TO
THE AMERICAN COMMlTTEE ON AFRICA
New York City, September 18, 1960
... The tide which is sweeping Africa today cannot be stayed.
No power on earth is great enough to halt or to reverse the
trend. Its march is as relentless and inexorable as the passage
of time....
Today,
Africans and friends of Africa everywhere are celebrating
Africa Freedom Day. Observance of this Day testifies to what
is undoubtedly one of the most significant phenomena of this
post-war world, the liberation from the bonds which have so
long fettered the millions of Africans to whom, but a short
time ago, freedom and independence were but distant dreams.
Within the post-war period, the number of independent African
nations has more than doubled; next year, additional states
will achieve their independence; and each year that follows
will see ever increasing numbers of Africans enjoying these
most precious of Almighty God's gifts.
The tide which is sweeping Africa today cannot be stayed.
No power on earth is great enough to halt or reverse the trend.
Its march is as relentless and inexorable as the passage of
time. The day is long overdue for a change of attitude on
the part of those nations which have heretofore sought to
hinder or impede this movement or which have been content
in the past to remain passive in the face of the impassioned
cries for freedom, for justice, for the right to stand with
their fellow men as equals, which have gone up from this Continent.
It is time for them to enlist their sympathetic efforts on
behalf of the struggle of the African peoples to gain the
place in the world which is their God given birthright. Those
who fail, those who lack the vision and foresight to realize
that Africa is emerging into a new era, that Africans will
no longer be denied the rights which are inalienably theirs,
will not alter or reverse the course of history, but will
only suffer the inevitable consequences of their refusal to
accept reality.
What is there to be learned from the events now occurring
on the African Continent? It must be recognized too, that
Africa, its people, its present and its future, are of vital
concern to everyone, no matter how far removed geographically.
In the past, America has too often been content to remain
relatively unconcerned about events in Africa, too ready to
stand on the sidelines of African history as a disinterested
observer. This policy will not serve today, and the attitude
which the American people and Government now adopt towards
Africa indicates that they too realize that a new Africa has
emerged on the world scene. As a result, however, Americans
have been largely uninformed about us, our peoples, our problems.
Among other peoples, more and more is gradually coming to
be known, but mainly, we would venture, because the peoples
of Africa have forced the rest of the world to pay heed to
them and to harken to the stirrings and reverberations which
have resounded throughout this Continent in the last decade.
Africa and U.S.A.
The American people can make a significant contribution to
guaranteeing that a deep and abiding friendship exists between
Africa and the United States of America. Learn more about
us; learn to understand our backgrounds, our culture and traditions,
our strengths and weaknesses. Learn to appreciate our desires
and hopes, our problems, our fears. If we truly know one another,
a solid and firm basis will exist for the maintenance of the
friendly relations between the African and the American peoples,
which - we are convinced - both so ardently desire. You may
be assured that there will be no failure in the warm and brotherly
response from our side.
In the midst of the strife and turmoil which marks Africa
today, the African peoples still extend the hand of friendship.
But it is extended to those who desire the progress and the
political and economic freedom of the African people, who
are willing generously and without thought of selfish gain
to assist us to our feet that we may stand by their side as
brothers. We are convinced that there are countless millions
of such to be found throughout the world. We know that those
to whom we send this message, who are today assembled in New
York City to join in the celebration of Africa Freedom Day,
are numbered among them. To them, we send Our warmest greetings
and Our prayers that the purpose which today unites them may
be soon realized. We must thank the American Committee on
Africa which has made it possible for us to send these words
to you today. The cause which you espouse is a noble and just
one and, with the help of Almighty God, will triumph.
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