Council on African Affairs

Council on African Affairs. The Council on African Affairs was a non-governmental organization that played a significant role in promoting Pan-Africanism and supporting African nationalism during the mid-20th century, with notable connections to W.E.B. Du Bois, Paul Robeson, and Kwame Nkrumah. Founded in 1937 by Max Yergan, the organization aimed to raise awareness about African affairs and promote cooperation between Africa and the United States, often collaborating with organizations like the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and the American Committee on Africa. The Council's work was also influenced by events such as the Italo-Ethiopian War and the Atlantic Charter.

● History

The Council on African Affairs was established in 1937 by Max Yergan, a YMCA official who had worked in South Africa and was influenced by Mahatma Gandhi's non-violent resistance movement and the Indian independence movement. Initially, the organization focused on providing support to African students in the United States, such as those attending Howard University and Fisk University, and promoting cultural exchange programs between Africa and the United States, including collaborations with the African Methodist Episcopal Church and the National Council of Negro Women. During World War II, the Council on African Affairs shifted its focus to supporting African nationalism and opposing colonialism, often working with figures like Haile Selassie and Jomo Kenyatta. The organization also played a key role in promoting the Atlantic Charter and its application to Africa, with support from Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill.

● Organization and Membership

The Council on African Affairs was headquartered in New York City and had a diverse membership, including African Americans, Africans, and progressive Americans, such as Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, and Pete Seeger. The organization was led by a council of prominent figures, including Paul Robeson, W.E.B. Du Bois, and Alphaeus Hunton, who was also involved with the American Communist Party and the Civil Rights Congress. The Council on African Affairs also had close ties with other organizations, such as the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the American Committee on Africa, and the Congress of Racial Equality, often collaborating on campaigns like the Scottsboro Boys case and the Trenton Six.

● Activities and Campaigns

The Council on African Affairs was involved in various activities and campaigns, including promoting African culture and history, supporting African nationalism, and opposing colonialism and apartheid, with notable connections to the African National Congress and the Pan African Congress. The organization also provided support to African liberation movements, such as the Mau Mau rebellion in Kenya and the Algerian War of Independence, often working with figures like Frantz Fanon and Houari Boumediene. Additionally, the Council on African Affairs organized conferences and events, such as the 1944 Conference on Africa and the 1950 Conference on Colonialism, which brought together prominent figures like Kwame Nkrumah, Nnamdi Azikiwe, and Jomo Kenyatta to discuss African affairs and promote Pan-Africanism.

● Notable Figures

The Council on African Affairs was associated with several notable figures, including Paul Robeson, W.E.B. Du Bois, and Max Yergan, who were all influential in promoting African nationalism and opposing colonialism. Other notable figures involved with the organization included Alphaeus Hunton, Langston Hughes, and Zora Neale Hurston, who were all prominent figures in the Harlem Renaissance and the American Civil Rights Movement. The Council on African Affairs also had connections to international figures like Kwame Nkrumah, Haile Selassie, and Jomo Kenyatta, who played key roles in African independence movements and the Non-Aligned Movement.

● Legacy and Impact

The Council on African Affairs played a significant role in promoting Pan-Africanism and supporting African nationalism during the mid-20th century, with a lasting impact on African-American relations and international relations. The organization's work helped to raise awareness about African affairs and promote cooperation between Africa and the United States, often collaborating with organizations like the United Nations and the African Union. Although the Council on African Affairs was dissolved in 1955 due to McCarthyism and red-baiting, its legacy continues to influence African-American relations and international relations, with notable connections to the Civil Rights Movement, the Black Power movement, and the Anti-Apartheid Movement. The organization's work also paved the way for future Pan-African organizations, such as the African Union and the African Diaspora, and continues to inspire social justice movements around the world, including the Black Lives Matter movement and the Ferguson unrest. Category:Defunct organizations