General Baker Jr. is an African American who had the unique experience of traveling to Cuba during the Vietnam War. This journey was unique not only in the location choice, but also in the route Baker had to take to get there. Since the United States banned traveling to Cuba, Baker and eightythree other young men rerouted through Paris, Czechoslovakia, Ireland, then Newfoundland to finally end up in Cuba. Most of the students were a part of the Cuban Federation of Students; Baker was specially approached because the group needed African American involvement.
Playing baseball with Fidel Castro, talking with Che Guevara and interacting on a daily basis with Vietnamese peers made Barker aware of how ujust the American involvement in Vietnam was. In response to a draft letter he received when he returned to the United States Baker gave a slu of reasons for which he woudl be first in line to fight, but he ademetly refused to go to Vietnam. He was sent a draft card regardless and was scheduled for September 10th. This date became the name for a movement he planned to organize - a movement rallying angry blacks to protest the draft. The slogan of the movement was "Destroy the Draft." The movement never took place and Baker did go into the induction and even went through with most of it. He refused however to say the oath. When confronted by officials - he kept refusing and eventually was put on a 24 hour watch. For quite some time his every movement was recorded. Super secret information of the
"...General Baker was seen leaving Philadelphia with three bags of dirtly clothes..." (Appy, 148)
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