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GARVEY SPEAKS Issue #39 January 6th, 2008
THE NEGRO & THE AFRICAN
Most of the present leaders of the Negro race are very much obsessed over the term or designation " Negro", just as years ago and even now they were very much provoked over the term "African". Once certain leaders held up their noses against being called "African," in that according to the white man's use of " African, " the African was regarded as a man-eating animal who had no ability, no world view, and no ambition. Even up to now a large number of Negroes still believe this description of the African, so much so, that the great mass of people that lead are in the wilderness as to whether they are to be called Negroes, Africans, Ethiopians, Hamites, Coloured people and a dozen other such names.
It is really sad that a healthy, prepossessing race like the African or Negro race should among its leaders fail to appreciate the real name by which the people may be described, and identified as being separate and distinct from other groups. The term "African" is as healthy and original as nature can make it, but unfortunately the white man has invaded the land of the African and has within recent years so controlled it as to assume of himself the name and title of "African" which brings up the question as to who is the African? The proud unchanging African is the black man that everybody knows. He is a native of Africa, he is the hero of the ages, but according to military and political trend of the domination, we have all kinds of Africans endeavouring to inflict their recognition upon the real African who has not really thought out the seriousness of this change. The African is the man of Africa. He is black in skin. His ethnic origin can never change, but conditions have so enlarged themselves through which scores of millions of his race have been forcibly removed from Africa to other portions of the world, that a more general name has been given and accepted as a description that includes both the African and his descendants abroad, and that term is "Negro". The term "Negro" is descriptive of the race. It is a strong word and it singles out the black man. Whenever anyone uses the term "Negro", others know exactly what or who he means. To use the term "African" to-day is still to leave an impression of doubt as to who you mean, whether it is the South African, the West African, or a member from any other section of the Continent who may not be black. To use the term "Negro" universally marks the man without any difficulty. This is a term that is adopted by progressive movements because it is healthy, it is strong, it explains itself, but like the African of old, there are hundreds of Negro leaders who desire to ignore and look down upon the term "Negro". They fight over the use of the term and devour a tremendous amount of time on this non-essential, whilst opening their ranks to attack from all quarters. We are among those who adopt and hold fast to the use of the term "Negro". There is nothing in it for us to despise but all in it for us to fight for and ennoble. The trouble over the name is not over the name itself but what is made of the name. It would be a good shine if Negro leaders could become sensible and realise that in fighting for the preservation of the Negro race they are engaged in a lofty undertaking much more lofty than to fight for its destruction. As far as we are concerned our battle shall be to strengthen the cause of the Negro everywhere--the African Negro, the American Negro and the West Indian Negro must realise that they are all of one ethnic origin. To be a Negro you must not be coloured, you must be a Negro. When we talk of the coloured races we are talking of something indefinite, but when we talk of the Negro race we have in mind a positive and clear understanding of who we are driving at. The black man has no other name that is recognised to-day than that of "Negro". Everybody thinks of him as such, and only when others desire to deceive and flatter him is he referred to otherwise. The thing for him to do, therefore, is to become proud of his name, to strengthen and dignify it. Like the Aryan he must have pride in his race. Whilst other men are waging a conflict in the world for the ascending of their particular race or group, the Negro must not be backward. He should face the world as he is, make his fight one of solidarity, and not over the foolish suggestions that he is not of this race or that race, and may be called anything. Rprinted from The Blackman February 1939. GARVEY SPEAKS Vol.3  
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