Category: Black Politics

Patrice Lumumba Biography: Who Was Patrice Lumumba

Chief Radical

Patrice Lumumba was born on July 2, 1925, in the village of Onalua in the Kasai province of what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). He was a passionate and ambitious young man who quickly rose through the ranks in his early career. He began with modest beginnings working as a postal clerk and later as a beer salesman. His ability to connect with people and his fervor for justice paved the way for his future in politics.

Lumumba’s entry into politics was marked by his charismatic leadership and dedication to the Congolese cause. He became an influential figure in the push for independence from Belgian colonial rule. In 1958, he founded the Mouvement National Congolais (MNC), a political party advocating for Congo’s autonomy and unity. His efforts weren’t just about gaining independence; they were aimed to foster a sense of national pride and self-reliance among Congolese people.

In 1960, the DRC achieved independence, and Lumumba was elected as the country’s first Prime Minister. His tenure, although short-lived, was characterized by his fierce nationalism and his vision for a united, self-governing Congo free from external interference. This vision resonated with many Africans who saw Lumumba as a beacon of hope and an emblem of anti-colonial resistance.

Lumumba’s legacy is profound. He is remembered not only as a leader who dared to stand up against colonial oppressors but also as a martyr for the cause of African independence. His life and work continue to inspire movements for justice, freedom, and unity across Africa.

The Struggle for Independence

Before Lumumba’s rise, the Congo was under Belgian colonial rule, marked by exploitation and severe oppression. The Congolese were subjected to harsh labor conditions and denied basic civil rights. These are conditions marked by every African on the continent or in the diaspora. Lumumba’s leadership emerged as a light for change in this bleak landscape.

Lumumba didn’t just step into politics; he charged in with determination and a clear mission. Founding the Mouvement National Congolais (MNC) in 1958 was a pivotal moment. This party advocated for immediate and total independence from Belgium, emphasizing unity and nationalism. Lumumba’s ability to galvanize support from diverse ethnic groups set him apart from other leaders who primarily focused on regional interests.

The momentum for independence grew, and in the elections of May 1960, the MNC won a significant number of seats in parliament. This victory was more than a political win; it was a sign that the Congolese people were ready to take control of their destiny. With Lumumba’s leadership, the people were ready to take full control of their lives and nation.

On June 30, 1960, Congo officially gained its independence, with Lumumba becoming the first Prime Minister.

His independence speech, delivered on the day of liberation, is particularly notable. Unlike the more conciliatory tones of other leaders, Lumumba spoke candidly about the brutal realities of colonialism. He pledged a new era of freedom and dignity. This speech not only stirred the hearts of Congolese but also caught the world’s attention, marking the beginning of a new chapter in African self-determination. In a world where Africa’s poverty became a necessity for the west’s success, plenty of attention came to Lumumba’s speech.

Patrice Lumumba’s Vision and Impact

During his short tenure as Prime Minister, Patrice Lumumba was steadfast in his dedication to creating a truly independent Congo. He envisioned a nation free from external interference, striving for economic self-reliance and political unity. This vision wasn’t just theoretical; it was practical and deeply rooted in Pan-African ideals.

As mentioned, one of the defining moments of Lumumba’s career was his independence speech. Delivered on June 30, 1960, this speech was a bold declaration against the atrocities of colonialism. Unlike other leaders who opted for diplomatic language, Lumumba fearlessly highlighted the wrongs inflicted upon the Congolese people and charted a path toward a future of dignity and self-respect.

Patrice Lumumba - Wikipedia

His commitment to Pan-Africanism extended beyond Congo’s borders. He sought to build solidarity among newly independent African nations, believing that unity was essential to resisting neocolonial influences. Lumumba’s approach resonated with many African leaders, reinforcing the Pan-African movement across the continent.

