A number of high-profile posts were to follow and Guyana's independence in 1966 brought fresh demands on his time. First he became Attorney-General and then, after a series of ministerial positions during the late '60s and early '70s, he was appointed Secretary-General of the Commonwealth. It has been speculated that his relentless pursuit for just international relations, and for trade based on justice, ultimately hindered his chances of being appointed Secretary-General of the United Nations. But to this day, Sir Shridath presses on. Sir Arthur Lewis IN 1979, Sir Arthur Lewis became a standard-bearer for Black intellectuals. He became the first person from the Caribbean ever to gain a Nobel Prize, winning the award for economics in 1979.
"Cuba has represented metaphorically the ability of an oppressed people to challenge imperialism and colonialism," Marable explained. "In the political imagination of Black America, Cuba represents the radical possibility of fundamental social change. One of the key questions now is -- what does Cuba represent for Black America in this period of political transition?"
