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ESSAYS
ROBESON

for independence now" for all Africa. They hope this positive action will be non-violent, but they said clearly that the character of the struggle will naturally depend upon the attitude and activity of the colonial powers. They declared that Africans will not "turn the other cheek," and that "if you hit us, we may hit back." How effective will non-violence be against the brutality and viciousness of France in Algeria and Cameroons, against white settlers in Kenya and South Africa? These were questions in the minds of Africans at Accra.

As usual I was disappointed over the absence of women at the Accra Conference. There were only eight official women delegates, and only two women addressed the plenary sessions. Mrs. Martha Ouandie told the terrible story of French colonialism now rampant in Cameroons, and Shirley Graham Du Bois read the clear, forceful, constructive message to the conference from her husband, Dr. W.E.B. Du Bois, father of the Pan-African movement.

I spoke to the women at the conference, and to the women's organization in Accra about the lack of women delegates to the conference. They agreed that this was a sign of backwardness, that women in Africa do participate in all the freedom struggles, and that therefore they should be duly represented in force at all conferences. A whole population cannot be properly mobilized if half of it is officially ignored.

Africans are now stepping out in Africa. They know, more than any foreigners, from direct personal experience, what Africans need and want.

Africans plan to assert, as from now, a new African personality in world affairs and at world forums, and above all this African personality will express an independent sovereign African people. For too long now the colonial powers have spoken for Africa, in the name of Africa. White Frenchmen, Briton, Belgians have "represented" Africa. Recently, noting the trend in world affairs, the colonial powers have brought out their African Uncle Toms, these black would-be Frenchmen, Britons, etc., the especially trained black "elite" to speak for Africa.

But as from the Accra Conference, Africans, not French, British, etc., Africans--will speak for Africa, and we shall hear the authentic voice of the African People. And Africans plan, for all of Africa, government of, and by the African people. Africa is on her way.

New World Review. February 1959.

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