Even after his departure from office, Lumumba’s ideals continued to influence Congo’s politics and African nationalism as a whole. His vision for unity and self-determination became a blueprint for future generations. Today, his speeches and writings are studied not just for their historical significance but also for their relevance to ongoing struggles for freedom and justice.

Martyrdom and Enduring Symbolism

Patrice Lumumba’s life was tragically cut short, but his legacy endures. On January 17, 1961, Lumumba was assassinated. His death is widely believed to have been orchestrated by Western powers, particularly Belgium and the United States. This coordinated effort to silence and even eliminate Lumumba was due to his staunch anti-colonial stance. This worried the western power, in addition to Lumumba’s refusal to align with Western geopolitical interests.

The assassination wasn’t just a personal loss; it was a blow to the burgeoning independence movement across Africa. However, rather than silencing Lumumba’s ideals, his death turned him into a martyr. His steadfast commitment to sovereignty and justice made him a poignant symbol of resistance against external domination and neocolonialism. Lumumba’s story continues to inspire those fighting for freedom and self-determination worldwide.

Patrice Lumumba Biography: Who Was Patrice Lumumba

Significantly, Lumumba’s assassination cast a long shadow over Congo and its subsequent political trajectory. The instability and conflicts that followed are often linked to the power vacuum created by his removal. Nevertheless, his influence persists in the hearts and minds of the Congolese and others who look up to him as a symbol of steadfast resistance and uncompromising integrity.

Today, Patrice Lumumba’s legacy is honored in various ways—from statues and monuments to educational initiatives and cultural references. His life and work serve as a reminder of the cost of freedom and the unyielding spirit required to challenge injustice. Lumumba’s dream of a unified, independent Congo remains a guiding light for many, making him an enduring figure in the global struggle for equality and human rights.

How did Patrice Lumumba die? | BritannicaRise in Power, brother Patrice.

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Thank you for being here; stay black, get radical!

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Kathleen Cleaver Black Panther Radical

Chief Radical

 

Kathleen Cleaver Black Panther Radical

This US professor of law and former black panther organizer and communications secretary for the party is a real black radical. Kathleen Cleaver is popularly known for being married to Eldridge Cleaver. Eldridge was a black panther leader and also authored the book Soul on Ice.

The couple divorced in 1987, but prior to she had been consistently involved in the daily actions of the black panther party. She also became synonymous with black power movement for equality for all people, especially blacks in America. This was not an easy ride for the law professor and black history expert that she is today.

Ms. Cleaver transformed from intolerable radical to the respected scholar she is today, bringing a unique perspective to many issues. Such issues include race, gender, social, and economic liberties.

Kathleen Cleaver Early Childhood

Ms. Cleaver was born in Dallas, Texas on May 13th of 1945. Her parents were both educated professors and activists, shed much educational light on Kathleen. Due to jobs, the family moved around a bit, spending several years in India, Sierra Leone, Philippines, and Liberia. These childhood experiences changed her view of life and people, especially colored people.

As a teenager, she was back in the US she finished High School and moved to college. Nevertheless, this is when her interest in activism surged, leading her to drop out of school.

 

She got involved in the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). In essence, she was in charge of organizing black student conferences, one of importance to her and her life was at Fisk University.

In Nashville, Tennessee, she met the then Black Panther Party (BPP) Minister of Information. His name, Eldridge Cleaver. They were inseparable until Eldridge had to flee in exile. He lived in Cuba for a moment, then in Algeria, where Kathleen came to meet him, pregnant and all. In 1971, Eldridge Cleaver had a major disagreement with party leader Huey Newton and the two split.

Going the Legal Route

The Cleavers formed a new party known as the Revolutionary People’s Communication Network, and Kathleen was the public face of the party. As they moved away from the Marxist ideology, they left Algeria, making stops in France, before returning to the US. Eldridge was arrest after turning himself in and slowly became more conservative politically.

