The History of Pan-Africanism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The History of Pan-Africanism - Essay Example This was one of the greatest racial discrimination of this era, where blacks were being demoralized and oppressed on various grounds. The movement of Pan-African unity was very essential for African Americans. It helped them to identify politics, because African origin was not recognizing its people’s identity (Mayihlome, 2011). This era reduced differences between various people of Africa and supported indiscriminate "African" heritage. As a philosophy, Pan-Africanism represented an ethical system which traced origins from ancient times and promoted values of African civilization. It struggles against slavery, racial discrimination, neo-colonialism and colonialism. European slave trade was another concept used in Pan-Africanism. In past era Africans were forced for slavery from various origins and their descendants were breathing in an environment, where they were being exploited because at that time African origin became a sign of servile status. There were many differences such as political, cultural etc, but this concept of slavery was affecting people negatively. 1.2 Past scenario Africans were being treated as slaves in America, South America, and Caribbean. At this time migration of Africa (born out of the Berlin Conference of 1884 & 85) had begun. At first there was a movement of anti-slavery and anti-colonial amongst black people of Africa and the Diaspora, in the late nineteenth century. Pan-Africanism developed in these decades. Pan-Africanism had provided shelter and created unity, independence, political and economic assistance and created chronological and cultural awareness among people (Young, 2010). The ideology of pan-Africanism  was based on  self-respect  and  so-called  Africa for the Africans. Its alternative  focus was on  ethnic  gathering. It changed colonial procedures without any political power. It highlighted all the  troubles  that African peope faced in this era and aided in the foundation of nationalism (Hakim, 2007). The entire past scenario of this movement and its value is described in the following points: ROOTS Pan-Africanism comprises of rich history, which dates back to eighteenth century. It originated from the New World rather than from Africa itself. People were bound by slavery in America and the Caribbean People of Africa were looking for their ancestral homeland, with missing sense of dignity and freedom. Pan-Africanism also represented those people who were born in captivity. Prince Hall, a black cleric  within  Boston, campaigned with the assistance of 1787 people in order to replace the disputes of  black in  Africa. Another black Bostonian, Quaker shipbuilder Paul Cuffe, took matters into his own hands  and with 1815 people founded a  village  within  Sierra Leone, which British considered as a refuge for freed and led to runaway of slaves, around 1787 people.   This movement was later termed as negritude, which stood to represent blackness (Fors ter, 1994). Past glory The effect of repatriation  was arguable in America in nineteenth century and many people participated in it such as Frederick Douglass,  contested  that black Americans should be given their rights. The efforts of American Colonization Society (largely white liberals) resulted  with another slave refuge: Liberia. Former slaves were replaced  towards Africa from Caribbean and Brazil. Later, in 1930's, the ideology of negritude ("blackness"), increased among French-speaking African  scholars  in France. Those Africans who kept protecting negritude contended that characteristics of the