ISSUES IN CARIBBEAN DEVELOPMENT

PAN
AFRICAN
-ISM
Presenter: Shadae Clarke
OBJECTIVES
At the end of this lesson students should be able to:

01. Define Pan-Africanism

Identify the pioneers of Pan-Africanism and explain its

02. contributions to the movement

Discuss the contributions of Pan-Africanism to the

03. Caribbean region
WHAT IS PAN AFRICANISM?
Pan-Africanism is a political, The movement encourages
cultural and intellectual harmony and unity among
phenomenon which has given birth black people in order for
to the promotion of the feeling of them to achieve their shared
unity, oneness and pride among objectives. A key aspect of
African peoples and an appreciation Pan-Africanism philosophy is
of African values. It is the idea that an understanding and
because of their African descent promotion of Black Power or
these peoples have a commonality unity among black people,
of interests which should be the which advocates a sense of
driving force for them to unite. racial pride and self-esteem.
MOVEMENT OF PAN-
AFRICANISM
Pan-Africanism developed as a response by
African people and people of African descent
to the treatment and oppression of their
forebears during colonization and slavery. It
began in the eighteenth century in sporadic
acts by African people in North America
trying to get back to Africa. It showed their
conviction that they were in the wrong place, a
place to which they had been brought illegally,
and they now wanted to go ‘home’.
MOVEMENT OF PAN-AFRICANISM
The early Pan-African movement was led by influential figures such
as Martin R. Delany (abolitionist), Alexander Crummel (religious
leader), and Edward Blyden (writer and activist from St. Thomas,
Virgin Islands). However, W.E.B. Du Bois (1868–1963) is
recognized as the father of the modern Pan-African movement. He
promoted African history and culture, co-founded the NAACP
(National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) , and
organized numerous Pan-African assemblies.
Their main objectives were:
★ Foster global unity among Black people, regardless of location.
★ Highlight Africa’s rich culture, history, and civilization.
★ Advocate for Africa’s liberation from European control.
★ Strive for justice and equality worldwide.
★ Encourage Black pride, consciousness, and nationalism.
 MOVEMENT OF PAN-AFRICANISM
It is a belief that African peoples, including those on the
continent of Africa and in the diaspora, share a common history
and a common destiny and that they have an interdependence
which is manifested in the creation of political institutions.
Based on these beliefs, it is important to understand that Pan
Africanism:
★ developed out of the need to combat the confines of slavery
and colonialism;
★ is entrenched in the idea that all people of African ancestry
have common interests and so must be unified and
celebrated;
★ has as its main vision the creation of a unified African
nation where all Africans in the diaspora can live
Pan-Africanism and its
Contribution to Development in the
Caribbean
In the first half of the 20th century, Caribbean workers faced poor
wages, inadequate housing, and deplorable living conditions. There
was limited self-government, a lack of social services, few workers'
rights, and, in some areas, high unemployment. In response to these
harsh conditions, resistance grew during the 1930s and beyond,
leading to a mass movement across the Caribbean. This movement
was fueled by the ideology of Pan-Africanism, as workers sought
to address these injustices. The results were significant, including
increased public awareness of the struggles faced by Black
communities in the Caribbean and the USA, as well as greater
international cooperation among Black people worldwide.
Pan-Africanism and its
Contribution to Development in the
Caribbean
The movement also saw the emergence of radical leaders and
an awakening of class consciousness among workers.
Grassroots political parties began to form, and labor strikes and
protests turned the labor movement into a key political issue.
Formal labor unions, such as the Trade Union Congress, the
Jamaica Workers and Tradesmen’s Union (JWTU), and the
Oilfield Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU) in Trinidad and
Tobago, were established. Ultimately, these efforts contributed
to the rise of nationalist movements and a push towards socio-
economic and political independence in the Caribbean.
Key Pan-African Leaders of the Caribbean
Henry Sylvester Williams (1869–1911)
• Born in Trinidad, was a lecturer who spoke out against the
oppression that Africans and their descendants faced. •
• In 1897, while studying in Britain, formed the African Association,
later renamed the Pan-African Association, to expose the injustices
that African people faced and to promote their interests.
• Organised the first world Pan-African Conference in London in July
1900, attended by representatives from America, Ethopia and Lybia
and important figures such as W.E.B. Du Bois and Alexander
Walters of the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
• Established Pan-African Associations in Jamaica and Trinidad in
1901; launched a journal called The Pan African in the same year.
 Key Pan-African Leaders of the Caribbean
Marcus Mosiah Garvey (1887–1940)
● Born in Jamaica, formed the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) in 1914.
● UNIA sought to improve the standard of living for people of black African descent in North and
South America, Europe and the Caribbean, and became one of the biggest organisations in the
history of the Pan-African movement.
● Called the Black Moses, proclaimed the need for the establishment of an independent black
economy within a white capitalist society and in 1919 established the shipping company, the Black
Star Line, and the Negro Factories Corporation to encourage black economic independence.
● With worldwide circulation, his weekly newspaper, The Negro World (which included pages in
