Black Nationalism Adapted From Teaching American History Grant

Black Nationalism Adapted From: Teaching American History Grant Dr. Leslie Burl Mc. Lemore

Black Nationalism There are major strains of Black Nationalism: Cultural Black Nationalism, Religious Black Nationalism, Political Black Nationalism, and Economic/anticolonial Black Nationalism. We can speak of three periods of Black Nationalism. The first after the Revolutionary War, was characterized by a critical mass of Africans brought to New England, called Classical Negro Nationalism. This period witnessed the development of the Free African Society, African Masonic Lodges and Black Churches. These institutions were founded and developed by individuals such as Prince Hall and Richard Allen. The Post-Reconstruction Era marked the second period of Black Nationalism, which was associated with the African American clergy. This period ushered in what has been described as modern-day Black Nationalism. Indeed, the term “Black Nationalism” has been used in American History to describe a body of social thought, attitudes, and actions ranging from the simplest expressions of ethnocentrism and racial solidarity to the comprehensive and sophisticated ideologies of Pan-Negroism to Pan-Africanism. We can trace the development of Black Nationalism through the thinking of people such as Richard Allen, Marcus Garvey, George Padmore, Malcolm X, Elijah Muhammad, Reverend Albert Cleage and the phenomenon known as Black Power.

Assessment Questions � What role did religion play in the development of Black Nationalism? � How would you compare the various strains of Black Nationalism? In what ways do they impact each other? � In what way does any particular strand relate to your world? � How might Black Nationalism inform present and future movements?

Definitions Black Nationalism

Nationalism’s: Inner and Outer Domains � It is helpful to draw a distinction between nationalism as a socio-economic or political movement (the outer domain ) and nationalism as a cultural construct (the inner domain). Whilst the former seeks to challenge the colonial state, the latter enables the colonized subject to create an autonomous personal space. It is this second process where, long before it begins its political struggle, nationalism operates “to fashion a modern project that is nevertheless not Western”. Chatterjee writes that “if the nation is an imagined community, then this is where it is brought into being”

Nationalism and devotion to a nation; especially: a sense of national consciousness exalting one nation above all others and placing primary emphasis on promotion of its culture and interests as opposed to those of other nations or supranational groups � loyalty Merriam –Webster Dictionary

W. E. B. Du Bois introduced the term "double consciousness" � It stems from African Americans viewing themselves, individually and as a group, through the eyes of the society they live in. Du Bois says it is "always looking at one's self through the eyes of others, of measuring one's soul by the tape of a world that looks on in amused contempt and pity“. This produces what Du Bois calls a "twoness, - an American, a Negro; two souls, two thoughts, two unreconciled strivings; two warring ideals in one dark body"

Black Nationalism � Black Nationalism (BN) in a racialized or colonial context can advocate a racial definition (or redefinition) of national identity, as opposed to assimilationist or multicultural There are different indigenous nationalist philosophies but the principles of all African nationalist ideologies include unity, and selfdetermination or independence from European society. Martin Delany is considered to be the grandfather of African American nationalism.

Black Nationalism Four Major Strains

Cultural Black Nationalism

Maulana Karenga � � � � Born Ronald Mc. Kinley Everett July 14, 1941 African American professor Africana Studies, activist and author Creator of the pan-African and African American holiday of Kwanzaa Karenga was a major figure in the Black Power movement of the 1960 s and 1970 s Co-founded the black nationalist and social change organization US which means "Us Black people“ Chair of the Africana Studies Department at California State University, Long Beach Director of the Kawaida Institute for Pan African Studies “I created Kwanzaa in the context of the Black Freedom Movement”

Gilbert “Gil” Scott-Herron � � April 1, 1949 - May 27, 2011 Soul and Jazz poet, musician and author; known for his spoken word His collaborative efforts with musician Brian Jackson featured a musical fusion of jazz, blues, and soul, as well as lyrical content concerning social and political issues of the time Artistically influence to many contemporary musicians

