Pan African Association


The African Association, known as the Pan-African Association after 1900, was an organization formed by leaders of African descent to "promote and protect the interests of all subjects claiming African descent, wholly or in part, in British colonies and other place, especially Africa, by circulating accurate information on all subjects affecting their rights and privileges as subjects of the British Empire, by direct appeals to the Imperial and local Governments." Henry Sylvester Williams initiated the creation of the African Association, which was formalized on 14 September 1897, at its headquarters in London, England. The Association is best known for organizing the First Pan-African Conference, which took place in London in July 1900.

Goals

The African Association initially focused on providing information on rights and privileges for Africans who were subjects of the British Empire. Recognizing the need for an inclusion of African individuals on a global scale, the association shifted its aspirations in 1899, establishing itself as an international association to promote the rights of Africans across the world, rather than just the British Empire. The African Association listed its goals:
  1. Promote unity
  2. Improve relations amongst Africans
  3. Promote the interests of Africans
  4. Circulate information to teach Africans about their rights and privileges
  5. Inform the British public about occurrences in other parts of the world
  6. Inform people of, and potentially change laws for blacks in South Africa

    Development

Early formation

Liberation leaders and activists recognized the need for an international association to unite anti-imperialist and black liberation efforts across nations. To this end, Henry Sylvester Williams, a Trinidadian lawyer, recognized the need to focus on educating the British public. He believed the British public was unaware of the sub-standard treatment of people of colour throughout the Empire, and sought to rectify this via the formation of the association. Williams sought to establish the association in London, as the city had become the locus of anti-imperialist movements, activism, and organization. Despite the comparatively progressive character of metropolitan London, white sympathizers advised against the founding of the African Association, claiming that black people were not capable of forming independent political organisations. Because of this conflict, active membership was restricted to black people but “white” individuals could become honorary members.
In addition to general desire for the African Association, contemporary political events spurred its creation. The founders argued that British colonial governments were creating a "new form of slavery" in Zanzibar and East Africa. A letter from A. Kinlock, printed in The Friend, the journal of the Society of Friends, on 22 October 1897, suggested that the association may have taken conditions in South Africa into account as well.

First meeting

Little is known about the initial public meeting of the African Association except for brief mentions of its establishment in newspapers and the reports of the other groups. The meeting was organized sometime between September and November 1897 at Exeter Hall, London.
Members were mainly from the Caribbean and West Africa, and included religious leaders, political activists, teachers, and writers. Several women were also members, though they were titled as honorary members.

Political agenda

The association's second public meeting was held on 11 January 1898, again at Exeter Hall. After this meeting, the association quickly began work on their political agenda. In March 1898, Williams and Reverend Mason Joseph sought to interview the then Secretary of State for the Colonies, Joseph Chamberlain at the Colonial Office on two separate occasions. Both requests were rejected. A Memorial, written after the first rejection, suggested changes for the sugar industry in British West Indies, advocating for small businesses to reap a greater profit and for the greater exploitation of the ‘geographical resources of the West India Colonies. It also demanded strong measures against monopolies, supported better education, and measures to finance new farmers. Moreover, it aimed to lessen the cost of transferring land which Williams and Joseph argued was preventing people from acquiring Crown land. Minutes from the Parliament indicates this Memorial had been circulated among several members of parliament, as some had questioned Chamberlain on these issues. Nevertheless, no action was taken.
The Association held its annual general meeting on 25 October 1898. There, the Association published its first annual report and adopted two resolutions. One called for the British government to “meet the needs of the depressed condition of the islands,” and protect “the rights of Native African races brought under British rule and to protect their interests from the caprices of the Chartered Companies.” The other urged the establishment of Association branches in different colonies of the British Empire.
On another occasion, the Association took up the issue of the displaying of Africans as part of shows. Notably, another petition also reached Wilhem II, the German Emperor, concerning similar issues and widening the Association's advocacy beyond Great Britain.
By early 1900, the association changed its office space from Gray's Inn to 139 Palace Chambers, 9 Bridge Street, London SW, and adopted the new name The Pan African Conference Committee.

Publicity

During 1898, Williams traveled extensively lecturing, establishing contacts, and increasing support. He met with members of the Aborigines Protection Society, the Anti-Slavery Society, the South Place Ethical Society, the Liberal Party, Society of Friends and the Unitarians. The list of the honorary members expanded to include another MP, more religious leaders, and women. The Association established its first American contact, D. Augustus Straker.
In addition to organizations and societies, Williams and the association maintained contact with several black leaders, including Booker T. Washington. Together they attended one of the annual general meetings of the APS, where they challenged Albert Grey, a member of the board of the British South Africa Company, about the conditions of native African population. With the help of Washington's articles in various newspapers, the African Association became better known.

First Pan-African Conference

Much of the Association's work and Williams’ travels were dedicated to publicizing and organizing the First Pan-African Conference, which took place in London in July 1900. In articles advertising the Conference, supporters of the African Association totalled 87 in England, 37 in Scotland, and 28 in Dublin. The Pan-African Conference marked the beginnings of the "Pan-African" global political movement that would emerge.
The First Pan-African Conference faced financial difficulties but managed to get by with support from a few wealthy members. Williams expected Washington, or at least his representative, to attend the conference. However, Washington could not attend, about which Williams, in his correspondence, expressed regret; Washington nevertheless continued to help Williams publicize the Conference. While in London, he attended several preparatory meetings and helped craft the programme for the Conference, which covered "existing conditions, slavery, progress, African history, demands for 'Europe's atonement for wrongs' and the 'organised plunder' of Europeans".

The Pan-African Association

On the last day of conference, 25 July 1900, the African Association changed its name to Pan-African Association. It also changed its objective:
civil and political rights for Africans and their descendants throughout the world; to encourage friendly relations between the Caucasian and African races; to encourage African people everywhere in educational, industrial and commercial enterprise; to approach Governments and influence legislation in the interests of the black races; and to amelio rate the condition of the oppressed negro in all parts of the world.
The permanent office changed to Room 416, 61–2 Chancery Lane, in central London. Additionally, the Association created a bureau to collect information, data, and statistics on the conditions of Africans around the world. Branches in Africa, the West Indies, and the United States were established, and a general meeting was to be organized every two years, first in the U.S., then Haiti.
Other resolutions were passed in addition to the name change. One emphasizes an integral part of the Anti-Slavery Society's works with the PAA’s vision. Another delivered the Association's "sincerest gratitude by the Native Races and Liquor Traffic United Committee" in prohibiting the traffic of liquors among native Africans. A memorial was sent to Queen Victoria, requesting “more civilised” measures against the social conditions for the natives in South Africa.
A sub-committee headed by W. E. B. Du Bois drafted the "Address to the Nations of the World", which called on European leaders to struggle against racism and disenfranchisement and protect the right to self-government for African populations. It criticized conditions experienced by Africans in "the US, the colonies ruled by France and Germany, and the Congo Free State, as well as Abyssinia, , and Liberia, and the 'independent tribes of Africa. The draft included the famous line:
The problem of the 20th century is the problem of the colour-line — the question as to how far differences of race which show themselves chiefly in the colour of the skin and the texture of the hair are going to be made hereafter the basis of denying to over half the world the right of sharing to their utmost ability the opportunities and privileges of modern civilisation.