AFRICA UNITED AND IN STRIDE: FOR ITSELF AND GLOBAL GOOD Los Angeles Sentinel, 07-12-07, p. A-7 DR. MAULANA KARENGA

The recent African Union Summit on prevent conflict, and promotes democracy— the unification of Africa and African people in a word, how it deals with issues of life in Accra Ghana, July 1-3, clearly raised and death, security, peace, food, freedom, hopes that are deeply rooted in the heart and genocide and justice. Thus, they rightfully history of the Pan-Africanist Movement. question the AU’s failure to deal with Dar- This focus on the indispensability of unity is fur, Somalia, or Congo and other places of found in the writings and work of 19th cen- war, death, destruction, insecurity, and ex- tury pan-Africanists like Maria Stewart and treme suffering or even address the need for Martin Delaney, and those of the 20th cen- basic and steady steps, i.e., a common cur- tury like Sylvester Williams, W.E.B. Du- rency and a pan-African passport and citi- Bois, Marcus Garvey, Kwame Nkrumah, zenship and removal of barriers to the free Julius Nyerere, and others. On the table of flow of people, goods and services from what was called “the Grand Debate” was country to country. three proposed possibilities for unity: (a) So, at the heart and center of any con- the United States of Africa; (b) an interlock- cept of African unity as principle, practice ing system of AU continental institutions; and promise of good in Africa and the world and (c) a Union of African States. There must be, first, a vision and set of values that was no final decision, only requests for fur- actively open the way to a better life for the ther study and reports. people thru immediate and long-term initia- Clearly on the sides and in the circles tives. The whole idea of African unity and of discussion were the habitual doubters, the the cooperative projects that give it life, legs psychological sons and daughters of Europe, and ultimate meaning must be rooted in the proudly claiming artificial identities and freedom, dignity, development and empow- borders imposed on them by their imperial erment of African people at home and European overlords; the dictators who jeal- abroad. This is the meaning of Mwalimu ously guard their national “sovereignty” Julius Nyerere’s assertion that “all the rea- over the suffering of the people; and the fac- sons for African unity can be summed up in totums and front men and women for for- one phrase—the welfare of the people of eign interests. But beyond this mix of sub- Africa. Their greater freedom is the objec- sidized and self-induced submission, there tive, that is the freedom from outside op- are those Africans, at home and abroad, who pression, from poverty and from the possi- know that only united can Africa bring bility of inter-African wars,”—indeed, the peace and security to its people, address reality of inter-African war. Moreover, he their needs and aspirations, harness and de- reminds us that African people are not only velop their human and material resources, the central justification for African unity but engage effectively in the global processes of “also the only means thru which it will be the world economy, and play an expanded attained”—especially in any meaningful, role in the interest of human and global meritorious and enduring form. good. Thus, it is African people who must But the people must see how this thing democratize the discussion of unity, chal- called “unity” works, how it saves and im- lenge the tendency to table, postpone and proves their lives, how it helps solve and kill in committee action on the issues vital to AFRICA UNITED AND IN STRIDE: FOR ITSELF AND GLOBAL GOOD 2 Los Angeles Sentinel, 07-12-07, p. A-7 DR. MAULANA KARENGA

African life and liberation. And it is they beneficial relations with the global African who must hold corrupt, incompetent and community as a whole. collaborating leaders and governments ac- Finally, the unity of Africa not only countable thru confrontation and struggle. holds expanded promise for the continent This is the meaning of Amilcar Cabral’s as- and world African community, but also for sertion that only thru revolutionary struggle the world. Indeed, Marcus Garvey taught, can the map of Africa be redrawn in the in- like Frantz Fanon later, that in the post- terests of its people. imperial world and the liberation struggles There is also a great need for Africa to that precede it and bring it to closure, Africa reposition itself and strengthen its position prepared and conscious of its role in history in global affairs. And this can only be ac- will have an important role to play. It will, complished in unity, i.e., thru structured, he says, be able to offer an alternative model strategic and shared continental initiatives, of using power, not “to oppress the human whether in the form of a continental gov- race,” but “to preserve humanity and civili- ernment, system of institutions or union of zation” and “evolve a national ideal based states. Only a united Africa can successfully on freedom, human liberty and true democ- deal with the issues of reparations, debt can- racy.” cellation, rightful development assistance, Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah who was equitable investment and trade policies, and influenced thru reading and reflection on the U.S.’s recent initiative to turn Africa into Garvey argued likewise. He noted that it is a series of interlocking military bases and a true “divided, we are weak” in the world. battleground for its bloody struggles with But he continues, “united, Africa could be- current and future enemies. And only a come one of the greatest forces for good in united African can effectively ward off or the world.” Moreover, he said “I believed restrain the global financial and corporate strongly and sincerely that with the deep- vampires and vultures who regularly assem- rooted wisdom and dignity, the innate re- ble to drain the blood, wealth and will of the spect for human lives, the intense humanity people and then blame the people for weak- that is our heritage, the African race, united nesses and corrupt leadership that they and under one federal government, will emerge their governments have financed and fos- not as just another bloc to flaunt its wealth tered. and strength, but as a great power whose Thus, Garvey tells us “if we must have greatness is indestructible because it is built justice, we must be strong; if we must be not on fear, envy and suspicion, nor won at strong, we must come together; (and) if we the expense of others, but founded on hope, must come together we can only do so trust, friendship and directed to the good of through the system of organization.” And humankind.” His conviction and commit- this system of organization, he contends, ment are our own and so is the self- must evolve into a united Africa, under one conscious struggle we must wage to realize government with appropriate and mutually this great African and global good.

Dr. Maulana Karenga, Professor of Black Studies, California State University-Long Beach, Chair of The Organiza- tion Us, Creator of Kwanzaa, and author of Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community and Culture, [www.Us- Organization.org and www.OfficialKwanzaaWebsite.org].