Walter Rodney was born on March 23, 1942, in Georgetown, Guyana. He became one of the most influential African and Caribbean intellectuals of his time. He studied at the University of the West Indies and later earned a PhD at the University of London. Rodney became a fierce advocate for social justice, critiquing colonialism and its impacts on Africa. His most famous work, "How Europe Underdeveloped Africa," was published in 1972. Unfortunately, he was assassinated in 1980 in Jamaica under suspicious circumstances, and his death was widely seen as politically motivated. His legacy continues to inspire discussions on race, development, and history today.