UnAfrican Americans: Nineteenth-Century Black Nationalists and the Civilizing Mission

Though many scholars will acknowledge the Anglo-Saxon character of black American nationalism, few have dealt with the imperialistic ramifications of this connection. Now, Nigerian-born scholar Tunde Adeleke reexamines nineteenth-century black American nationalism, finding not only that it embodied the racist and paternalistic values of Euro-American culture but also that nationalism played an active role in justifying Europe\u27s intrusion into Africa. Adeleke looks at the life and work of Martin Delany, Alexander Crummell, and Harry McNeal Turner, demonstrating that as supporters of the mission civilisatrice ( civilizing mission ) these men helped lay the foundation for the colonization of Africa. By exposing the imperialistic character of nineteenth-century black American nationalism, Adeleke reveals a deep historical and cultural divide between Africa and the black diaspora. Black American nationalists had a clear preference--Euro-America over Africa--and their plans were not designed for the immediate benefit of Africans but to enhance their own fortunes. Arguing that these men held a strong desire for cultural affinity with Europe, Adeleke makes a controversial addition to the ongoing debate concerning the roots of black nationalism and Pan-Africanism. Tunde Adeleke is associate professor of history and director of Africana Studies at Loyola University. An interesting treatment of black nationalism in the U.S. —Booklist His thesis is certain to stir controvery and cause a rethinking of the African diaspora. —Choice An important and pioneering book that will change the way American historians think about nineteenth-century black nationalism. . . . One of the most powerful rethinkings of black American nationalism that has been written in the past thirty years. —Clarence Walker The strength of UnAfrican Americans is its author\u27s frank presentation of the anti-African, or civilizationalist, face of its subjects. —H-NET Book Review Lays bare, in provocative ways, some of the more troubling aspects of nineteenth-century black nationalism. —Journal of American History In this fine exploration of the ‘double consciousness’ of the ‘golden age’ of black American nationalism, historian Tunde Adeleke makes an important contribution to the project to correct the monolithic perception of black nationalism as a counter culture movement fundamentally opposed to racial oppression. —Journal of Intercultural Studies Passionate and well written, Adeleke\u27s stunning reexamination of three 19th-century African Americans is bound to be controversial. With fresh lucid prose and wry wit, he brings to light the historic ironies and philosophical hypocrisies that continue to shape African and African American lives. —Publishers Weekly He argues 19th century African Americans were no different than Euro-Americans: They wanted to colonize Africa and to establish a black homeland, but if established, this homeland would be based upon European, not African, civilization. —The Griothttps://uknowledge.uky.edu/upk_african_american_studies/1021/thumbnail.jp

In the Service of God and Humanity

"Martin R. Delany (1812–1885) was one of the leading and most influential Black activists and nationalists in American history. His ideas have inspired generations of activists and movements, including Booker T. Washington in the late nineteenth century, Marcus Garvey in the early 1920s, Malcolm X and Black Power in 1960s, and even today's Black Lives Matter. Extant scholarship on Delany has focused largely on his Black nationalist and Pan-Africanist ideas. Tunde Adeleke argues that there is so much more about Delany to appreciate. In the Service of God and Humanity reveals and analyzes Delany's contributions to debates and discourses about strategies for elevating Black people and improving race relations in the nineteenth century. Adeleke examines Delany's view of Blacks as Americans who deserved the same rights and privileges accorded Whites. While he spent the greater part of his life pursuing racial equality, his vision for America was much broader. Adeleke argues that Delany was a quintessential humanist who envisioned a social order in which everyone, regardless of race, felt validated and empowered. Through close readings of the discourse of Delany's humanist visions and aspirations, Adeleke illuminates many crucial but undervalued aspects of his thought. He discusses the strategies Delany espoused in his quest to universalize America's most cherished of values—life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness—and highlights his ideological contributions to the internal struggles to reform America. The breadth and versatility of Delany's thought become more evident when analyzed within the context of his American-centered aspirations. In the Service of God and Humanity reveals a complex man whose ideas straddled many complicated social, political, and cultural spaces, and whose voice continues to speak to America today.

