1983 – Maurice Bishop Warns of U.S. Interference in Grenada

On May 10, 1983, Prime Minister Maurice Bishop of Grenada delivered a fiery speech warning of increasing U.S. hostility toward his socialist government. Bishop, who came to power in 1979 through a bloodless revolution, had pursued policies of free healthcare, education, and agrarian reform with Cuban support. The Reagan administration viewed his government as a Marxist threat in the Western Hemisphere and began applying diplomatic and economic pressure. In his address, Bishop condemned what he called U.S. imperialism and vowed to defend Grenada’s sovereignty. Just five months later, he would be deposed and executed during a power struggle, leading to the U.S. invasion of Grenada in October 1983. May 10 stands as a stark reminder of the fragile path of post-colonial Black leadership in the face of global geopolitical forces. Bishop’s legacy remains contested but continues to inspire leftist and anti-colonial movements in the Caribbean and beyond.