“White supremacy is the dictatorship of definition, interpretation, and consciousness of Black people. The first need of a free people is to define their own terms.” -Kwame Ture
History teaches us that the actual ideology and practice of Pan-Africanism would be formed and organized by Africans on the beautiful island of Trinidad. Great Pan-African Nationalists would be born in Trinidad. H. Sylvester Williams, George Padmore, C.L.R. James, and Eric Williams, author of How Europe Underdeveloped Africa and leader of People’s National Movement (PNM) would lead in our efforts to mobilize and organ- ize against oppressive foreign powers.
During these turbulent (but necessary) time periods, Ture’s parents left Trinidad to go to the U.S., New York City. At age (11) brother Kwame got a first-hand look and experienced racism and oppression right here in America. By the time Brother Kwame enrolled in Howard University in 1960, the civil rights struggle was intense and very painful. Black students were being beaten and arrested for just trying to be recognized as men and women.
Shortly after enrolling at Howard, a young Ture became very active in the Freedom bus rides to help Black southerners register to vote. During his (4) years at Howard University, he would be arrested numerous times down South, but always made it back to school to complete his mission of obtaining a degree and a formal education.
Ture’s English teacher at Howard University (Toni Morrison) said that “he stimulated all others to think about the social oppression of Africans in cities all across America and always helped to challenge the intellectual and ideological growth of students in the entire classroom.”
Being a full-time student, traveling down South, being on the front lines, getting arrested, and learning to organize and mobilize our people would be the revolutionary balance that would feed his hunger and deep desire to remain active and committed in our struggle for Freedom.
After graduating from Howard University with a degree in Philosophy in (1964), Ture joined SNCC (Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee). SNCC sprung from (SCLC) the Southern Christian Leadership Council, which was founded and led by Dr. Martin Luther King.
Thank you for reading an excerpt of Khabyr Hadas’ article on scoopusamedia.com. To read more of the article, “Kwame Ture: Our Prophet of Black Power (part II),” please subscribe to Scoop USA Media. Print subscriptions are $75.00 and online subscriptions (Print, Digital and Vizion) are $90. (52 weeks/1 year)