In the Service of God and Humanity: Conscience, Reason, and the Mind of Martin R. Delany

Martin R. Delany (1812–1885) was one of the leading and most influential Black activists and nationalists in American history. His ideas have inspired generations of activists and movements, including Booker T. Washington in the late nineteenth century, Marcus Garvey in the early 1920s, Malcolm X and Black Power in 1960s, and even today\u27s Black Lives Matter. Extant scholarship on Delany has focused largely on his Black nationalist and Pan-Africanist ideas. Tunde Adeleke argues that there is so much more about Delany to appreciate. In the Service of God and Humanity reveals and analyzes Delany\u27s contributions to debates and discourses about strategies for elevating Black people and improving race relations in the nineteenth century. Adeleke examines Delany\u27s view of Blacks as Americans who deserved the same rights and privileges accorded Whites. While he spent the greater part of his life pursuing racial equality, his vision for America was much broader. Adeleke argues that Delany was a quintessential humanist who envisioned a social order in which everyone, regardless of race, felt validated and empowered. Through close readings of the discourse of Delany\u27s humanist visions and aspirations, Adeleke illuminates many crucial but undervalued aspects of his thought. He discusses the strategies Delany espoused in his quest to universalize America\u27s most cherished of values—life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness—and highlights his ideological contributions to the internal struggles to reform America. The breadth and versatility of Delany\u27s thought become more evident when analyzed within the context of his American-centered aspirations. In the Service of God and Humanity reveals a complex man whose ideas straddled many complicated social, political, and cultural spaces, and whose voice continues to speak to America today.https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/uscpress_pub/1000/thumbnail.jp

Impact of Charcoal Production on the Sustainable Development of Asa Local Government Area, Kwara State, Nigeria

This study examines the impact of charcoal production on the sustainable development of Asa Local Government Area of Kwara State, Nigeria. Specifically, it examines the method of production of charcoal, identifies the basis for involvement in charcoal production; analyzes the socio-economic impact of charcoal on rural well-being and the perception of the inhabitants of the study area on the impact of charcoal production on the environment. One hundred and fifty copies of questionnaire were administered to obtain the opinions of the respondents on the impact of charcoal production on their welfare. Focus Group Discussions and interviews were conducted on the inhabitants and producers to explore their views on method of production and the effects on their health and environment respectively. Descriptive statistical techniques were employed to analyze the gathered data. The study revealed significant negative impact of charcoal production on the ecology of the study area. Legislation on afforestation and reforestation should be enforced on people both at the study area and the country at large. Development of energy-saving meters and solar cookers should be encouraged. Furthermore, the society should be enlightened through media, visual display and jingles on the impacts of environmental degradation on human health and biodiversity.Key words: Degradation, Climate Change, Ecosystem, Health and Environmen

Fuel Characterization of Agro-wastes and Briquettes Produced from Rice Husk, Groundnut Shell and Corncob Blends

The choice of agro waste for the production of briquettes for domestic and industrial cottage utilization depends on the residues’ physical and fuel characteristics. This study investigate the physical and fuel characteristics for both the residues and blends of rice hull, groundnut shell and corncob. The residues were subjected to size reduction process and variance analysis was used to establish the influence of each sample blends.  Different samples of briquettes were produced by blending rice hull (R), groundnut shell (G) and corncob(C) with different ratios of R:G:C respectively using cassava starch as a binder. The residue’ dimensions and densifications of the sample briquettes were determined using standard methods.The results revealed the following ranges of values; For the compressed residues, density (0.075 - 0.099Kg/m3), volume (0.001 - 0.002m3), height (1.0357 - 1.0343m). For the relaxed residues, density (0.049 - 0.210Kg/m3), volume (0.0001 -0.0002m3), height (1.0357 - 1.0343m). The residual density of rice hull, groundnut shell and corncob are 104, 105, and 103 (Kg/m3) respectively. The densification; compressed density (461.22 - 627.24 Kg/m3), relaxed density (285.47 - 393.63 Kg/m3), density ratio (0.56 - 0.66), relaxation ratio (1.52 - 1.79), and compaction ratio (1.46 to 2.01). Blend formulations affected the combustion characteristics of the briquettes, with low moisture briquettes possessing higher calorific values. The briquette formulation containing ratio 50:20:30 of rice hull: groundnut shell: corncob respectively had more positive attributes of biomass fuel such as lower relaxation ratio and high compaction ratio than the control and other formulated briquettes in this study. Generally, significant (p<0.05) differences existed between the samples in almost all the parameters.Keywords: Briquettes, Corn comb, Densification, Fuel Characterization, Groundnut shell, Rice hull

