Think Africa. How can we not? Thirty-four years ago, I wrote a graduate thesis on US non-recognition of Angola and challenged its legality arguing that Angola was a nation state. On today, at the Willard Hotel in DC I heard the VP of Angola deliver a powerful speech about its development, growth, and vision for itself and for Africa. The packed audience included some who likely opposed its recognition in 1980. Africa is changing and Angolas growth and development reflects that change. Twenty minutes later at the National Press Club, just across the Street, I listened as the President of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, addressed yet another crowded room in an authentic and passionate speech about South Africa, its people and its development, along with a parenthetical tribute to Nelson Mandela. Both officials spoke about imperfect but robust economic growth and the future of Africa. Zuma added definitively that South Africa is a part of Africa. And I thought that Black Americans need to similarly acknowledge that we too are a part of Africa, and that this powerful reclamation is long overdue. The Tarzan-King of the jungle days are long gone and Africa presents a new horizon, full of challenge and opportunity. The audiences thus far have been up to 25% non-Black: bankers, hedge fun players, investors, and many other business interests. Amazingly, some of us still think that Africa is the dark continent and disclaim her in any way possible. The African continent is larger than India and China combined and its population is growing exponentially. As Zuma stated it presents enormous consumer markets and tremendous economic promise. Our reasons transcend that. But where are black Americans in this equation? China knows and is increasingly present even in the little African villages. The ground motion for the African Summit is incredible, and the dominant press coverage is typically wanting. In the spirit of Sylvester Williams, W.E.B. Dubois, Marcus, Garvey, Malcolm X, Kwame Nkrumah, Sekou Toure, Patrice Lumumba, Steve Biko, Nelson Mandela and so many many others. I sound the clarion call for reclamation of our mother land, and all that it means to our competitive global human development. Africa is calling our name and lends value to our identity and capacity. This is neither fiction nor a figment of my imagination. How can we not think Africa? We are a part of her. DT
Posted on: Tue, 05 Aug 2014 02:23:26 +0000
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