Vol. 72/No. 14      April 7, 2008

Leonard gave an account of the days he was a merchant seaman during and just after World War II. He described the racism and discrimination against Chinese contract laborers working on merchant ships, and urged people to read Our History Is Still Being Written: The Story of Three Chinese-Cuban Generals in the Cuban Revolution, which he called an important contribution to the history of the Chinese diaspora in the Western hemisphere. Leonard explained the book shows that it took a revolution to end the oppression against not only Chinese, but also against Blacks and women in Cuban society.

One of the participants in the lively discussion that ensued was James Weddington, an African American from Tacoma who had also been a merchant seamen around the same time as Leonard. He subsequently became an active member of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU). Weddington told of his experiences as a seamen in China during the Chinese Revolution in 1949. He added that the U.S. government only recently recognized merchant seamen as being eligible for veterans’ benefits. “They waited until almost all of us had died to grant benefits,” he said. “One of the main benefits they extended to us is that we can be buried in a veterans’ cemetery!”

Jessie Hasting, a member of the Young Socialists, made an appeal to the audience to pledge and make contributions to the $100,000 Militant Fund. “The Militant needs workers like us to keep the paper in print and continue to use it as a tool to open minds and give a voice to the working class,” she said. Nearly $1,300 was collected and $5,000 pledged toward the Seattle goal of $7,000 for the drive.

In addition, $375 was collected for the Maritime Project Fund, which helps make it possible for Leonard to do research and speak around the country.  
 
 
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