TransAfrica (formerly TransAfrica Forum) is an advocacy organization in Washington, D.C. that seeks to influence the foreign policy of the United States concerning African and Caribbean countries and all African diaspora groups. It is a research, education, and advocacy center for activism related to social, economic and political conditions in Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin America and other parts of the African Diaspora. TransAfrica is the largest and oldest social justice organization in the U.S that focuses on the African world. It has served as a major research, educational, and organizing institution for the African and African descendant communities and for the U.S. public in general.[1]
| Formation | 1977 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Randall Robinson |
| Type | human rights education and advocacy agency |
Region | Working in Africa and Africa Diaspora countries, 13 active campaigns. |
Structure | Board of Directors, staff, members |
Leadership | Nicole Lee, Director |
Governance | Board of Directors, Danny Glover (Chair) |
| Website | www |
Mission
editTransAfrica Forum is a research, education, and advocacy center dedicated to global justice for the African World.[2] TransAfrica envisions a world where Africans and people of African descent are self-reliant, socially and economically prosperous, and have equal access to a more just international system that strengthens independence and democracy.[3]
TransAfrica is an educational and organizing center that encourages human interest viewpoints in the U.S. foreign policy arena, and that advocates for justice for the people of Africa and the African Diaspora. TransAfrica creates solidarity between Americans and communities most affected by U.S. policies throughout the world. TransAfrica supports human rights, gender equity, democracy, and sustainable economic and environmental development.[4]
TransAfrica advocates for a more just foreign policy through the engagement of African Americans and policymakers. [citation needed]
By connecting people and policymakers to those most affected by U.S. foreign policy, and by encouraging Afro-descendants to be civically active, TransAfrica works to create a more just foreign policy that reflects the values of African Americans, especially respect for human rights.[citation needed]
History
editThe Black Forum on Foreign Affairs was formed in 1975, and served as the precursor to TransAfrica.[5] TransAfrica Forum was founded on July 1, 1977, after being conceived a year earlier at a Black Leadership Conference convened by the Congressional Black Caucus in September, 1976.[6][7] A committee consisting of Randall Robinson, Herschelle Challenor, and Willard Johnson are credited with formulating an organizational design and launch. Robinson became the organization's first Director.
TransAfrica launched a series of legislative campaigns and strategic media outreach that increased public awareness of South African apartheid and contributed to the global anti-apartheid solidarity movement.[8] The organization is credited for its activist role in the anti-apartheid struggle.[7] Through the Free South Africa Movement, TransAfrica initiated letter-writing campaigns, hunger strikes, and protest marches to challenge the apartheid system and compel the U.S. government to take action against apartheid.
Arthur R. Ashe Foreign Policy Library
editNamed after former board member Arthur Ashe, the Arthur R. Ashe Foreign Policy Library is the only library in the U.S. dedicated to sensitizing Americans about African, Caribbean, and Latin-American issues. It is an important resource for policy analysts, scholars and the public.[9]
Advocacy and education work
editTransAfrica continues to work on similar social, political, and economic justice issues throughout the African world. The current priority areas in Africa include Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, South Africa and Uganda. In the Americas, this includes Cuba, Haiti, Venezuela and the United States.[10]
Advocacy and education events
editTransAfrica continues to sponsor public seminars, community awareness campaigns and training programs to sensitize the public and policy makers. This includes the Cabral/Truth Circles, film series, lecture series, book club and a writer's forum for authors to discuss their work.[11] They co-sponsor the annual New African Film Festival in Washington, D.C.[11]
Free South Africa Movement
editTransAfrica was a founding member of the Free South Africa Movement. It is a grassroots organization that was instrumental in taking the anti-apartheid movement in the U.S. to mainstream politics and lobbying for change. They were at the forefront of the sensitizing U.S. policy makers, students and the public about the anti-apartheid efforts in a strategic move.
On November 21, 1984, a day before the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday, Randall Robinson, Congressman Walter Fauntroy and Mary Frances Berry were arrested for a sit-in staged at the South African embassy.[12] This brought the Anti-South African movements to the national stage. It sparked the formation of the Free South Africa Movement in the U.S. which TransAfrica was a founding member of. Within a few days, more sit-ins and demonstrations against South Africa were held nationally.[12] Over 3,000 people were arrested by 1985. TransAfrica exposed the secret strategy meetings between the South African government and the Ronald Reagan administration.[12] TransAfrica worked with the Congressional Black Caucus in formulating legislative strategy for the Comprehensive Anti-Apartheid Act of 1986.[12] In May 2012, the organisation received the Mandela Freedom Statuette for "exceptional contribution to the struggle for the attainment for non-racial, free and democratic South Africa" from the South Africa government.[13]
Organization and structure
editTransAfrica is run by a board of directors, administered by staff, and supported by members. Danny Glover served as chairman of the board. Past board members included activists Arthur Ashe, Chuck D and Harry Belafonte.[14] The list of former Directors includes human rights lawyer Nicole Lee[15][14] and labor activist Bill Fletcher Jr.[16]
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ "Power Source: Celebrating The Pursuit of Justice – Washington Life Magazine". Washingtonlife.com. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
- ^ Zulu, Itibari M. (2015-12-01). "TransAfrica as a collective enterprise: exploring leadership and social justice attentiveness". Journal of Pan African Studies. 8 (9): 26–47.
- ^ "TransAfrica Forum". linktank.com. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
- ^ "African Activist Archive". africanactivist.msu.edu. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
- ^ Historical Dictionary of United States-Africa Relations By Robert Anthony Waters Jr., Scarecrow Press
- ^ "TransAfrica – Justice for the African World – HISTORY". Transafrica.org. Archived from the original on 6 February 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
- ^ a b Cho, Nancy (18 December 2009). "TransAfrica Forum (1977– )". BlackPast.org. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
- ^ William Minter, Gail Hovey, No Easy Victories: African Liberation and American Activists Over a Half-Century 1950–2000, 2008, p. 160.
- ^ "TransAfrica – Justice for the African World – ASHE FOREIGN POLICY LIBRARY". Transafrica.org. Archived from the original on 15 April 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
- ^ "TransAfrica – Justice for the African World – WHERE". Transafrica.org. Archived from the original on 6 February 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
- ^ a b "Events". TransAfrica. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
- ^ a b c d "African Activist Archive". msu.edu. African Activist Archive. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
- ^ "TransAfrica - Justice for the African World - AFRICA: SOUTH AFRICA". Archived from the original on 2013-05-15. Retrieved 2013-04-13.
- ^ a b "Nicole Lee". UB Today. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 21 September 2015.
- ^ "TransAfrica - Justice for the African World - STAFF". Archived from the original on 2013-07-05. Retrieved 2013-07-10.
- ^ "Bill Fletcher Jr". Huffingtonpost.com. Archived from the original on 15 October 2012. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
External links
edit- Official site this website has expired
- TransAfrica Records Archival Collection Moorland Spingarn Research Center
- The African Activist Archive Project includes a description of TransAfrica and more than 200 documents, photographs and other related material of the organization and TransAfrica Forum.