| Book Review of Repatriation and Pan-Africanism | ||
| Must Read Books | |
| Friday, 31 March 2006 19:00 | |
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"Book written by Sekou Nkrumah Reviewed by Saadiq Mance Repatriation and Pan-Africanism is one of those books that can truly expand ones global view of the Black Community. It is so easy for Africans in America to get caught up in the term ?African-American? and forget about the shared struggle that is experienced by their brothers and sisters throughout the Diaspora. However, after reading author Sekou Nkrumah's analysis of the historical and political dynamics facing Africans throughout the world, one will quickly realize that the struggle of indigenous Africans and descendants of indigenous Africans are as ""inextricably linked"" as repatriation and Pan-Africanism." Simply stated, repatriation is the call for the most conscious descendants of indigenous Africans to return to Africa in order to end the exploitation of Africa?s wealth and labor by non-indigenous Africans, while Pan-Africanism is the movement to unify Africans in the Diaspora and the Governments in Africa in order to coordinate their fight against all that seek to exploit Africa and its people. Although these definitions are not explicitly stated verbatim by Mr. Nkrumah, after hearing his interview on LIB Radio and hearing Nkrumah?s interpretation of his own writings, these definitions fit well within the confines of what was historically intended by most notable Pan-African activist. With that said, Nkrumah?s research provides an extremely vital piece to the puzzle of answering why indigenous Africans and descendants of indigenous Africans face exploitation and other challenges that are unique to the African race. Specifically vital is Nkrumah?s analysis of the people and results of most major movements that focused on Pan-Africanism and repatriation such as Marcus Garvey?s UNIA, the organization of the 1st Pan-African Conference in 1900 and the conferences that followed, W.E.B DuBois and his many efforts, Richard Allen and the African Methodist Episcopal Church, the American Colonization Society and the settlement of Africans in Liberia, Paul Cuffe?s efforts that led to the resettlement of 40 African family?s from America to Sierra Leone, as well as Chief Alfred Sam?s Akim Trading Co., the little known precursor to the Garvey Movement in which ships were purchased and used by this African to trade produce between African, Europe, and the U.S., and also repatriate American born Africans. In addition, this book also provides a wealth of strategic information on how Africans across the world can improve their situation by using the basic two concepts in which Nkrumah has titled the book. And the best thing about it is that all of this information is packed into a very concise 115 pages. |
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