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On Saturday, March 13th, 2004, local and African continental women and men held a Teach-In to celebrate the United Nations Human Rights Day—a day to eliminate apartheid, racism and all forms of constitutional and legal discrimination based on homophobia, xenophobia and religious bigotry by member countries and especially founding nations like the Republic of South Africa (RSA) and the United States of America (USA). The gathering, called "the African Continental Advocacy," was sponsored by Azania Heritage International (AHI), an intercontinental organization linking Africans in Africa with those in the Diaspora around the world and held on the campus of Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA. Participants specifically honored "the Sharpeville S/Heroes—69 nonviolent demonstrators who were brutally shot by the then Union of (White) South Africa paramilitary forces," stated AHI founder, Mongezi Sefika wa Nkomo. "The United Nations Day of March 21 is universally acknowledged as a Human Rights Day, especially based on the sacrifices of African Continentals to repossess their land and reaffirm their humanity under the then neo-Fascist and neo-Nazi regime of South Africa. Today, we are consolidating the African Heritage by building non-racialist bridges of solidarity to support our common fight for justice, peace democracy and prosperity," he said. Dr. Dennis Brutus exhorted those gathered to fight alongside other movements who share common goals—such as the Palestine Solidarity Organization and the World Social Forum. All of us are fighting to promote affordable housing and transportation, and to bring an end to war, police brutality and capital punishment. He proposed drafting a declaration supporting the leadership of the democratically elected President of Haiti, Jean Baptiste Aristide, and calling on the United Nations to invite Aristide to address them in person. Finally, Brutus encouraged everyone to participate in the March 20 world-wide demonstration to end the US occupation of Iraq and to bring American troops home. Brutus is a citizen of the Republic of South Africa and Professor Emeritus of Africana Studies at University of Pittsburgh. Prof. Chiseko Mike Matambanadzo of Slippery Rock University addressed the issue of Black Nationalism, White Nationalism and the tragic results of collaborationism in the formation of a Democratic South Africa in 1994. "Black South Africans are worse off today than they were in 1994 because the African National Congress (ANC) allowed White Nationalism to dominate the Conference on Democratic South Africa negotiations," Matambanadzo said. Dr Jean-Jacques Sene, Professor of History at La Roche College, encouraged listeners to value the Afrocentric perspective developed by Cheikh Anta Diop, which is still being attacked today but which will play a vital role in uniting and inspiring Africans around the world. Dr. Uhuru Hotep, Associate Director of the Weber Learning Skills Center and the Spiritan Division of Academic Programs at Duquesne University, urged participants to promote the development of "intergenerational, family-based enterprises" which meet the basic human needs of food, clothing, shelter, education, medication and self-defense. He urged that we cannot depend upon international Capitalism to provide jobs and training. "African people must take control of their own mineral wealth," he asserted. "Whoever controls the mineral wealth of Africa controls the 21st Century. Africans now have an opportunity to lead the world toward a New Order based upon peace, justice and truth." - Jeff Cummings For more information about Azania Heritage International, contact Mongezi at mnkomo@hotmail.com or 412-362-9998. |