Glossary
Anti-Black racism
A system of oppression and discrimination specifically targeting people of African descent, rooted in historical power imbalances and perpetuated through social, economic, and political structures.
Example:
The global protests following the murder of George Floyd highlighted the pervasive nature of anti-Black racism and the need for systemic change worldwide.
Anti-apartheid movement
A global campaign against the system of institutionalized racial segregation and discrimination enforced in South Africa from 1948 to the early 1990s.
Example:
Many American college students participated in the anti-apartheid movement by divesting from companies that did business in South Africa.
Black Freedom Movement
A broad, global struggle from the mid-1940s to the 1970s, encompassing efforts by African Americans and people of African descent worldwide to achieve liberation, equality, and self-determination.
Example:
The Black Freedom Movement wasn't just about protests in the U.S.; it included African nations gaining independence and global solidarity against oppression.
Black Power Movement
A movement emerging in the mid-1960s that emphasized racial pride, economic self-sufficiency, and the creation of Black political and cultural institutions, often advocating for self-defense and a more assertive approach to liberation.
Example:
The call for community control over schools and businesses was a key demand of the Black Power Movement, aiming to build independent Black institutions.
Civil Rights Movement
A major component of the Black Freedom Movement in the U.S. focused on achieving legal equality and ending racial segregation and discrimination through nonviolent protest and legislative action.
Example:
Rosa Parks' refusal to give up her seat on a bus was a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement, sparking the Montgomery Bus Boycott.
Cuban Revolution
An armed revolt conducted by Fidel Castro's 26th of July Movement and its allies against the authoritarian government of Cuban President Fulgencio Batista, leading to the establishment of a new socialist government in 1959.
Example:
Joe Louis's visit to Cuba occurred during the Cuban Revolution, a time of significant political upheaval and promises of racial equality in the country.
Cultural identity
The sense of belonging to a group based on shared traditions, values, language, and heritage, which contributes to an individual's self-concept and worldview.
Example:
The embrace of African hairstyles and clothing during the Black Power era was a powerful expression of renewed cultural identity among African Americans.
Decolonization
The process by which colonies gain independence from their colonizing powers, often involving political, social, and economic restructuring.
Example:
Ghana's decolonization from British rule in 1957 inspired many African Americans, symbolizing a broader global movement for freedom.
Diasporic solidarity
The mutual support, shared identity, and collective action among people of African descent living in different parts of the world, united by common heritage and experiences of oppression.
Example:
When African American leaders visited newly independent African nations, they demonstrated diasporic solidarity, recognizing their shared struggle for liberation.
Fidel Castro
A Cuban revolutionary and politician who served as Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976 and President from 1976 to 2008, leading the country after the Cuban Revolution.
Example:
Fidel Castro promised to end racial discrimination in Cuba, a pledge that attracted interest from African Americans seeking refuge from Jim Crow.
James Baldwin
An influential American novelist, playwright, essayist, poet, and activist whose work explored racial, sexual, and class distinctions in Western societies.
Example:
James Baldwin traveled to Africa, reflecting on his experiences and the connections between African American identity and the African continent in his writings.
Jim Crow laws
State and local statutes enacted in the Southern and some border states of the U.S. from the late 19th to the mid-20th centuries, designed to enforce racial segregation and disenfranchise African Americans.
Example:
Under Jim Crow laws, Black Americans were forced to use separate, often inferior, public facilities like restrooms and water fountains.
Joe Louis
An iconic American professional boxer who held the world heavyweight championship from 1937 to 1949, becoming a symbol of Black excellence and pride.
Example:
Joe Louis visited Cuba in 1960, highlighting the international reach of the struggle for racial equality and offering an alternative destination for African American tourists.
Kwame Nkrumah
A prominent Ghanaian anti-colonial revolutionary and politician who served as the first Prime Minister and President of Ghana, a leading advocate for Pan-Africanism and a key figure in Africa's decolonization.
Example:
Kwame Nkrumah welcomed many African American intellectuals and activists to Ghana, fostering a strong sense of diasporic connection.
Langston Hughes
A central figure of the Harlem Renaissance, an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist whose work often depicted the lives of working-class African Americans.
Example:
Langston Hughes traveled to Africa, using his poetry and prose to bridge the cultural gap and express solidarity with people across the diaspora.
Malcolm X
An influential African American Muslim minister and human rights activist who was a prominent figure during the Civil Rights Movement, advocating for Black nationalism and self-defense.
Example:
Malcolm X traveled extensively in Africa and the Middle East, connecting the struggle for civil rights in the U.S. with global anti-colonial movements.
Martin Luther King Jr.
A Baptist minister and civil rights activist who became the most visible spokesperson and leader in the Civil Rights Movement from 1955 until his assassination in 1968.
Example:
Martin Luther King Jr. visited Ghana's independence celebration, seeing it as a beacon of hope for oppressed people worldwide.
Maya Angelou
A celebrated American poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist who spent time living in Ghana and was involved in the expatriate community there.
Example:
Maya Angelou lived in Ghana during the 1960s, where she engaged with the Pan-African movement and supported decolonization efforts.
Pan-Africanism
An ideology and movement that advocates for the political, cultural, and economic unity and solidarity of all people of African descent, both on the continent and in the diaspora.
Example:
W.E.B. Du Bois was a prominent advocate for Pan-Africanism, believing that the liberation of African people globally was interconnected.
Pauli Murray
A pioneering civil rights activist, lawyer, feminist, poet, and Episcopal priest who played a significant role in both the Civil Rights and women's rights movements.
Example:
Pauli Murray was among the notable African Americans who visited Ghana, connecting with the burgeoning independent African nations.
Political and economic empowerment
The process of increasing the power and influence of a group in political decision-making and economic control, enabling them to improve their living conditions and advocate for their interests.
Example:
Establishing Black-owned businesses and running for local political office were strategies for achieving political and economic empowerment within the Black community.
Richard Wright
A groundbreaking African American novelist and short story writer known for his powerful depictions of racial discrimination and the struggles of Black individuals in the United States.
Example:
Richard Wright visited Ghana and wrote about his observations, contributing to the literary exploration of diasporic connections.
Self-determination
The right of a people to govern themselves and choose their own political status and form of government without external interference.
Example:
The push for self-determination meant that Black communities sought to control their own schools, police, and economic development, rather than relying on external authorities.
Transnational
Extending or operating across national boundaries, indicating a global scope or connection between different countries.
Example:
The shared struggle against colonialism in Africa and racial segregation in the U.S. demonstrated the transnational nature of the Black Freedom Movement.
W.E.B. Du Bois
A prominent African American sociologist, historian, civil rights activist, and Pan-Africanist who co-founded the NAACP and was a leading intellectual of his time.
Example:
Even in his later years, W.E.B. Du Bois moved to Ghana, symbolizing his lifelong commitment to Pan-Africanism and African liberation.
Year of Africa
The year 1960, notable for the rapid acceleration of African decolonization, during which 17 African nations declared independence from European colonial rule.
Example:
The Year of Africa marked a significant turning point, demonstrating the powerful momentum of independence movements across the continent.