Pan African Association
Henry Sylvester Williams initiated the creation of the African Association, which was formalized on 14 September 1897, at its headquarters in London, England.
He believed the British public was unaware of the sub-standard treatment of people of colour throughout the Empire, and sought to rectify this via the formation of the association.
[1]: 244 Despite the comparatively progressive character of metropolitan London, white sympathizers advised against the founding of the African Association, claiming that black people were not capable of forming independent political organisations.
Notably, another petition also reached Wilhem II, the German Emperor, concerning similar issues and widening the Association's advocacy beyond Great Britain.
[2]: 61 By early 1900, the association changed its office space from Gray's Inn to 139 Palace Chambers, 9 Bridge Street, London SW, and adopted the new name The Pan African Conference Committee (PAC).
[2]: 13 In addition to organizations and societies, Williams and the association maintained contact with several black leaders, including Booker T. Washington.
Together they attended one of the annual general meetings of the APS, where they challenged Albert Grey, a member of the board of the British South Africa Company, about the conditions of native African population.
Much of the Association's work and Williams’ travels were dedicated to publicizing and organizing the First Pan-African Conference, which took place in London in July 1900.
While in London, he attended several preparatory meetings and helped craft the programme for the Conference, which covered "existing conditions, slavery, progress, African history, demands for 'Europe's atonement for wrongs' and the 'organised plunder' of Europeans".
[2]: 92 Additionally, the Association created a bureau to collect information, data, and statistics on the conditions of Africans around the world.
[5]: 23 Branches in Africa, the West Indies, and the United States were established, and a general meeting was to be organized every two years, first in the U.S., then Haiti.
Du Bois drafted the "Address to the Nations of the World", which called on European leaders to struggle against racism and disenfranchisement and protect the right to self-government for African populations.
[2]: 92 It criticized conditions experienced by Africans in "the US, the colonies ruled by France and Germany, and the Congo Free State, as well as Abyssinia, [Haiti], and Liberia, and the 'independent tribes of Africa.
'"[4]: 192 The draft included the famous line:The problem of the 20th century is the problem of the colour-line — the question as to how far differences of race which show themselves chiefly in the colour of the skin and the texture of the hair are going to be made hereafter the basis of denying to over half the world the right of sharing to their utmost ability the opportunities and privileges of modern civilisation.
However, there were immediate disagreements, especially between Williams and the then Acting Governor, Sydney Olivier, who claimed that black people in Jamaica were not oppressed:[The] Negro race in Africa is far back in the race for progress and needs help to bring them up in line with their more fortunate brethren in the West Indies and in America who had been considerably elevated by being brought into close touch with the white races.”[2]: 106 After two months in Jamaica, Williams departed for Trinidad.
[2]: 110 In this meeting, Williams announced the Queen's and Chamberlain's promises, demanded further provisions from the states on behalf of the PAA, and advocated for the rights and privileges for Trinidadians as full British subjects.
In mid-July, Williams departed for the United States, where, despite a large African-American population, he and the PAA were not able to harness as much enthusiasm as in the West Indies.
"[6]: 95 Colenso disapproved of Williams “[taking] policy decisions or making constitutional changes without reference to other committee members or to officers.”[6]: 95 Furthermore, while bearing the title of "Pan-African", the PAA advocated solely for conditions of the native African populations in British colonies and protectorate.
The conferences and meetings organized by the Association helped to create transnational links between activists of African descent.
[2]: 122, 123 The branch continued to petition the British government in the hopes that King Edward would extend the political rights of colonial subjects.
