revolutionary action movement (ram) - Michael Schwartz Library

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RAM leadership .
Also, new forces had emerged within the black liberation movement .
The Black'Panther Party (Oakland) was growing into a national organization .
On the other hand, the concept of 'cultural nationalism' was gaining popularity
as Ron Karenga, chairman of United Slaves (US) and associates, were
emerging as a force representing the radicalized black middle class .
In Detroit, the Malcolm X Society was formed in 1967 . It was led by
Gaidi Odadele (Milton Henry) and Imari Abuakari Obadele (Richard Henry) .
Imari wrote a document based on what he called the Malcolm X Doctrine .
The manuscript was circulated in 1967 and published by the Malcolm X Society
in February, 1968 under the title, "War in America ." The Malcolm X Society
called a National Black Government Conference in Detroit, on March 30 and
31, 1968 . Five hundred black nationalists attended . Discussion centered
around black people separating from the United States government and establishing
black republics in the states of Mississippi, Georgia, South,
Carolina, Alabama and Louisiana .
A declaration of independence was signed
by a hundred persons and a name chosen for the republic, the Republic of
New Africa .
Robert F . Williams, the expatriate, then residing in Tanzania,
was designated as president of the new nation . . . . The conference
set up an official governmental structure including a
council of ministers . Its military arm was known as the Black
Legion . Members of this force scrutinized delegates and
visitors attending the session . They wore black uniforms with
leopard-skin epaulets, black combat boots with white laces and
white pistol belts . 25
All three organizations, BPP, US and RNA began struggling for dominance
over the black liberation struggle .
25 Brisbane, Black Activ ism, p . 183 .