The couple slowly went separate ways, Eldridge to Christian Mormonism, Kathleen towards education, primarily law. She graduated from Yale with honors in history. She divorced Eldridge and began a legal career. Obviously, Kathleen has dialed it down from her days as a black panther radical, she’s still a black radical. She making changes in ways that impact others to strive for equality, justice, and freedom through the law.

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Oliver Tambo Biography

Dawal Yah'El

Oliver Tambo Biography

Oliver Tambo was the interim president of the ANC (African National Congress) of the South African “anti-apartheid” political party. When he served, he did the bulk of the time while he was in exile.

Born on October 25, 1917, in Bizana, South Africa. This radical would go on to serve while in exile as the acting president of the ANC, and his party agitated the apartheid regime. He eventually returned to South Africa in 1990 and turned over party leadership to the nations first democratic president; Nelson Mandela.

Oliver Reginald Tambo, often called OR, belonged to the Pondo people. Twenty-seven years after his birth (1944), Oliver Tambo and Nelson Mandela helped to form the Youth League of the ANC.

Oliver Tambo the Missionary

With a desire to be a priest, Tambo taught at a missionary school. However, he learned that in order to bring change and equality to his people swiftly, he needed to study law. He believed legal action proved a more powerful tool to dismantle state-supported segregation.

Fifty-two years into the twentieth century, he joined with Mandela to open the Johannesburg-based law firm. It was the first black South African law firm. Tambo was the vanguard of ANC political activity. His radical work further agitated the apartheid (the caste system enforced upon the native black population by the white-controlled government).

Oliver Tambo South African Biography

Eventually, many party members were arrested in 1956 for treason. They were later cleared.  Some members were charged again. This round found his colleague Mandela sentenced to life in prison, and himself exiled.

Coordinating Guerrilla Movements

While in exile, Tambo established residences in Zambia and London. He received party backing from European nations, such as Holland, East Germany, and even the Soviet Union. While overseas, Tambo coordinated resistance and guerrilla movements mobilized in South Africa. Despite internal organizational struggles, he was still able to keep the multiracial ANC intact.

South African Black Radical Fought for the People

Faithful to finding positive solutions for his people, still Tambo was noted for his graceful approach. Tambo was able to return to his native country in 1990 when the ban against the ANC was lifted by new South African President F.W. de Klerk. A black radical to the core, Oliver Tambo fought progressively for equality and for the people.

 

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This Oliver Tambo biography post was researched using wikipedia.com, youtube.com, biography.com, britannica.com, and encyclopedia.com. We hope it was edifying and helpful. If anything wasn’t accurate, please let us know. Thank you!

Black Radical Congress Freedom Agenda

Chief Radical

Black Radical Congress Freedom Agenda

Most people may have thought that black radicals was or is a new concept or idea.  It is not! Black radicals is a terminology that was developed during the Civil Rights Movement in America during the 1950s 60s and 70s.

During that time many black men and women became “radical”  in their own personal fight for liberation. They were radical for justice for the colored people in America,  especially those of African or negroid descent. They fought not only for themselves and for their people but also for the world.

Really, for the world?

Yes! 

The world cannot exist unerringly while people are being oppressed. The bottom will always fall out of such an establishment.  Many of the black radicals of the past that were not assassinated or vanquished from the country, found another type of life.

They witnessed and lived through the extremely oppressive and excessive force of violence, drugs, and family destruction to enter the black community. They saw a different type of demon rearing itself in all black communities.

This demon was a psychologically disastrous, misleading educationally, sociologically deprecative, and biologically deadly in their war against the black man woman and child.

Because of this, different organizations were put together to keep the fight for freedom and equality alive. One of which was an organization called the Black Radical Congress or BRC.

Focusing on Increasing Social Justice

They were founded in 1998 in the wonderful City of Chicago. They were a grassroots network of people and organizations all of the African descent. The BRC focused on urging for a wide range of continuous increasing social justice.

They also stood in the gap for racial impartiality and economic fairness for all people in the United States (especially black people).The organization began with 2000 different participants and their first agenda was something called the freedom agenda.

