preparing Bala for burial. We spoke. He comforted us. His words and advice are still with us.

I was not able to write you until now because in the last few days I have been having some problems with the Nigeria security over a small book I wrote entitled, Obasanjo: The lust for power and its tragic implications for Nigeria. It is critical of the government. Security operatives moved on our centre looking for me, simultaneously another group raided the printing press where the book was printed and seized nine thousand copies of the book and arrested the printer.

In any case the greatest tribute for John and Bala is to continue with the struggle for the second emancipation of our people. May their souls rest in perfect peace.

Please send me your telephone number. Greetings to Irma, Keith and the young La Roses.

Siddique

© Abubakar Siddique Mohammed

 

Mervyn Morris

Dear Sarah,

Condolences to you and the New Beacon/GPI family on the death of John.

He was a wonderfully generous man, who made a huge contribution.

God bless. And love from Helen and me.

Mervyn

1.3.06

© Mervyn Morris

 

Andre Moses

Dear Sarah, Michael, Keith, Wole and family:

Physically John will be with us no more and we will all miss his advice, his analysis, his experience, his perception and his humanity in interactive rapport.

But the connection remains unbroken through verse and paragraph, through visual storyline and audio clip, through institutions and processes, through ideology and practice, through art and culture.

We share your sadness but also your unique fortune in knowing and loving someone who has bought the past, the present and the future together in reciprocal embrace to illuminate a path for the people of the Third World in general and Africa the Caribbean in particular.

In the words of Black Stalin we can do no more than:

“ Play one for John”

“Play a sweet melody”

“For all the beautiful things ‘John’ did for us”

Regards

Sladdy, Donna and family

Saturday March 11^th 2006

© Andre Moses

 

Anand Patwardhan

Dear sarah and all the loved ones in the global family of john,

this is awful news. i tried calling but haven’t been able to get thru. this is to send u courage to bear this tragedy and to reassure u that john lives on brightly through all the people all over the world whose lives he touched. love, anand

2/3/06

© Anand Patwardhan

 

Beatrice Pizer

Dear Sarah,

I am deeply touched that you are including me in the honouring of your chairman John La Rose. From reading of his life's work I understand that he was a man of great heart and integrity, inspired to transform greatness of vision to goodness in action. I offer my condolences to Sarah White, the La Rose family and to you, his colleagues.

Although I did not have the opportunity to meet John La Rose, it is apparent that the values he embodied are values that are vital to humanity, that the work done, and the work that continues to spring from these values is of lasting significance. My feeling is that if George Padmore were alive now, he would want me to say these things.
Peace,

3/3/06

© Beatrice Pizer. Beatrice Pizer is a niece of George Padmore

 

Randolph Rawlins and Monica Olivier-Rawlins

TO: The family of the late John La Rose - Michael, Keith, Wole, Sarah, Irma and a world beside.

His death left us all in deep grief, but ennobled evermore by his life.

He was "Johnlarose" just that one single word.

 

To scholars seeking guidance

To creative workers needing judgements

To the aggrieved, parents above all, seeking justice

To officialdom, seated authority

Remember "Johnlarose" that one word.

12.3.06

© Randolph Rawlins and Monica Olivier-Rawlins

 

Tim Reiss

Thank you all for these inspiring messages. I worked with John when I was preparing a collection of essays on Kamau Brathwaite in the late 1990s (published by Kassahun in 2001). John's memoir in this collection is not only an essay on Kamau, their founding of CAM and the exciting effervescence of a major moment in the history of Caribbean culture, but a piece through which John's generosity, intellectual probity, personal warmth and political savvy shine in every sentence. Although we corresponded a good deal and spoke many times on the phone, I met John and Sarah for the first and only time when we were all in Barbados at the same time in 1998 or 9. I was prepared for the tone of his essay, therefore. He was in person all of those things, and much more: one of those great human beings one is always grateful to have been touched by.

3/3/06

© Tim Reiss

 

Richard and Yolande Small

My dear Sarah,

It has been very difficult for me to write these short lines at this time. I know that I can barely imagine what you have been through and will go through in the coming months, but if it can be of any consolation please be assured of our support and love.

I keep thinking of John as being such an extraordinarily ordinary human being. I trust you will understand what I am trying to say. Of how much he understood and recognized the importance of the contribution of the so called ordinary citizen to the culture and politics and development of our civilization. Of how much of his being was devoted to building the confidence of people in their capacity to change the world and how committed he was to recording that experience.

He reflected all of this in the human being that he was, his warmth, his smile, his loyalty, his sympathy and understanding of all the threads.

Please pass on love and concern and especially for you,

6/3/06

© Richard and Yolande Small

 

Fatou and Randy Weston

Hi margaret,

randy told me about john. i'am very sad we lost a great african man. i will like to send my condoléances to the familly.

Take care Fatou and Randy

 

© Fatou & Randy Weston

 

 

Patrick Wilmot

After returning from Nigeria after an eighteen year absence it was tragic to hear of the loss of John whose untiring efforts made West Indians like me take such an interest in Africa. As we mourn his death we should recall Che's 'wherever death may surprise us, let it be welcome if our battle cry has reached even one more receptive ear, and other hands reach out to pick up our weapons, and other voices intone our funeral dirge with the staccato of machine gun bullets, and new cries of battle and victory.' The struggle continues.

Patrick

© Patrick Wilmot