Proudly We Can Be Africans: Black Americans and Africa, 1935-1961

351 Pages·2002·1.07 MB·English

by  James H. Meriwether

proudly we can be
afr icans
The John Hope Franklin Series in
African American History and Culture
waldo e. martin jr. and patricia sullivan, editors
proudly we can be
a f r i c a n s
black americans and africa,
1935–1961
James H. Meriwether
The University of North Carolina Press
Chapel Hill and London
∫ 2002 The University of North Carolina Press
All rights reserved
Manufactured in the United States of America
This book was set in Sabon and Charter Types
by Keystone Typesetting, Inc.
Book design by Jacquline Johnson
Publication of this work was aided by a generous grant from
the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation.
The paper in this book meets the guidelines for permanence
and durability of the Committee on Production Guidelines for
Book Longevity of the Council on Library Resources.
Portions of Chapter 4 appeared previously in ‘‘African
Americans and the Mau Mau Rebellion: Militancy, Violence,
and the Struggle for Freedom,’’ Journal of American Ethnic
History 17, no. 4 (Summer 1998): 63–86.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Meriwether, James Hunter, 1963–
Proudly we can be Africans : Black Americans and Africa,
1935–1961 / by James H. Meriwether.
p. cm. — (The John Hope Franklin series in African American
History and culture)
Includes bibliographical references (p. ).
isbn 0-8078-2669-3 (cloth: alk. paper)
isbn 0-8078-4997-9 (pbk.: alk. paper)
1. African Americans—Relations with Africans. 2. African
Americans—Ethnic identity. 3. African Americans—
Intellectual life—20th century. 4. United States—Relations—
Africa. 5. Africa—Relations—United States. 6. Africa—
Politics and government—20th century. 7. Africa—Social
conditions—20th century. 8. Blacks—Civil rights—Africa—
History—20th century. 9. Civil rights movements—Africa—
History—20th century. I. Title. II. Series.
e185.61 .m56 2002
305.896%073—dc21 2001042533
cloth 06 05 04 03 02 5 4 3 2 1
paper 06 05 04 03 02 5 4 3 2 1
For my family, with love

contents
Introduction 1
Prologue 11
one: ethiopia
The Italo-Ethiopian War and Reconceptualizing
Contemporary Africa, 1935–1936 27
two: in world war and cold war
Configuring Anticolonialism and Internationalism,
1941–1950 57
three: south africa
Apartheid and Nonviolent Resistance, 1948–1953 90
four: kenya
The Mau Mau and Revolutionary Violence, 1952–1956 124
five: ghana
African Independence, 1957–1958 150
six: the year of africa
Lows, Highs, and Corners, 1960 181
seven: congo
Independence, Black Nationalism, Leftism, and Splintering,
1960–1961 208
Epilogue 241
Notes 247
Selected Bibliography 307
Index 325

acknowledgments
This book sits astride many of the major issues and events of the twentieth
century: race, civil rights, World War II, the Cold War, anticolonialism. In
assessing the dynamic nature of Africa’s role in African American lives dur-
ing the mid-twentieth century, we gain new insights into these issues as well
as an international perspective on African American, American, and African
history. Yet in undertaking this project, I learned along the way that even as
the historical profession speaks about the need to ‘‘internationalize’’ history
and break down barriers that divide us into narrow fields, there remains a
certain institutionalized discomfort in addressing work that does so. For
those involved in transnational history, the effort to move outside the com-
partments and toward a richer international history can be difficult, yet the
rewards are fulfilling.
The legion of wonderful people who helped along the way should share the
rewards; hopefully my heartfelt thanks at the time and my continuing sincere
appreciation offer some compensation. Still, the opportunity to give extra
thanks to those who helped beyond all reasonable expectation is a particular
pleasure. Robert Hill deserves most special mention for the power of his
intellect and the graciousness with which he shared his ideas and time. This
book is far better for the advice he gave and the pitfalls he helped me avoid.
Just as importantly, James Campbell provided sage advice as I struggled to
launch this project and then gave even more as I struggled to end it. Early in
the going, Robert Dallek kept me cognizant of the larger picture while show-
ing me what a scholar can achieve by wrestling with the sources for a vast
topic with grace and balance. Bill Worger consistently prodded me to probe
further, while Robert Harris provided excellent advice after reading an ear-
lier, much muddier version. Thanks also to Joyce Appleby, who shared both
her valuable intellect and her valuable driveway, and to Ben Keppel and
Christoph Schulze, who furnished helpful references. Peggy Cordray should
be praised by all those who venture further in this book for rescuing them
from all too many unclear thoughts and turgid prose.
As an initially anonymous reader for the University of North Carolina