Pan Africanism attacked by pop-up groups and intellectuals

Newark NJ

24 July, 2021

12:43 PM

Description

Dr. John Henrick Clarke was a world renowned historian, intellectual, political theoretician, Black nationalist, and Pan-Africanist. He was a professor of Black and Puerto Rican Studies at Hunter College of the City University of New York from 1969 to 1986, where he served as founding Chairperson of the department. Dr. Clarke also was the Carter G. Woodson Distinguished Visiting Professor of African History at Cornell University's Africana Studies and Research Center. Additionally, in 1968 he founded the African Heritage Studies Association (A.H.S.A) and the Black Caucus of the African Studies Association. He worked with Malcolm X (Omowale El Hajj Malik El Shabazz to establish the Organization of Afro American Unity (the OAAU) on June 24, 1964. In 1984, he co-founded ASCAC (the Association for the Study of Classical African Civilizations). The ASAC organization is still in existence today with chapters all around America and in the world. Dr. Clarke lived from January 1, 1915 to July 12, 1998. Unfortunately, he has gone on to the realm of the eguugun (Yoruba for the realm of the ancestors). However, Dr. Clarke was one of the greatest historians, intellectuals, and political theorists to ever live. His research, documentation, and analysis of history dissected white supremacist and racist notions of Black people, Afrikan History, Afrikan culture, and Afrikan spirituality. Dr. Clarke's ideas for Black empowerment and Black liberation are still relevant today. Dennis Boatwright III, a new leading voice for the liberation and unity of Afrika and Black people, has recently published a commentary discussing the contemporary attacks on Pan Africanism by white supremacy and its colonized Black leaders. In Ma'at, Bashir Muhammad Akinyele -History and Africana Studies Teacher in Newark, NJ -ASCAC's (the Association for the Study of Classical African Civilizations) Study Group Coordinator for Newark, NJ -New Jersey Representative for ASCAC (https://ascac.org/) Here is his article: Pan Africanism attacked by pop-up groups and intellectuals By Dennis S. Boatwright II The Center for Pan African Studies Detroit, Michigan When Dr. John Henrik Clarke transitioned to the realm of ancestors in 1998 Eurocentric educators felt relief. That's because Dr. Clarke's mere existence presented a challenge to their attempts to teach Black Studies in a way that did not clash with white hegemony in universities. After Dr. Jacob Corruthers joined the ancestors (2004) closely followed by his cousin Dr. Asa Hilliard (2007), advocates of Eurocentrism regained confidence since losing hope after a group of young Africanists--led by Dr. Clarke—sternly challenged their authority at an African Studies Association conference in 1968. But when political science scholar Ronald Walters (2011), Doc Ben (2015) and Dr. Frances Cress Welsing (2016) joined the illustrious company of Dr. Clarke and others in rapid succession, Eurocentrics and their African American allies redoubled their plot to walk back over six decades of hard-fought gains achieved by Dr. Leonard Jeffries, Prof. James Smalls, and other African-centered scholars. Hence, in 2021 the meaning of African-centeredness is being interpreted in a way that the original pioneers would hardly recognize. And the very concept of Pan-Africanism is under attack by dozens of pop-up intellectuals and groups. Just a few examples will suffice to make a point. For instance, the doctrine of one divisive group promotes the idea that American descendants of slaves should have absolutely no concern for African-origin people outside the United States. They are vehemently opposed to Pan Africanism and solidarity among people of African descent. Yet another group is intent upon locking African identity around allegories in the Bible. For instance, recently their Detroit chapter told me that leading Pan-African leaders, such as Marcus Garvey, mislead African-origin people by not informing them that they are Hebrews. And during the 2020 nationwide George Floyd protests, some Black Lives Matter members of the LGBTQ community restarted an appalling claim that calls into question Malcolm X's sexuality. There are many other examples I can use, but you get the point. As Pan Africanists we need to develop a working definition of Pan Africanism that is easily understandable and explainable for younger generations so that we can be on the same page. What I mean is a pure, African-centered, John Henrik Clarke-like understanding of Pan Africanism. Free from distortions, exaggerations, innovations and foreign ideologies that are counterproductive to Pan Africanism and Black unity. Dennis Boatwright can be reached at: 313 434-2224 centerforpanafricanstudies.org