Gil Scott Heron - The Revolution Will Not Be Televised http: //www. youtube. com/watch? feature=player_detailpage&v=r. Ga. Rtqrl. Gy 8

The Black Arts Movement � � � The Black Arts Movement (BAM) is the artistic branch of the Black Power movement. Started in Harlem by writer and activist Amiri Baraka (born Everett Le. Roi Jones). Time magazine describes the Black Arts Movement as the "single most controversial moment in the history of African-American literature – possibly in American literature as a whole” � It inspired black people to establish their own publishing houses, magazines, journals and art institutions. It led to the creation of African-American Studies programs within universities

Religious Black Nationalism

Albert B. Cleage � � � Jaramogi Abebe Agyeman 1911 - February 20, 2000 Christian leader, political candidate, newspaper publisher, political organizer and author Founder of the Shrine of the Black Madonna Church and Cultural Centers Studied Sociology at Wayne State University Bachelor of Divinity from Oberlin Graduate School of Theology in 1943

Elijah Muhammad � � � � � Born Elijah Robert Poole October 7, 1897– February 25, 1975 The sixth of thirteen children Religious leader, mentor to Malcolm X Led the Nation of Islam from 1934 until his death in 1975 1931 attended speech on Islam and Black Empowerment by Wallace D. Fard 1934 – Name minister of Islam 1934 – the Nation of Islam published its first newspaper, Final Call to Islam 1942 – Arrested for failure to register for the draft during WWII 1972 – Nation of Islam net worth of $75 Million

Nation of Islam Black Nationalism

Nation of Islam � The Nation of Islam is a religious-based nationalist movement founded in Detroit, Michigan by Wallace D. Fard Muhammad in July 1930. Its stated goals are to improve the spiritual, mental, social, and economic condition of African Americans in the United States and all of humanity. Its critics accuse it of being black supremacist and anti-Semitic � After Fard's departure in June 1934, the Nation of Islam was led by Elijah Muhammad, who established mosques called Temples, Schools named Muhammad University of Islam, businesses, farms and real estate holdings in the United States and abroad.

Malcolm X � � � May 19, 1925 – February 21, 1965 African American Muslim Minister and human rights activist Became a member of the Nation of Islam in 1952 For 12 years, he was the face of the Nation of Islam As a spokesman for the Nation of Islam he taught black supremacy and advocated separation of black and white Americans —in contrast to the civil rights movement's emphasis on integration. "Our objective is complete freedom, justice and equality by any means necessary. "

Malcolm X – Thoughts on Police State in Black Community http: //www. youtube. com/watch? feature=player_detailpage&v=WDEL 96 ig. PAA

Political Black Nationalism

Sam E. Anderson � � An activist-teacher-writer native of Brooklyn’s Bed-Stuy One of the founding members of the Black Panther Party as well as an activist within the Student Nonviolent Committee (SNCC) and the Black Arts Movement of the Sixties He became one of the first Black Studies directors in 1969 when he was hired to chair Sarah Lawrence College’s Black Studies program. A founding member of the Black Student Congress, African Heritage Studies Association, African Liberation Support Committee, The Black New York Action Committee, Black Liberation Press, and The New York Algebra Project.

Republic of New Afrika

The History The Republic of New Afrika (RNA), was a social movement that proposed three objectives. � Creation of an independent African-Americanmajority in the southeastern United States. � Payment of several billion dollars in reparations from the US government for the damages inflicted on Africans and their descendants � A referendum of all African Americans in order to decide what should be done with regard to their citizenship

Imari Obadele � May 2, 1930 – January 18, 2010 � Black separatist, advocate for reparations, and President of the Republic of New Afrika (RNA) � “The Father of Reparations”

Imari Obadele Reads Political Prisoner Letter to US Government

Economic/anti-colonial Black Nationalism Marcus Garvey's Universal Negro Improvement Association of the 1910 s and 1920 s was the most powerful black nationalist movement to date, claiming 11 million members.

