Tag: africa

From Stokely to Kwame: The Revolutionary Journey of a Black Power Prophet

October 24, 2025

By Charles Zackary King
Changing Trends and Times | America in Black and White

In the story of Black liberation, few names echo with as much fire and clarity as Stokely Carmichael, later known as Kwame Ture. His life was a masterclass in transformation: from immigrant child to civil rights warrior, from SNCC chairman to global Pan-Africanist. His journey was not just political, it was spiritual, cultural, and unapologetically Black.

Origins: From Trinidad to the Bronx

Born June 29, 1941, in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, Stokely Standiford Churchill Carmichael immigrated to Harlem at age 11 to reunite with his parents. Raised by his grandmother and aunts, he arrived in the U.S. with sharp intellect and sharper instincts. He later attended the prestigious Bronx High School of Science, where he began questioning the racial and social structures around him.

Awakening at Howard University

Carmichael enrolled at Howard University in 1960, studying philosophy and absorbing the teachings of professors like Sterling Brown and Toni Morrison. But it was outside the classroom, in the streets and churches of the South, that his activism took root. He joined the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and became a Freedom Rider, risking his life to desegregate interstate travel.

Black Power Rises

By 1966, Carmichael had become chairman of SNCC, succeeding John Lewis. That same year, during a march in Mississippi, he delivered the rallying cry that would define a generation:

“What we want is Black Power.”
This slogan wasn’t just rhetoric, it was a demand for self-determination, racial pride, and political autonomy. Carmichael’s stance marked a shift from integrationist strategies to radical resistance, challenging both white supremacy and liberal complacency.

What Mattered Most: Liberation Over Assimilation

For Carmichael, the Civil Rights fight was never just about access, it was about ownership. He believed that integration, as framed by white society, often meant assimilation into systems that were fundamentally anti-Black. What mattered most to him was:

  • Black control over Black communities—from schools and housing to policing and economics.
  • Political independence—building all-Black political organizations like the Lowndes County Freedom Organization.
  • Economic justice—shaking the foundations of exploitation and demanding reparative systems.
  • Cultural pride—rejecting the notion that whiteness was the standard and embracing African heritage unapologetically.
  • Global solidarity—connecting the Black struggle in America to liberation movements in Africa, the Caribbean, and beyond.

He once wrote:

“For racism to die, a totally different America must be born.”
This wasn’t a call for reform, it was a call for revolution.

The Name Change: Kwame Ture

In 1969, Carmichael left the U.S. and settled in Guinea, West Africa, alongside his then-wife, South African singer Miriam Makeba. There, he adopted the name Kwame Ture—a tribute to Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana and Sékou Touré of Guinea, two titans of Pan-Africanism.
The name change was more than symbolic. It marked a rebirth—a rejection of colonial identity and an embrace of African unity, revolutionary socialism, and global Black consciousness.

Building Pan-African Futures

In Guinea, Ture co-founded the All-African People’s Revolutionary Party (A-APRP), advocating for a united Africa free from imperialism. He traveled extensively, speaking in Cuba, Ghana, and across Europe, always centering the plight of oppressed peoples and the power of collective liberation.

Final Years and Enduring Legacy

Kwame Ture died of prostate cancer on November 15, 1998, in Conakry, Guinea, at age 57. But his voice still reverberates, in classrooms, protests, podcasts, and policy debates. His writings, including Stokely Speaks and Ready for Revolution, remain essential texts for understanding Black resistance and global solidarity.

Why Kwame Ture Still Matters

In today’s climate of racial reckoning and global unrest, Ture’s life offers a roadmap. He taught us that identity is political, that liberation is global, and that Black Power is not a moment, it’s a movement. His transformation from Stokely to Kwame wasn’t just personal, it was prophetic.

The Fire of Freedom: If Sékou Touré Had His Way

October 24, 2025

By Charles Zackary King
Changing Trends and Times | America in Black and White

In the pantheon of Black liberation, President Ahmed Sékou Touré stands as both architect and agitator, a man who dared to dream of an Africa unshackled from colonial chains. As Guinea’s first president, Touré didn’t just lead a nation; he attempted to rewire its soul. But what if his vision had fully taken root? What if Guinea had become the model Pan-African republic he imagined?

Let’s step into that alternate reality.

