The Congress of African People
History of the Congress of African People
Following the assassination of Malcolm X, Amiri Baraka began working on Malcolm X's idea of modernizing black nationalism by creating a black united front that appealed to the various black social and political groups at the time. Baraka wanted to create a movement that would lead to a black political party strong enough to challenge the primarily white political landscape. After struggling to build an effective political group in Harlem, Baraka returned to Newark, New Jersey in 1967, where he helped create the United Brothers, an organization aiming towards a union between the various black organizations in the city. With the United Brothers, Baraka worked towards organizing black voter registration and bringing a black nationalist leader to power in the upcoming Newark election. In order to do this, the United Brothers helped establish the Committee for a Unified Newark, which was responsible for organizing the political activities among black organizations in the area. In 1970, the CFUN and United Brothers succeeded in electing Kenneth Gibson as the first black mayor of Newark. From the CFUN grew the creation of the Congress of African People, which would serve as a national organization built towards establishing a black political party that would appeal to the majority of the black population. From Newark, the Congress of African People spread to Brooklyn, San Diego, Baltimore, Atlanta, and several other locations in the United States. Just as was done in Newark, the Congress of African People was able to bring several black politicians into mayoral positions. In 1972, Baraka was elected as the chairman of the Congress of African People. Under Baraka's leadership, the Congress of African People was instrumental in developing black-owned or operated institutions ranging from companies to schools, allowing the organization to work towards building a united community.
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References:
1. Frazier, Robeson Taj P. “The Congress of African People: Baraka, Brother Mao, and the Year of '74.” Souls, 8:3, 142-159. Taylor & Francis, 2006, www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10999940600882947?scroll=top&needAccess=true.
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Below are two of Baraka's works published by Jihad Productions that pertain to the Congress of African People, A Black Value System and Beginning of National Movement.
A Black Value System - 1972
A Black Value System essentially serves as an instructional pamphlet designed to teach the audience about the Kawaida, a value system consisting of seven key principles, or Nguzo Saba, and why it is necessary. The seven principles are Umoja (Unity), Kujichagulia (Self-Determination), Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility, Ujamaa (Co-operative Economics), Nia (Purpose), Kuumba (Creativity), and Imani (Faith). Baraka argues that as a whole, the value system is necessary for black people to achieve liberation. According to him, a value system that is stable, clear and singular (directed towards one concrete goal) is needed to build a strong nation. An interesting part of this system is that the principles somewhat act as layers of a tower. They are reliant on one another. Without unity, there cannot be self-determination as there needs to be an internal concept of oneness to make a single will. Without self-determination, there cannot be collective work or responsibility (Ujima), and so on. It is not surprising that unity is the key foundation of this value system as it has been the most recurring theme throughout Baraka's works (see Jihad Productions). Baraka also notes that following this value system gives the audience identity and direction, explaining that the identity is being black and that the direction is nationalism. He then assures that this doctrine will act as the central piece of the Congress of African People as well as the black nationalist movement as a whole (see below).
Beginning of National Movement - 1972
Beginning of National Movement discusses in depth the steps that have been taken, and more importantly, the steps that need to be taken, by the Congress of African People in order to achieve African liberation. Baraka refers to the Black Value System (see above) as instrumental to the creation of a new culture and people. He argues that the key objectives of African liberation are Nationalism, Pan-Africanism, and Socialism, all of which are intertwined with the value system's principles. Baraka then goes on to state that the ultimate goal of the Congress of African People is to eventually create a "Continental African State" by uniting the African masses, and key to this is the principle of unity, which is once again a central component of Baraka's message (see Jihad Productions). He reminds his intended audience, that uniting at a national level is a long-term goal, and that first the Congress of African People must work towards building a powerful black political party in America that is able to fulfill the needs of the black community. Baraka argues that this must be done using four different areas: Public Office, which entails elections and appointments of black politicians and officials, Community Organization, which works towards establishing CAP cadres throughout the U.S. as well as establishing black-owned and operated institutions to unify the community, Alliance and Coalitions, which consists of forming relations with other black and minority organizations, and Disruption, which is responsible for providing members with combat training.