African Opinion - Freedom Archives

The faculty and student body of
Hampton Institute, one of the colleges
set up for the education of
Africans freed from American slavery,
heard a renewed plan to relieve
the vexing problem facing black
people in America.
The plan of action was discussed
bv Bro. Mustafa Hashim, a representative
of the African Repatriation
Association with office at 5119 Chestnut
Street, Philadelphia, Pa.
The Association, Mr . Hashim reported,
"has presented a bill to the
Congress of the U. S. requesting
government assistance "to those who
want to return" to the African
fatherland and who, because of discrimination
and repression, have
been prevented from amassing the
means to move with their families
and belongings and to sustain themselves
for the brief period of readjustment
.
The request, the lecturer went on,
is only a fraction of reparation due
the Africans for over 300 years of
blood, sweat and tears that helped
build America .
Garvey's Plea Repeated
Opening with Marcus Garvey's
"appeal to the soul of white America,"
he said, "the historical conditions
which led to the depression, degradation
and de-humanization of the
freed Africans have not changed .
The dictated solution to our problem
of "laying down our buckets"
here has, as planned, failed miserably.
For that reason, "we must
AFRICAN OPINION
"'RETURN TO AFRICA" HEARD AT HAMPTON
return to mother Africa, since America
no longer needs us," especially
with her "Population Explosion",
her perfected automation, chronic
unemployment, mounting relief cases
and the tax burden .
"The brothers in the jails, the
poor, the oppressed, the 'unemployed
are truly aware, willing and have
ever been ready to return to Africa,
the spokesman said, "where condition
and climate are far more favorable
to a happier living than here .
Visiting Students to Africa
Reported
Highlighting the program was Mr.
John A. Williams' film comparing
scenes on his visit to Nigeria, with
palm trees, dancing and playing on
beaches, with the impoverished areas
of Philadelphia . Williams stated
that he was called "Omowale" which
means "the son who has returned
home" in the African language .
Many of the students signed a petition
giving their support to "the
right of those, who want to return
to Africa," to seek government aid
through Reparation.
Mr. James Parker, Chairman of
the "Black Forum", invited Bro .
Mustafa to Hampton.
Parker was also in Nigeria for
two months during the summer and
was adopted by a Nigerian family.
During his trip he also visited
Ghana, Togoland and Dahomey. He
said that the question most often
asked bv the Africans he met was
why did he stay in America? "I was
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unprepared to answer that question,"
Parker said. "It was the first time
I had been presented with it." Only
21 years old, he is now hoping to
return and help build Africa after
graduation from Hampton in Virginia
.
Three Bills Before Congress
The program ended with a great
ovation and Bro . Mustafa was extended
an invitation to return the
coming semester to further develop
the theme of Repatriation. Theodis
Holland, president of the Student
Government congratulated Bro. Mustafa
for an interesting and informative
lecture.
NOTE : It is reproted that three
bills for assistance are presently before
Congress . One submitted by
"The Ethiopian Peace Movement"
of Chicago; another by the "Selfdetermination,
Reparation and Repatriation
Committee" of California
and the third by the "African American
Repatriation Association of
Philadelphia.
The bills embodied in sum and
substance the provisions of the
"Longer Bill" of 1948, submitted by
"African Nationalist Movements,"
of New York and the "Bilbo Bill"
of 1939 submitted by the Ethiopian
Peace Movement of Chicago, Ill. The
"Bilbo Bill" although endorsed by
six million signatures was ignored
by Congress . Disregarding the wishes
of 6,000,000 adults and thereby create
a state of frustration, requires
close re-examination.
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