Guinea Reimagined: Touré’s Dream Realized

Imagine a Guinea where African socialism flourished, not as a reaction to colonial abandonment, but as a proactive blueprint for communal prosperity. In this Guinea:

  • Education is free and Afrocentric, with children learning the legacies of Samori Touré, Nkrumah, and Harriet Tubman alongside math and science.
  • Healthcare is universal, rooted in both modern medicine and indigenous healing traditions.
  • Art and culture are sacred, with griots, dancers, and sculptors honored as national treasures.
  • Women lead, not just in homes but in parliament, academia, and diplomacy.
  • Pan-African unity is tangible, with open borders for African nations, shared currencies, and joint infrastructure projects.
  • Guinea becomes a cultural capital, hosting global festivals of Black art, music, and resistance.

In this version of history, Guinea is not isolated, it’s exalted. Touré’s rejection of neocolonialism inspires a domino effect. Senegal, Mali, Ghana, and Congo follow suit, forming a United States of Africa, with Guinea as its moral compass.

The Real Guinea: Courage and Contradiction

Of course, history took a different path. After Guinea’s bold “No” to France in 1958, Touré faced economic sabotage, diplomatic isolation, and internal dissent. His response was fierce: nationalization, cultural revival, and alignment with socialist allies. But his regime also became authoritarian. Dissenters were imprisoned, and Camp Boiro became a symbol of repression.

Touré’s dream was noble, but his methods, at times, were brutal. The Guinea that emerged was proud, but wounded. Independent, but surveilled.

Why Touré Still Matters

Today, as Black communities worldwide fight for autonomy, dignity, and representation, Touré’s legacy offers both inspiration and caution. His vision of self-reliance, cultural pride, and continental unity remains relevant. His flaws remind us that liberation must be paired with compassion and accountability.

For creatives and advocates like Jean-Patrick Guichard, Touré’s influence is personal. His insistence on cultural sovereignty echoes in every curated exhibit, every community dinner, and every act of legacy-building.

Conclusion: The Fire Still Burns

Touré died in 1984, in Cleveland, Ohio, while undergoing heart surgery. But the fire he lit still burns, in classrooms, galleries, protests, and podcasts. His story is not just history, it’s a mirror, a map, and a challenge.

If Touré had his way, Guinea might have become the heartbeat of a liberated Africa. But even in reality, his defiance carved a path that others still walk. And in that, his legacy lives on.

Mansa Musa: The Legacy of the Lion King of Mali

October 22, 2025

By Charles Zackary King
Founder & CEO, America in Black and White | Blogger, Changing Trends and Times

Introduction

In a world where wealth is often measured by fleeting trends and digital valuations, the story of Mansa Musa stands as a timeless reminder of legacy, leadership, and cultural stewardship. Known as the richest man in recorded history, Musa’s reign over the Mali Empire in the 14th century was not just about gold, it was about vision, education, and the elevation of a people.

The Rise of a Legend

Mansa Musa ascended to power in 1312, inheriting an empire already rich in resources and influence. But under his leadership, Mali expanded its borders, deepened its cultural roots, and became a beacon of prosperity in West Africa. His empire stretched across modern-day Mali, Senegal, Guinea, Mauritania, and parts of Niger—making it one of the largest and most powerful of its time.

Wealth Beyond Imagination

Musa’s wealth was legendary. His empire controlled vast gold mines and taxed trans-Saharan trade routes dealing in salt, ivory, and other commodities. But it was his pilgrimage to Mecca in 1324 that truly stunned the world. Traveling with an entourage of 60,000 people and distributing gold so generously in Cairo that it disrupted the region’s economy for years, Musa’s journey was both a spiritual mission and a global statement.

A Builder of Culture and Faith

Upon returning from Mecca, Mansa Musa invested heavily in Islamic scholarship and architecture. He commissioned the construction of mosques, schools, and libraries—most notably the Djinguereber Mosque in Timbuktu. He invited scholars and architects from across the Muslim world, transforming Timbuktu into a center of learning and culture that would influence generations.

Legacy That Lives On

Mansa Musa died around 1337, but his legacy endures. He proved that African leadership could be visionary, global, and deeply rooted in cultural pride. His story challenges the erasure of African excellence from mainstream narratives and reminds us that wealth is not just material—it’s historical, intellectual, and communal.

Why Mansa Musa Matters Today

In the spirit of America in Black and White and Changing Trends and Times, Mansa Musa’s legacy speaks directly to our mission:

  • Civic education: His governance model emphasized justice, scholarship, and diplomacy.
  • Advocacy: He uplifted his people through infrastructure, faith, and international recognition.
  • Legacy-building: His impact was generational, not transactional.

As we continue to tell stories that empower and enlighten, let Mansa Musa be a reminder: Black history is global history. And legacy is built, not bought.