Arnaud DIBI

By Femi Lewis

Pan-Africanism is an ideology that argues encouraging a united African Diaspora.
Pan-Africanists believe that a unified Diaspora is an essential step in creating a progressive economic, social and political climate.

1-John B. Russwurm: Publisher and Abolitionist
Portraits of John B. Russwurm and Samuel B. Cornish on the cover of a Freedom's Journal
John B. Russwurm and Samuel B. Cornish founded "Freedom's Journal" in 1827. It was the first African American owned newspaper in the nation. Public Domain

John B. Russwurm was an abolitionist and co-founder of the first newspaper published by African Americans, Freedom's Journal.

Born in Port Antonio, Jamaica in 1799 to an enslaved person and an English merchant, Russwurm was sent to live in Quebec at the age of 8. Five years later, Russwurm's father moved him to Portland, Maine.

Russwurm attended the Hebron Academy and taught at an all-Black school in Boston. In 1824, he enrolled in Bowdoin College. Following his graduation in 1826, Russwurm became Bowdoin's first African American graduate and the third African American to graduate from an American college.

After moving to New York City in 1827, Russwurm met Samuel Cornish. The pair published Freedom's Journal, a news publication whose aim was to fight against enslavement. However, once Russwurm was appointed Senior Editor of the journal, he changed the paper's position on colonization—from negative to advocate of colonization. As a result, Cornish left the newspaper and within two years, Russwurm had moved to Liberia.

From 1830 to 1834, Russwurm worked as the colonial secretary for the American Colonization Society. In addition, he edited the Liberia Herald. After resigning from the news publication, Russwurm was appointed Superintendent of Education in Monrovia.

In 1836, Russwurm became the first African American governor of Maryland in Liberia. He used his position to persuade African Americans to move to Africa.

Russwurm married Sarah McGill in 1833. The couple had three sons and one daughter. Russwurm died in 1851 in Cape Palmas, Liberia.

2-W.E.B. Du Bois: Writer and Activist
W.E.B. Dubois Standing at Table
Bettmann Archive / Getty Images

W.E.B. Du Bois is often known for his work with the Harlem Renaissance and The Crisis. However, it is less known that DuBois is actually responsible for coining the term, "Pan-Africanism."

Du Bois was not only interested in ending racism in the United States. He was also concerned with people of African descent throughout the world. Leading the Pan-African movement, Du Bois organized conferences for the Pan-African Congress for many years. Leaders from Africa and the Americas assembled to discuss racism and oppression—issues that people of African descent faced all over the world.
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3-Marcus Garvey: Political Leader and Journalist
Marcus Garvey In Harlem
Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images

One of Marcus Garvey's most famous sayings is "Africa for the Africans!"

Marcus Mosiah Garvey founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association or UNIA in 1914. Initially, the UNIA's goals were to establish schools and vocational education.

Yet, Garvey faced many difficulties in Jamaica and decided to travel to New York City in 1916.

Establishing the UNIA in New York City, Garvey held meetings where he preached about racial pride.

Garvey's message was spread not only to African Americans but people of African descent throughout the world. He published the newspaper Negro World, which had subscriptions throughout the Caribbean and South America. In New York he held parades in which he marched, wearing a dark suit with gold striping and sporting a white hat with a plume.

4-Malcolm X: Minister and Activist
Malcolm X in Front Of Connecticut Capitol Building
Bettmann Archive / Getty Images

Malcolm X was a Pan-Africanist and devout Muslim who believed in the upliftment of African Americans. He evolved from being a convicted criminal to a learned man who was always trying to change the social standing of African Americans. His most famous words, "By any means necessary," describe his ideology. Key accomplishments in Malcolm X's career include:

Establishing Muhammad Speaks, the official newspaper of the Nation of Islam in 1957.
Participating in nationally broadcasted radio stations in the early 1960s.
According to The New York Times, X is considered one of the most sought after speakers in the United States.
In June of 1963, X organizes and leads one of the United States' largest civil rights events, the Unity Rally.
In March of 1964, X establishes Muslim Mosque, Inc and the Organizations of Afro-American Unity (OAAU).
"The Autobiography of Malcolm X" is published in November 1965.

What is the African diaspora?

The African diaspora is over 170 million people of African descent that live all over the world. The African diaspora is represented across the continents with approximately 39 million in North America, 113 million in Latin America 14 million in the Caribbean and 4 million in Europe. People of the African diaspora have diverse connections to Africa and varying narratives of how they arrived at their current homes. The African Union defines the African diaspora as people of African origin living outside of the continent, irrespective of their citizenship and nationality, and who are willing to contribute to the development of the continent and the building of the African Union.

The African diaspora’s connection to Africa

Some members of the African diaspora were born in Africa and have left the continent to pursue education and employment opportunities in other countries.

Many members return to Africa after living abroad to work and invest in building Africa’s economy and well-being. It is estimated that 10 - 15 million Africans were taken and dispersed throughout the Americas, Caribbean, Latin America during the Trans-Atlantic slave trade.


Their descendants have African roots and are members of the African diaspora. Ghana’s president, Nana Akufo-Addo declared 2019 as the Year of Return to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the arrival of African slaves in America. Nana Akufo-Addo invited the descendants of Africans that were enslaved in the Americas to return home and re-connect to their African roots.
Over 300 thousand more people traveled to Ghana than prior years and participated in festivals, seminars and other experiences over the 12 months. Ghana declared 2020 as Beyond the Return and continues to encourage members of the African diaspora to return home to Africa to visit, invest and learn.

The African diaspora is making a global impact

Africa and the African diaspora has and continues to make a global impact on culture and society around the world. Music, food, art, sports, architecture, science, business, agriculture are just a few of the industries that the impact and influence of Africa and the African diaspora can be seen. As the world gets smaller with the expansion of the internet and Africa and the African diaspora gets stronger and more impactful the influence on commerce and culture will continue to expand.

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