Rickford Burke’s Defamation Campaign and the Weaponization of Black Advocacy

Dear Editor,

I write this not just in my defense, but in defense of every Afro-Caribbean woman, every free-thinking Guyanese, and every advocate who has ever been publicly shamed for refusing to walk in lockstep with someone else’s agenda.

Over the last few days, I have been subjected to a vicious and misogynistic online smear campaign by Rickford Burke, a man who claims to fight for Afro-Guyanese people while using race as a tool of control and division. His tirade began after I called out what I believe is racially exploitative behavior masked as activism. For simply saying that we cannot fight racism with racism, I was branded a PPP spy, a “slave catcher,” a “Lombard Street prostitute,” and worse. He used my name, my image, and a slew of fabricated accusations to incite public hate; then blocked me from responding and deleted any comment that didn’t cheer him on.

That is not advocacy nor leadership, that is cowardice disguised as resistance.
I want to be clear, I am not aligned with any political party. I have criticized the PPP, the PNC, and any figure who engages in wrongdoing. I am a citizen of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, a U.S. resident, a writer, an advocate, and an alumna of the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program. I’ve written to Parliament on inclusive education. I’ve spoken out about violence against women, inequality in the creative industry, and racial and ethnic discrimination in Guyana. I’ve also criticized cultural appropriation, anti-Chinese hate, and misogyny.

But none of that seems to matter to Mr. Burke, because my crime was daring to say that hate no matter who it comes from is wrong.

Marcus Garvey once warned us: “The greatest weapon used against the Negro is disorganization.” And Walter Rodney taught us to recognize how those who claim to liberate can also serve systems of oppression. Burke’s methods are not rooted in solidarity. They are rooted in suppression. He claims to protect Black people, but who protects Black women from him?

His platform is not a vehicle for justice, it is a pulpit for character assassination. He boasts of ties to U.S. lawmakers and political figures. That makes his campaign not just defamatory, but dangerous. When someone with that level of access uses it to launch personal attacks, it sends a chilling message to every woman who dares to disagree.

He accused me of “encouraging visa fraud” because I advocate for fair treatment of Guyanese artists. Ironically, Guyanese creatives living in the U.S. have also accused his organization of exploitation, nonpayment, and housing performers in degrading conditions. If anyone should be scrutinized for visa misuse, it should be the person organizing events under a visitor visa umbrella while compensating or working creatives off the books.

Burke’s defenders will say he’s “passionate.” But passion without principle is tyranny. And if you must bully, lie, and degrade women to make your point, you are not a freedom fighter. You are an abuser with a platform.

I have no interest in his brand of activism. I do not need to shout to be heard, nor do I need to wear political colors to speak truth. I will continue to advocate with integrity. And I will not be silent while a man who hides behind the language of Black liberation tries to silence others.
This is not just my story. This is the story of many. But unlike others, I will not cower.
Because as Garvey said, “There shall be no solution to this race problem until you, yourselves, strike the blow for liberty.”
Mr. Burke, you did not silence me. You confirmed exactly what I said about you in the first place.