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

In the Service of God and Humanity

"Martin R. Delany (1812–1885) was one of the leading and most influential Black activists and nationalists in American history. His ideas have inspired generations of activists and movements, including Booker T. Washington in the late nineteenth century, Marcus Garvey in the early 1920s, Malcolm X and Black Power in 1960s, and even today's Black Lives Matter. Extant scholarship on Delany has focused largely on his Black nationalist and Pan-Africanist ideas. Tunde Adeleke argues that there is so much more about Delany to appreciate. In the Service of God and Humanity reveals and analyzes Delany's contributions to debates and discourses about strategies for elevating Black people and improving race relations in the nineteenth century. Adeleke examines Delany's view of Blacks as Americans who deserved the same rights and privileges accorded Whites. While he spent the greater part of his life pursuing racial equality, his vision for America was much broader. Adeleke argues that Delany was a quintessential humanist who envisioned a social order in which everyone, regardless of race, felt validated and empowered. Through close readings of the discourse of Delany's humanist visions and aspirations, Adeleke illuminates many crucial but undervalued aspects of his thought. He discusses the strategies Delany espoused in his quest to universalize America's most cherished of values—life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness—and highlights his ideological contributions to the internal struggles to reform America. The breadth and versatility of Delany's thought become more evident when analyzed within the context of his American-centered aspirations. In the Service of God and Humanity reveals a complex man whose ideas straddled many complicated social, political, and cultural spaces, and whose voice continues to speak to America today.

Constructing a Dual Cultural Space: Protests and Adaptations in Nineteenth Century Black American Nationalism

Cet article examine la façon dont les principaux nationalistes noirs du dix-neuvième siècle ont réagi aux défis posés par l’aliénation aux États-Unis en construisant un paysage culturel double qui reflétait à la fois leur rejet de la construction eurocentrique dominante de l’histoire et de la société et les concessions qu’ils faisaient à cette construction. Comme on refusait de leur accorder, à l’intérieur des États-Unis, la place adéquate qui leur aurait conféré un pouvoir et leur aurait permis de se construire, les nationalistes noirs ont tenté à la fois de restructurer l’espace américain et de reconstruire le paysage culturel africain en guise d’alternative compensatoire. En conséquence, ils ont construit un espace double qui leur a permis de revendiquer leur affinité avec l’Amérique tout en se distançant de l’Afrique

Exilic Pan-Africanism: Refocusing Kwame Nkrumah’s Conakry Years, 1966–1971

This article looks at the years spent by Kwame Nkrumah in forced exile after the military coup in Ghana 1966 ousted him from power. Looking at his letters in combination with Nkrumah’s own published writings of the time, the Conakry years turn out to be pivotal moments in the evolution and maturation of Nkrumah’s revolutionary philosophizing. Critical examination and analysis of this phase provide clearer insights into the complexities and ambiguities of Nkrumah’s thinking, and deeper understanding of the blueprints he developed for Africa’s leadership of the global struggles of oppressed humanity. The article is structured according to the three themes which dominated Nkrumah’s Conakry years: First, ideas about how to regain what was lost in Ghana; second, mapping out blueprints and strategies for the leadership role Africa would assume in the global revolution; and third, responses to, and realigning with, the expanding and problematic diaspora contexts of the struggle