Spanish and French), worried colonial officials and they retaliated by banning it from their
colonies.
● Was investigated for mail fraud in connection with the inappropriate sale of Black Star Line stocks
and was eventually deported from the US. On returning to Jamaica in 1925, found that racial
discrimination and capitalism hindered the blacks there. These same issues affected other English-
speaking colonies, including Barbados, Grenada and Trinidad. He reconstructed the UNIA to
address the specific issues of the workers
Key Pan-African Leaders of the Caribbean
Cyril Briggs (1888–1966)
● Born in Nevis, he was a black nationalist, civil rights activist, journalist and
member of the American Communist Party.
● In 1918, he began publishing his own journal, The Crusader, and, in that
same year, he founded the African Blood Brotherhood (ABB), which would
later serve as the link between black communities and the Communist
movement in the US.
● The ABB was founded upon the ideas of Garveyism, which sought to
promote black nationalism, and supported equal rights for blacks.
● The ABB had a large contingent of supporters, including many Caribbean-
born political activists.
● He offered an alternative to Garvey’s movement and became involved in an
open, ongoing dispute with Garvey; he criticised the capitalist nature of
‘Garveyism’, and later cooperated in the mail
Key Pan-African Leaders of the Caribbean
George Padmore (1902–1959)
• Born in Trinidad, his name at birth was Malcolm Ivan Meredith Nurse.
• Worked in Germany as the head of the International Trade Union
Committee of Negro Workers (ITUC-NW) during the 1930s.
• Wrote Life and Struggle of Negro Toilers, which dealt in some depth with
working conditions of blacks around the world.
• Initially critical of people such as W.E.B. Du Bois and Marcus Garvey
because of his communist ideology, he later wrote for Du Bois’ Crisis.
• Moved to London in 1934, and dedicated his time to writing about Pan-
Africanism and African independence.
• Was influential in planning the Fifth Pan-African Congress in Manchester,
UK, in 1945.
• Wrote Pan-Africanism or Communism?, which was published in 1956 and
considered his most significant work.
Key Pan-African Leaders of the Caribbean
Walter Rodney (1942–1990)
• Born in Georgetown, Guyana; received his PhD in African History at
the age of 24.
• Presented a paper, ‘African History in the Service of Black Liberation’,
at the Congress of Black Writers Conference in Canada in 1968.
• Was banned from returning to Jamaica where he held an acdemic post
at UWI the same year and this led to rioting in Kingston, known as the
‘Rodney Riots’.
• Published the book, How Europe Underdeveloped Africa, in 1972; a
direct result of his involvement in the African Liberation Struggles.
• Influence is seen in the Caribbean through the idea of ‘Black Power’,
the movement he promoted; in May 1970, Maurice Bishop led a Black
Power demonstration in Grenada.
 Opposition to the Caribbean Pan-African Movement
The main interest groups in the Caribbean who opposed the Pan Africanism movement in
the Caribbean were the white planter-merchant class and those of mixed, Asian and
Middle-Eastern descent who recognised the potential far-reaching impact of the
movement:
★ They saw Pan-Africanism as a disruption or attack on their interests in terms of
the social, political and economic situation.
★ In particular, the white planter-merchant class viewed education and
enlightenment of the former-enslaved peoples as causing the disintegration of
colonialism.
These interest groups were mostly involved in manufacturing and trade. Yet more
opposition interest groups included shopkeepers, business owners, small-scale farmers
and landlords. All these groups offered resistance to the movement because it would mean
a restructuring of the class system.
N.B. While Henry Sylvester Williams is credited with coining the idea of Pan
Africanism, it was the influence of W.E.B. Du Bois and Garvey that concretised the
movement.They supported and promoted the objectives and beliefs of the Pan
Africanism movement, establishing it on the international scene
THE IMPACT OF PAN-
AFRICANISM
➢ Garvey's call for an eight-hour work day, educational reform,
minimum wages and land reform led to these issues being
addressed.
➢ The birth of Rastafarianism, which was influenced by Garvey and
promoted in music by Bob Marley and Peter Tosh.
➢ The birth and growth of the trade union movement, which became
an integral part of the political climate in the Caribbean.
➢ Promotion of black pride within the Caribbean.
➢ The promotion of cultural and political unity between black as a
result of the ‘Back to Africa’ and ‘United States of Africa’ Slogans
 SUMMARY
Pan-Africanism played a huge role in developing the Caribbean by promoting unity,
cultural pride, and political awareness among people of African descent. In the early
20th century, Caribbean workers faced harsh conditions such as low wages, poor
housing, lack of social services, and high unemployment. Pan-Africanism fueled
resistance and inspired mass movements demanding better rights and justice.
This led to increased awareness of the struggles faced by Black communities and
greater international cooperation. It also sparked the rise of grassroots political parties,
labor unions like the Jamaica Workers and Tradesmen’s Union and the Oilfield
Workers’ Trade Union in Trinidad and Tobago. These efforts pushed for socio-
economic and political independence across the Caribbean.
Leaders like Marcus Garvey and Henry Sylvester Williams played a crucial role in
advocating for Black pride, economic independence, and unity. Garvey’s call for better
wages, educational reform, and land rights directly influenced these issues being
addressed in the region. Pan-Africanism also shaped cultural identity, leading to the
growth of movements like Rastafarianism and strengthening the Caribbean’s political
climate through the rise of the trade union movement.
THANK
YOU FOR
LISTENING!