The Impact of Africa in Shaping Martin Luther King's Worldview

While most of the writings on Martin Luther King, Jr.Frequently I hear them say if their African brothers can
focus on the civil rights movement, little effort has beenbreak the bonds of colonialism, surely the American
made to place his speeches and worldview in theNegro can break Jim Crow."
context the Freedom and struggles in Africa and otherOn Role of the African American Freedom Struggle in
Third World countries. King was informed and inspiredHistory
by the liberation struggles in Africa and other ThirdKing placed the struggle of African Americans in the
World countries. What has emerged from thelarger context of the rising tide of history, asserting:
voluminous materials and books written about Martin"Oppressed people cannot remain oppressed forever.
Luther King, Jr. is a single, truncated dimension of KingThe urge for freedom will eventually come. This is
and his worldview. For the most part, the legacy andwhat happened to the American Negro. Something
true meaning of King has been highjacked by historianswithin has reminded him of his birthright of freedom;
and writers and striped of its subversive andsomething without has reminded him that he can gain it.
anti-establishment content.Consciously and unconsciously, he has been swept in
Africa played an important role in informing both theby what the Germans call the Zeitgeist, and with his
Civil Rights and Black Power Movements. Africanblack brothers of Africa, and his brown, and yellow
Americans were well aware and inspired by Africanbrothers of Asia, South America and the Caribbean he
countries breaking the hold of European colonialism onis moving with a comic sense of urgency toward the
Africa. Dating back to Marcus Garvey, who placedpromise land of racial justice."
Africa at the core of black political consciousness,On How the Liberation Struggle in African emboldened
African Americans were aware of their historical andAfrican Americans
cultural link with Africa. As Garvey had prophesied theKing argued that the liberation struggles in Africa gave
rise of Africa strengthen the political calculus of black inAfrican Americans a greater sense of human worth,
America and throughout the world.awareness and assertiveness: "A factor which
That the calculus of Africa informed Martin Luther Kingaccounted for the new sense of dignity on the part of
view of the Civil Rights Movement is a footnote inthe Negro has been the awareness that his struggle
history, mentioned only in passing by historians. Yet,for freedom in a part of the worldwide struggle. He
Africa was as important to King as it was for Malcolmwatched developments in Asia and Africa with rapt
X, who is most often linked with Africa. King wasattention. On these vast prodigious continents dwell
invited and attended independence celebration oftwo-thirds of the world's people."
Ghana. "The minute I Knew I was coming to Ghana,On African Peoples seeking Dignity and Freedom
King said, "I had a very deep emotional feeling. A newKing observed that the struggle for human dignity was
nation was been born. It symbolized the fact that aa motivating force for black people in Africa and the
new order was coming into being and an old orderUnited States: "Thirty years ago there were only three
was passing away." Thus, Africa and the liberationindependent countries in the whole Africa-Liberia,
struggles on the continent were central to King'sEthiopia and South Africa... These rapid changes have
evolving worldview.naturally influence the thinking of the American Negro.
Africa and King's WorldviewHe knows that his struggle for human dignity is not an
As reflected below, King references to Africaisolated event. It is a drama being played on the stage
demonstrates how he viewed the importance ofof the world with spectator and supporters from
Africa in relationship with African Americans and theirevery continent."
freedom struggle.The Lesson of Ghana's Independence
On Significance of the African StruggleKing observed the independence of Ghana provided
King linked the struggle of Africa Americans with thean important lesson for African Americans and the
struggle of African people on the continent, observingCivil Rights Movement: "Ghana has something to say
for example: "Many of the students, when passed toto us. It says to us first that the oppressor never
express their inner feelings identify themselves withvoluntarily gives freedom to the oppressed. You have
students in Africa, Asia and South America. Thework for it. Freedom is never given to anybody.
liberation struggle in Africa has been the greatest singlePrivileged classes never give up their privileges without
international influence on American Negro students.strong resistance.