While we (#blackradicals) are pulling most of this information about this organization from Wikipedia, you can still find traces of articles online by doctorate-level scholars who participated with the BRC. We are not sure this organization is still together or if it has been disbanded.

Black Radical Congress and the Freedom Agenda

This article aimed to shed light on the ideology of black radicalism and black radicals in the past. Our current website, blackradicals.com, is not a new idea of progressing and strengthening black presence and equality. Many before us have put in work of immortalizing past works and empowering the current and future black radicals.

All of this will maintain and increase social justice and equality of blacks in America and all over the world. This has been and is an ongoing fight for equality, globally! Keep the fight, become a black radical inwardly!

If you know anyone or anything in addition regarding the Black Radical Congress, please contact us.

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The Late Great Nelson Mandela as President

Dawal Yah'El

The Late Great Nelson Mandela as President

The Late Great Nelson Mandela as President

Many people know or have heard of the late great Nelson Mandela, as a president, but more as the South African leader. Nelson was born in a village in South Africa called Mvezo, which is in Umtata. This was part of South Africa’s Cape Province.

His middle name is Rolihlahla, which actually means “troublemaker.” Not Mandela, a troublemaker? He made a lot of trouble for racist whites in South Africa, and perhaps some for himself. Nelson will forever be known as the South African political activist, which steered him into the positions he held in his later life.

This black radical spent over 25 years of his life in prison because he opposed the apartheid regime. He was freed from prison in 1990, and four short years later, he was being sworn in as South Africa’s first president. For obvious reasons, this was a big deal.

The MLK Jr. of South Africa

Many men and women have been presidents of countries, but not many presidents have won Nobel Peace Prizes. President Mandela was one of them to win the Nobel Prize, in 1993. He won for his efforts to end racial segregation in South Africa. You can view him as the Martin Luther King Jr. of South Africa.

This kind of goes to show, if the FBI in America did not put out an assassin on Dr. King, Dr. King could have been the first black US president perhaps (we digress). Back to Mandela; before being imprisoned wrongfully, Mandela professionally was an attorney.

He knew the law. And because of racial inequalities, he was in high demand to help stop the apartheid. He was up for the battle because he was committed to the cause. He and other members of the ANC (African National Congress) were arrested for treason.

Nelson Mandela Arrested for Fighting the Apartheid System

Acquitted, Mandela reformed and retooled, only to be rearrested and this time put in jail. Imprisonment was a learning period, and it made Nelson stronger and also well known throughout the world. Although the struggle appeared to be him fighting against white people, Mandela spoke differently. He felt he was fighting against the apartheid system.

When Nelson was released from prison on February 11th of 1990, the country took it as the end of the apartheid. When he assumed power in South Africa as the first president of the democratic state, he wasn’t a vengeful leader. Instead, the late great Mandela was extremely forgiving and generous.

He supported even white groups, encouraging all people to support the Springboks, a group symbolized as white supremacy. That would equate, in the United States, to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. advocating for black US citizens to support the KKK (Ku Klux Klan).

Mandela both a peace and black radical…

This was known as the epitome of peace and forgiveness. It catapulted his status as one of the world’s greatest leaders. He did it his way, supporting so-called villains like Colonel Gaddafi, President Fidel Castro, and President Yasser Arafat. Certainly a radical, and we salute the late great Nelson Mandela, as president, as a political activist, as a social activist, and peace radical. Nelson Mandela, black radical.

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Take the time to read about this great man, in his autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom!*

*links in this article that lead to Amazon are affiliate links with cookies that expire in 24 hours. These affiliate links, if acted upon, contribute to the work being published on this website for the edification of you and others who enjoy and utilize the contribution. We love revisiting what the black pioneers have done, and continue to do!

