African Opinion - Freedom Archives

PRIZE FIGHTER LED PILGRIMAGE TO AFRICA
A group of African Americans, who embraced the
faith of their fathers, left the United States on September
2nd, 1969 on a tour of the African homeland
led by the popularly known "Kid McCoy" of prizefighter
fame and now a member of the Ethiopian
Church, formerly Coptic . The group besides the church
members composed of officials of the UNIA & African
Communities League of New York and others from
Brooklyn and New Jersey .
Leaving New York, their first stop was in Greece,
then to Asmara, Ethiopia, and finally Addis Ababa,
the capital, now viewed as the "Capital of Africa,"
where the seat of the "Organization of African Unity"
(OAU) is located.
The Pilgrims, some members of the "St. Tekla Haymanot
Brotherhood Society" of the Church, were
gracefully received by the Abuna, Acting Patriarch
and Archbishop of Harar who "wish them a pleasant
stay among their Ethiopian brethren".
Places and Sceneries
The National Tourist Agency delegated to conduct
the tour showed, the sons and daughters who return
to the homeland for the first time all that were possible
within time limit .
Warmly received by His Majesty, the Emperor and
all they met including the Dean of "Haile Selassie I
University," they visited the "Africa Hall and Library"
of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) ;
the zoo ; rug industrial setup ; rope factory ; steel foundry
; The Holy Trinity Church ; Tomb of King Solomon
; the Chief Galla and Menelik tombs and other
historical places .
The streets they reported are immaculately clean ;
not even a matchstick is seen . No loitering, no drunks,
no dope addicts, no vulgarity, no discourtesy, no muggings
reported . One reported walking 2 A.M. with no
fear of being molested . So impressed with the general
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UP YOU MIGHTY RACE
Entire Records of Marcus Garvey
Dramatically Portrayed By
Amy Ashwood Garvey, Songs of Thelma Massy &
Lord Obstinate . High Lighted by the Tony Thomas
Orchestra . Lyric & Music by Rabbi Arnold Ford .
Price : $3 .98
Phone : 212 MO 6-6860
National African Book Store
101 West 125th Street
New York, N . Y . 10027
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By JAMES LEOPOLD
hospitality and serenity that some could not hold back
the tears, as others kissed the soil of their ancient land,
and murmured : "My dreams come true . . . our real
home ." Some stated they went there with pains and
body aches and by some mystery the aches and pains
disappeared .
Colony of Settlers
The last stop was the Colony of Malcoda in the
Province of Shashamane. The colony is a large area
of flat, fertile land granted by the Emperor to Africans
in the Americas for their support during the Italian
invasion of Ethiopia, in 1936 . The settlement is called :
the "Ethiopian World Federation Colony", Malcoda,
Shashamane, with Mr. James Piper, Administrator .
:111 those who desire to live there may acquire a
site for home and garden free of cost except for a
minor fee of about Fifteen ($15) Dollars to cover
registration and taxes . Settlers now there are mostly
from the West Indies and the United States . Thus far
Malcoda has a ten room clinic, a school, and a few
homes and is opened to thousands who are seeking
peaceful living, security and freedom from fear .
The Only Disturbing Factors
The administration is having or experiencing a little
difficulty now and then with transients, bearing all the
earmarks of imperialist agents, sent to disturb the
peaceful progress of what tends to become a "Rock of
Ages ." That disruptive technique has been going on in
Liberia since around 1884 to the present.
The purpose for the subversive tactics, all things
considered, is to prevent the sons and daughters from
air-cad, with the "know how", to assist the brothers
-it home . Their presence there, like those of the foreign
Jews flocking to Palestine, they reason, might retard
th- move now in progress to make Africa a white man's
ccnntry .
However there is a wind of change blowing in the
AID AFRICA N0W
Committee, Inc .
2395 8th Ave . (Near 128th St.) New York, N . Y . 10027
Appeals for Relief Funds for the Black Brothers and
Families driven from their homes in Angola, Mozambique,
South West Africa, Rhodesia, South Africa . . .
by Colonialist Bombing Planes and now Refugees in
Neighboring States .
Please make donations to the above Committee
and mail to : P.O . Box 126
New York, N . Y . 10027
All Funds will be sent through the
Organization of African Unity
AFRICAN OPINION