- San Francisco, CA and Columbus, OH
1974
Front page of Jihad News commemorating African Liberation Day in 1974. Photos from an African Liberation Day celebration sponsored by the African Liberation Support Committee of Ohio and in collaboration with the Pan-African Association of OSU.
Notes: African Liberation Day was first established as African Freedom Day by Kwame Nkrumah in 1958. By 1970, it was being commemorated in the Americas and this celebration in 1973 was the first of its kind in Columbus. Umi danced that day with one of the troupes she was a part of, the Uhuru Dancers. Her childhood friend, Ben Abney described seeing Umi: “central, up front, in the middle of the Uhuru Dancers. And they was doing it, man. And your mom was doing it on stage at Ohio State University in front of thousands of people. And it was huge. So, I'll never forget that.”
Jihad News was a publication of the Revolutionary Action Movement (RAM). RAM was a revolutionary Black nationalist organization founded by Muhammad Ahmad (Max Stanford), who was a student of Malcolm X. Before his death, Malcolm was an officer in RAM. Jihad News covered stories of Black struggle and Black radical movements nationally and internationally, particularly in US prisons, and this issue also includes a tribute to Queen Mother Moore, RAM's mentor.
The paper also features a message to:
Brothers, Sisters behind the Walls
Jihad News wants to hear from you. Jihad news is dedicated to being the voice for soldiers who are held captive, for you are our new heroes; the tested, the unwavering, the fearless, the front line of the African People's Liberation Struggle. We stand ready to serve you.
Jihad News, Captives of War Publisher