 

Ghanaian President Gets Radical with French, Europe

Dawal Yah'El

Ghanaian President Gets Radical with French, Europe

Ghanaian president, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in the video above gave a mouthful of words to the French president. Although it was not directed directly at French president, Emmanuel Macron, it sure felt as if it was. Macron was given a respectful mouthful of what needs to be done in Africa.

For so long, as president Akufo-Addo so eloquently said, Ghana has been (slightly or largely) dependent on European nations for over 50 years, since its independence.

A natural black radical, President Akufo-Addo says that it is now time for Ghana and all African nations, which have accomplished its independence more than half a century ago, to become fully independent.

Ghana Must Take the French and European Breast Out of its Mouth

It is the time Ghana comes out of the need to accept financial aid from European taxpayers as a necessity. Also, Ghanaians need to build a system that will allow Ghana to retain its best minds. The most brilliant youth of the nation are currently graduating and fleeing to European nations for a lifestyle and work.

Developing Another House!

Akufo-Addo said that they (the youth) are not leaving because they want to, instead it’s because they have to. They are in this position because they are not able to see the vision Ghana can provide the lifestyle for independent progress. A child who watches his father work for another man will eventually go work for that man also.

Ghanaian President Gets Radical with French, Europe

The European lifestyle is more modern and offers more opportunity to the burgeoning youth of Ghana and other African nations. If Africa is able to build systems that can promote true independence as other countries have done in shorter times since their independence (such as Malaysia Singapore Canada), then the youth will stay in Ghana.

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo Gets Radical with French Leader

They will stay and build the rich nation full of its rich resources the way we are seeing in Europe. We can have nothing but respect for the way that president Akufo-Addo verbalize it, and for those statements being his personal thought process.

“We can no longer continue to make policy for ourselves, in our country, in our region, in our continent on the basis of whatever support that the western world or France, or the European Union can give us. It will not work. It has not worked and it will not work”.

We can also only appreciate this for the world to understand that this line of THINKING is what the world needs; independent nations driving upon itself, participating as a developed nation, in a free trade market in the global society.

Black radical of the day Ghanaian president, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo!

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What do you think about the video, about the message? Is it time for African nations to be totally dependent and AVOID the hand-out help from European nations? Leave your comments!

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Idriss Déby Black Radical President of Chad

Dawal Yah'El

Idriss Déby Black Radical President of Chad

Most people have not heard of Idriss Déby who is the current president of the Sovereign nation of Chad. He has been the president of Chad since 1990 and based on the biography of this leader, he has the longest reign in Chad.

That has a lot to do with his leadership ability and military background. His predecessor Hissène Habré, was a bit different, as it is said that the predecessor was brought to power with the provision of France and the United States.

However, many human rights abuses were brought up against him. He was convicted by international courts of many heinous war crimes. Not many Chadian presidents have served multiple terms, however, Déby has done so with good achievements to go along with it.

Black Radical President of Chad

This can be seen in his re-election success, as he has been reelected with the majority votes every five years since he took office in 1990. He isn’t re-elected because he is a bully either. Like most military leaders in Africa, they have to face plenty of potential overthrows or coup d’etats. Luckily, he has been able to overcome these.

Idriss Déby President of Chad

One of the really difficult things that take place in many African nations (that have poor stability) is potential wars with other nations. Also, religious wars within the nation, and potential coups against the current government. This is why African heads of state become very good at managing their stay in power often more than their nation.

This makes it difficult for the nation to expand and grow because of these difficult potential outbreaks they have to manage. Déby is also fighting a war against Boko Haram, which has made its way into Chad. He is devoted to fighting against them.

Idriss Déby Achieving National Stability

These are many of the things that President Déby has to deal with. In 2006, after another election win, he was able to secure peace with Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir. This was another step toward achieving national stability.

Déby has also made partnerships and leagues with Germany and other European nations to assist with stability, and propel Chadians into a new economic age.

Black leader, black radicals, black presidents, Idriss Déby, black radical. Sometimes we just need to learn and know about men and women that the world attempts to know nothing about!

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