TransAfrica
Washington, DC, United States
Undated, perhaps July 1981
2 pages
The idea for a foreign policy lobby germinated at the Black Leadership Conference convened by the Congressional Black Caucus on September 25-26, 1976, which included 130 public officials and other leaders from the civil rights movement, business, labor, religion, civic associations, and educational institutions. Because of the absence of Afro-Americans in high-level international affairs positions and neglect of African/Caribbean priorities, these leaders envisioned a new advocacy organization. In 1979, TransAfrica was successful not only with the retention of the sanctions against Rhodesia but also with securing lower tariffs on imported Jamaican rum. In 1980, Zimbabwe gained independence...
The idea for a foreign policy lobby germinated at the Black Leadership Conference convened by the Congressional Black Caucus on September 25-26, 1976, which included 130 public officials and other leaders from the civil rights movement, business, labor, religion, civic associations, and educational institutions. Because of the absence of Afro-Americans in high-level international affairs positions and neglect of African/Caribbean priorities, these leaders envisioned a new advocacy organization. In 1979, TransAfrica was successful not only with the retention of the sanctions against Rhodesia but also with securing lower tariffs on imported Jamaican rum. In 1980, Zimbabwe gained independence after a seven-year guerilla war and the United Nations mandated economic sanctions. TransAfrica observer Cynthia Cannady had reported on that transition of power. In the fall, the focus was on the retention of the Clark amendment, the restriction on U.S. covert aid to anti-government forces in Angola. TransAfrica hosted a Southern Africa conference featuring Oliver Tambo, President of the African National Congress, and Moses Garoeb of the South West African Peoples’ Organization (SWAPO).
Angola
Namibia
South Sudan
Zimbabwe
English
text/pdf
Digitized by Columbia College Archives & Special Collections.
Used by permission of TransAfrica.
