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Pan African Association
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Pan African Association
The African Association, known as the Pan-African Association after 1900, was an organization formed by leaders of African descent to "promote and protect the interests of all subjects claiming African descent, wholly or in part, in British colonies and other place, especially Africa, by circulating accurate information on all subjects affecting their rights and privileges as subjects of the British Empire, by direct appeals to the Imperial and local Governments." Henry Sylvester Williams initiated the creation of the African Association, which was formalized on 14 September 1897, at its headquarters in London, England. The Association is best known for organizing the First Pan-African Conference, which took place in London in July 1900.
The African Association initially focused on providing information on rights and privileges for Africans who were subjects of the British Empire. Recognizing the need for an inclusion of African individuals on a global scale, the association shifted its aspirations in 1899, establishing itself as an international association to promote the rights of Africans across the world, rather than just the British Empire. The African Association listed its goals:
Liberation leaders and activists recognized the need for an international association to unite anti-imperialist and black liberation efforts across nations. To this end, Henry Sylvester Williams, a Trinidadian lawyer, recognized the need to focus on educating the British public. He believed the British public was unaware of the sub-standard treatment of people of colour throughout the Empire, and sought to rectify this via the formation of the association. Williams sought to establish the association in London, as the city had become the locus of anti-imperialist movements, activism, and organization. Despite the comparatively progressive character of metropolitan London, white sympathizers advised against the founding of the African Association, claiming that black people were not capable of forming independent political organisations. Because of this conflict, active membership was restricted to black people but “white” individuals could become honorary members.
In addition to general desire for the African Association, contemporary political events spurred its creation. The founders argued that British colonial governments were creating a "new form of slavery" in Zanzibar and East Africa. A letter from A. Kinlock, printed in The Friend, the journal of the Society of Friends, on 22 October 1897, suggested that the association may have taken conditions in South Africa into account as well.
Little is known about the initial public meeting of the African Association except for brief mentions of its establishment in newspapers and the reports of the other groups. The meeting was organized sometime between September and November 1897 at Exeter Hall, London.
Members were mainly from the Caribbean and West Africa, and included religious leaders, political activists, teachers, and writers. Several women were also members, though they were titled as honorary members.
The association's second public meeting was held on 11 January 1898, again at Exeter Hall. After this meeting, the association quickly began work on their political agenda. In March 1898, Williams and Reverend Mason Joseph sought to interview the then Secretary of State for the Colonies, Joseph Chamberlain at the Colonial Office on two separate occasions. Both requests were rejected. A Memorial, written after the first rejection, suggested changes for the sugar industry in British West Indies, advocating for small businesses to "'reap a greater profit and for the greater exploitation of the ‘geographical resources of the West India Colonies.'" It also demanded strong measures against monopolies, supported better education, and measures to finance new farmers. Moreover, it aimed to lessen the cost of transferring land which Williams and Joseph argued was preventing people from acquiring Crown land. Minutes from the Parliament indicates this Memorial had been circulated among several members of parliament, as some had questioned Chamberlain on these issues. Nevertheless, no action was taken.
The Association held its annual general meeting on 25 October 1898. There, the Association published its first annual report and adopted two resolutions. One called for the British government to “meet the needs of the depressed condition of the islands,” and protect “the rights of Native African races brought under British rule and to protect their interests from the caprices of the Chartered Companies.” The other urged the establishment of Association branches in different colonies of the British Empire.
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Pan African Association
The African Association, known as the Pan-African Association after 1900, was an organization formed by leaders of African descent to "promote and protect the interests of all subjects claiming African descent, wholly or in part, in British colonies and other place, especially Africa, by circulating accurate information on all subjects affecting their rights and privileges as subjects of the British Empire, by direct appeals to the Imperial and local Governments." Henry Sylvester Williams initiated the creation of the African Association, which was formalized on 14 September 1897, at its headquarters in London, England. The Association is best known for organizing the First Pan-African Conference, which took place in London in July 1900.
The African Association initially focused on providing information on rights and privileges for Africans who were subjects of the British Empire. Recognizing the need for an inclusion of African individuals on a global scale, the association shifted its aspirations in 1899, establishing itself as an international association to promote the rights of Africans across the world, rather than just the British Empire. The African Association listed its goals:
Liberation leaders and activists recognized the need for an international association to unite anti-imperialist and black liberation efforts across nations. To this end, Henry Sylvester Williams, a Trinidadian lawyer, recognized the need to focus on educating the British public. He believed the British public was unaware of the sub-standard treatment of people of colour throughout the Empire, and sought to rectify this via the formation of the association. Williams sought to establish the association in London, as the city had become the locus of anti-imperialist movements, activism, and organization. Despite the comparatively progressive character of metropolitan London, white sympathizers advised against the founding of the African Association, claiming that black people were not capable of forming independent political organisations. Because of this conflict, active membership was restricted to black people but “white” individuals could become honorary members.
In addition to general desire for the African Association, contemporary political events spurred its creation. The founders argued that British colonial governments were creating a "new form of slavery" in Zanzibar and East Africa. A letter from A. Kinlock, printed in The Friend, the journal of the Society of Friends, on 22 October 1897, suggested that the association may have taken conditions in South Africa into account as well.
Little is known about the initial public meeting of the African Association except for brief mentions of its establishment in newspapers and the reports of the other groups. The meeting was organized sometime between September and November 1897 at Exeter Hall, London.
Members were mainly from the Caribbean and West Africa, and included religious leaders, political activists, teachers, and writers. Several women were also members, though they were titled as honorary members.
The association's second public meeting was held on 11 January 1898, again at Exeter Hall. After this meeting, the association quickly began work on their political agenda. In March 1898, Williams and Reverend Mason Joseph sought to interview the then Secretary of State for the Colonies, Joseph Chamberlain at the Colonial Office on two separate occasions. Both requests were rejected. A Memorial, written after the first rejection, suggested changes for the sugar industry in British West Indies, advocating for small businesses to "'reap a greater profit and for the greater exploitation of the ‘geographical resources of the West India Colonies.'" It also demanded strong measures against monopolies, supported better education, and measures to finance new farmers. Moreover, it aimed to lessen the cost of transferring land which Williams and Joseph argued was preventing people from acquiring Crown land. Minutes from the Parliament indicates this Memorial had been circulated among several members of parliament, as some had questioned Chamberlain on these issues. Nevertheless, no action was taken.
The Association held its annual general meeting on 25 October 1898. There, the Association published its first annual report and adopted two resolutions. One called for the British government to “meet the needs of the depressed condition of the islands,” and protect “the rights of Native African races brought under British rule and to protect their interests from the caprices of the Chartered Companies.” The other urged the establishment of Association branches in different colonies of the British Empire.
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