PAN-AFRICANISM featuring HASSAN ALI | THE MUSLIM STREET
Pan-Africanism is more than a word. It is more than a flag, a chant, or a style of dress. It is a powerful idea—one that says Black people across the world are not broken, scattered pieces of history, but one people with one future. This movement, born out of resistance and hope, seeks to reconnect us with our roots in Africa—also known by its ancient name, Al-Kebulon. Pan-Africanism reminds us that Africa is not just a land of poverty and struggle. It is a land of wealth, knowledge, and strength, stolen and hidden from us by those who fear our unity.
The world powers have always feared strong Black unity. When we speak of Pan-Africanism, we speak of breaking chains—mental, economic, and political. From the days of slavery to today’s broken school systems, there has been a clear effort to keep Black people divided, misinformed, and ashamed of Africa. But why? Because when we unite as Africans, no matter where we live, we become unstoppable. Our talents, our creativity, and our strength are global, and when we move as one, we shake systems built to keep us down.
Pan-Africanism is not about hate. It is about love—for ourselves, for our people, and for the land we were taken from or taught to forget. It is a deep and honest push to repair the damage done by slavery, colonization, and lies. Many people have been taught that Africa has nothing to offer. Meanwhile, other nations—China, Turkey, Lebanon, the U.K., and even America—are in Africa right now, building businesses, making deals, and taking resources. They know Africa’s value. The question is: Why don’t we?
There is a dangerous game being played. Black Americans are told Africa is backward, violent, and poor. African children are told Black Americans are lazy, angry, and lawless. These lies keep us apart. And while we fight each other or ignore each other, other nations are getting rich off our motherland. This is no accident. The school system, the media, and even some churches have played a part in spreading this anti-African mindset. It is done on purpose to keep Pan-Africanism from growing.
We must ask ourselves: Who loses if Pan-Africanism wins? The answer is clear—those who profit off our division. The ones who have built wealth from slavery, colonization, and exploitation fear the day we see ourselves clearly. Because when that day comes, we will stop begging for seats at their tables and start building our own empires, across oceans, connected by blood and purpose.
The Body
Pan-Africanism began in the late 1800s and early 1900s, as Black thinkers and activists began to see the bigger picture. Men like W.E.B. Du Bois, Marcus Garvey, and Kwame Nkrumah understood that Black people everywhere faced the same enemy—white supremacy, colonialism, and racism. They believed that freedom for one group of Black people meant nothing unless all were free. So they worked to build bridges between Africans in Africa and those in the diaspora—meaning Black people in the Americas, the Caribbean, and beyond.
Marcus Garvey’s “Back to Africa” movement in the 1920s wasn’t just about leaving America. It was about building a world where Black people could live in dignity, control their land, own their businesses, and raise their children without fear. Garvey’s message was powerful. It scared those in power. That’s why they worked so hard to destroy his movement. They jailed him, called him a fraud, and erased his work from schoolbooks. Why? Because he was waking up millions of Black people.
Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first president, was another Pan-African giant. He invited Black leaders from all over the world to Ghana. He wanted Africa to unite, just like Europe had done. But Western powers didn’t like that. They feared a united Africa would stop giving away its gold, oil, diamonds, and land for cheap. Nkrumah was overthrown, and to this day, Africa is full of leaders who serve Western interests instead of their own people. Pan-Africanism was attacked at every level.
Even today, Pan-African voices are silenced. When Black Americans speak proudly of Africa, they are mocked. When African leaders speak of unity, they are labeled dangerous. Meanwhile, other races build homes, businesses, and empires in Africa without fear or shame. They see Africa as a land of opportunity, while Black people are taught to run from it. This is no accident. It is a planned system to keep us disconnected and weak.
The truth is, Pan-Africanism threatens the global system that profits from Black pain. It stands against white supremacy, global greed, and political lies. It teaches us that we are not minorities. We are part of the largest, most resource-rich family on Earth. It reminds us that our bloodline is ancient, our minds are brilliant, and our time is now. But to fully embrace it, we must unlearn what they taught us and relearn who we are.
The Path Forward
If we want to strengthen Pan-Africanism, we must first educate ourselves. That means reading books, watching documentaries, and listening to the voices of Pan-African leaders past and present. We must teach our children that Africa is not to be feared or laughed at—but loved, studied, and visited. The truth about Africa is powerful, and once we know it, the lies lose their power.
We also need to connect with our African brothers and sisters. That means building real relationships, not just through business but through culture, art, education, and conversation. The more we talk and listen to each other, the more we destroy the false images planted in our minds. Social media, travel, and trade are ways we can rebuild the bridge that was burned during slavery and colonization.
It is time for Black Americans to see ourselves as part of something bigger. We are not just fighting police brutality or bad schools. We are part of a global fight for Black freedom and dignity. And Africa is not separate from that fight. It is the center of it. That is why others are in Africa right now, getting rich while pushing us away from it. We must reverse that trend.
Supporting Pan-African businesses, media, schools, and organizations is also key. We must invest in ourselves. We cannot wait for others to build our future. Pan-Africanism is not just a dream. It is a blueprint. It is a plan to lift ourselves up by standing together across the world. But we must be serious. We must be organized. We must stop falling for distractions.
Finally, we must remember: Pan-Africanism is not a trend. It is a calling. It is a spiritual and political duty to our ancestors, to our children, and to ourselves. It is how we become whole again. And the time is now. No more waiting. No more begging. No more fear. Let us rise together, as one people, under one vision, with one voice. The world has used Africa long enough. Now it is time for Africa—and her children—to rise.
