Page 119 - Encyclopedia Of World History Vol IV

1420 berkshire encyclopedia of world history

Selection from the
Charter of the Organization

of African Unity
(25 May 1963) from the United States, the Caribbean, and Africa. The
delegates agreed to form a permanent Pan-African Asso-
ciation with headquarters in London and branches over-
PURPOSES seas, and to hold future meetings.
Du Bois was chosen chairman of the Committee on
Article II Address, which wrote the “Address to the Nations of the
World” adopted at the end of the meeting. The Address
1. The Organization shall have the following
contained one of Du Bois’s most famous statements,
purposes:
which later appeared in revised form in his 1903 book,
a. to promote the unity, and solidarity of the
The Souls of Black Folk: “The problem of the twentieth
African States;
century is the problem of the color line” (in Foner 1970,
b. to co-ordinate and intensify their co-oper-
125; Du Bois 1961, 23).The main points of the Address
ation and efforts to achieve a better life for the
were appeals to end racism and economic exploitation
peoples of Africa;
and to “give, as soon as practicable, the rights of respon-
c. to defend their sovereignty, their territorial
sible government to the black colonies of Africa and the
integrity and independence;
West Indies” (in Foner 1970, 126).
d. to eradicate all forms of colonialism from
This 1900 meeting was thus significant as the first Pan-
Africa; and
African gathering, but Sylvester Williams’s tireless efforts
e. to promote international co-operation, hav-
did not result in a permanent organization. Williams
ing due regard to the Charter of the United Na-
began to focus on his law career instead of Pan-African
tions and the Universal Declaration of Human
organizing, and the people who had promised to follow
Rights.
up on organizing local chapters and the next interna-
2. To these ends, the Member States shall co- tional conference failed to do so. Consequently,The Pan-
ordinate and harmonize their general policies, African Association was defunct by 1902, and Williams
especially in the following fields: died in Trinidad in 1911.
a. political and diplomatic co-operation; The practice of convening international Pan-African
b. economic co-operation, including transport meetings was revived by Du Bois, who in 1919 organ-
and communications; ized what he called the First Pan-African Congress (as
c. educational and cultural co-operation; opposed to conference), which met in Paris at the same
d. health,sanitation,and nutritional co-operation; time as the post–World War I Peace Conference. The
e. scientific and technical co-operation; and fifty-seven delegates from Africa, the United States, and
f. co-operation for defense and security. the West Indies adopted a resolution stating that “the
natives of Africa must have the right to participate in the
Source: Organization of African Unity: Basic Documents and Resolutions (p. 8).
Addis Ababa:The Provisional Secretariat of the Organization of African Unity.
Government as fast as their development permits, in con-
formity with the principle that the Government exists for
the natives, and not the natives for the Government”
The first documented use of the phrase “Pan African Con- (quoted in Langley 1979, 740).
ference” is found in an 1899 letter by Williams calling for The 1921 Pan-African Congress was held in three ses-
a meeting in 1900. sions in London, Brussels, and Paris with 113 delegates.
The Pan-African Conference met 23–26 July 1900 in Du Bois delivered the presidential address, and the dele-
London. Approximately thirty-eight delegates attended gates endorsed a “Declaration to the World” that called for