1969 – Stokely Carmichael Addresses Pan-African Congress

On May 13, 1969, Stokely Carmichael (Kwame Ture), a leading voice in the global Black Power movement, addressed the Pan-African Cultural Festival in Algiers. His speech centered on international Black unity, decolonization, and the rejection of imperialism. Carmichael connected the civil rights struggle in the U.S. with liberation movements across Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin America. He urged solidarity among oppressed peoples and emphasized that freedom must be built on cultural pride and political independence. His appearance in Algeria, then a hub for revolutionaries from around the world, elevated the global scope of Black activism. Carmichael’s message influenced a generation of Pan-Africanists, from the African National Congress (ANC) to the Caribbean’s New Jewel Movement. May 13 stands as a powerful reminder of the global intersections in the fight against racism, colonialism, and economic exploitation.