African American Internationalism Reading Guide

African American Internationalism Reading Guide

Directions: Read pages 487 (beginning at "The Rising Wind") through 492 in From Slavery to Freedom and thoroughly answer the following questions. Some will require you to think critically about the material, rather than simply copy out of the book.

1. Explain Walter White's quote.

2. How was the Pan African Congress in 1945 different from other previous congresses?

3. Do you think the new approach of the Pan African Congress was better than the previous congresses focused on cultural kinship? Explain.

4. Think back to CCG...what was going on in South Africa in the early 1950s that might have caused it to be such a focus of African Americans?

5. How did the black press in the U.S. refer to apartheid?

6. Why would the U.N. Charter have been a source of optimism for African Americans?

7. Why did African Americans take the greatest interest in the UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)?

8. In 1950 what did 71% of Americans believe?

9. Briefly summarize Ralph Bunche's job as director the Trusteeship Council.

10. Why did Ralph Bunche win the Nobel Peace Prize in 1950?

11. Did you know that Ralph Bunche went to UCLA and that the building housing the History Department is named after him?

12. Why do you think the U.S. voted against the U.N. resolution requiring South African report about the progress it had made in eliminating discrimination against Indians?

13.What was the goal of the June 1946 Petition?

14. What was the argument made by people opposed to the resolution?

15. How did Charles Hamilton Houston counter that argument?

16. What arguments did W.E.B. Du Bois make in An Appeal to the World?

17. Why did the U.S. refuse to bring the Appeal to the UN?

18. How did the way African Americans see themselves in relation to Africa change as more African nations gained independence?

19. Do you think the more international focus (rather than solely focused on domestic issues) of black activism in the 1940s was a wise strategic choice for African Americans? Explain.