• Tag Archives Pan-Africanism
  • PAC45 Final Presentation with Film Screening, Discussion and Website Launch

    The PAC45 Young Roots project was concluded with a final presentation of its work, which took place at Hideaway Youth Project in Moss Side, Manchester UK on 26th February 2016.  A film about the youth conference which opened the conference weekend in October 2015 was shown. This was followed by a sizzling discussion about the issues raised and how they relate to young people today. This was followed by the launch of the website and then food was served for all who attended.

    Some photos of the PAC45 Final Presentation event: (click on any photo to then view them as a large-size slideshow)


  • Reclaiming our African Identity

    Gratitude
    Community
    Ancestors
    Spirituality
    History

    Dr. Maulana Karenga

    Kwanzaa is a week-long celebration of African heritage and is observed from December 26th to January 1st. It has seven core principles (Nguzo Saba) and was created by Dr. Maulana Karenga. It was first celebrated in 1966.
    From: http://nanabonsu.com/community-and-culture/kwanzaa-celebrations/ 

    Why are we so afraid to reclaim our African identity? 

    Growing up within a black community the topic of whether Caribbean people originated from Africa was quite common amongst my primary school peers.

    I can still hear the dramatic outcries of the Caribbean students protesting against what they felt to be an absolute insult because after all Africans were just “a charity case of uncivilised poor black people.” This was a racially negative stereotype that was constantly being portrayed within the media. It’s quite to safe to say our knowledge of Africa was extremely limited and we were in fact ignorant on the topic of African history and culture which I believe many black people still are today.

    I believe one step to resolve this issue would be to start teaching the younger generation true African history and traditions such as Kwanzaa. What is not encouraging is finding out the history teaching in schools are going against this idea according to  in an article called Black British History Must Feature Throughout the School Curriculum.

    “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.”
    ― Marcus Garvey (The father of Pan-Africanism)

    (Authored by a member of young roots)