Marcus Mosiah Garvey, Jr. � � � August 1887 – June 10, 1940 Jamaican political leader, publisher, entrepreneur and orator President of the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League Founded the Black Star Line Part of the Back-to Africa Movement which promoted the return of the African to their ancestral lands Diaspora

Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League � The broad mission of the UNIAACL led to the establishment of numerous auxiliary components, among them the Universal African Legion, the African Black Cross Nurses; African Black Cross Society; the Universal African Motor Corps; the Black Eagle Flying Corps; the Black Star Steamship Line; the Black Cross Trading and Navigation Corporation; as well as the Negro Factories Corporation.

Pan-Africanism �A movement that seeks to unify African people or people living in Africa, or within the diaspora into a “single African community”. � Differing types of Pan-Africanism seek different levels of economic, racial, social, or political unity.

Pan-African Movement,

Black power

Stokley Carmichael � � � � June 29, 1941 – November 15, 1998 A prominent leader of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) Honorary Prime Minister of the Black Panther Party “Black Power” 1960 – Attend Howard University 1961 – Participated in the Freedom Rides of the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) At age 19, he became the youngest detainee in the summer of 1961 1964 – offered a full scholarship to Harvard but turned it down “It is a call for black people in this country to unite, to recognize their heritage, to build a sense of community. It is a call for black people to define their own goals, to lead their own organizations. ”

We Ain’t Goin – Kwame Ture Speech at Tougaloo http: //www. youtube. com/watch? feature=player_detailpage&v=P 0_tv. VSFq. QI

Black Panther Party � Founded in Oakland, California by Huey Newton and Bobby Seale on October 15, 1966 � African-American revolutionary leftist organization active in the United States from 1966 until 1982. � Became an icon of the counterculture of the 1960 s

Black Panther Party 10 Point Program 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. We want freedom. We want power to determine the destiny of our black Community. We want full employment for our people. We want an end to the robbery by the white man of our black Community. We want decent housing, fit for shelter of human beings. We want education for our people that exposes the true nature of this decadent American society. We want education that teaches us our true history and our role in the present-day society.

Black Panther Party 10 Point Program continued 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. We want all black men to be exempt from military service. We want an immediate end to POLICE BRUTALITY and MURDER of black people. We want freedom for all black men held in federal, state, county and city prisons and jails. We want all black people when brought to trial to be tried in court by a jury of their peer group or people from their black communities, as defined by the Constitution of the United States. We want land, bread, housing, education, clothing, justice and peace. And as our major political objective, a United Nations-supervised plebiscite to be held throughout the black colony in which only black colonial subjects will be allowed to participate for the purpose of determining the will of black people as to their national destiny.

Huey Percy Newton February 17, 1942 – August 22, 1989 � Co-Founded the Black Panther Party for Self Defense � The youngest of seven children from Monroe, Louisiana � As a student at Merritt College in Oakland, Newton became involved in politics � Instrumental in getting the first African American history course adopted � Member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity � “Black Power is giving power to people who have not had power to determine their destiny”

William Buckley interviews Huey Newton on Firing Line

Robert George “Bobby” Seale � � � October 22, 1936 Co-Founded the Black Panther Party Joined the U. S. Air Force in 1955 Attended Merritt College in 1962 where he joined the Afro-American Association (AAA) One of the original "Chicago Eight" defendants charged with conspiracy and inciting to riot, in the wake of the 1968 Democratic National Convention, in Chicago “You don't fight racism with racism, the best way to fight racism is with solidarity”

Where Do We Go From Here? � How has Black Nationalism helped to inform the national dialogue today? � How can we utilize thinking of the Black Nationalist to provide a pathway to more open society? � How have we integrate thinking of the Black Nationalist into the national conversation?