Black Freedom Movements
From anticolonial revolution to #BlackLivesMatter, the fight for freedom, equality, and justice has evolved and continues to evolve in the 21st century.
Black freedom is marched in protest, practiced in politics, and sung in refrain—We Shall Overcome. Whether waved in a flag or strummed on a khalam, the spirit of Black freedom is expressed in many ways. Today, new generations of Black visionaries and dreamers are building upon the legacies of their ancestors to imagine freer futures.
Movements for Black Freedom
Demonstration against Belgium, Democratic Republic of Congo, 1964
Black freedom movements of the late 19th and 20th centuries challenged systemic inequality, fostered solidarity, and forged international networks of resistance.
While these movements held varied ideologies and focused on different issues, they all shared goals of justice and equity for Africans and people of African descent. From the expressions of Négritude to the demands of Black Power, the movements inspired one another and continue to shape contemporary visions of Black liberation.
What Is Pan-Africanism?
W. E. B Du Bois’s invitation to the inaugural Pan-African Conference in 1900
Pan-Africanism is a social, cultural, and political movement that seeks to unite people of African descent worldwide. Originating in the late 1700s as a response to slavery, the movement grew in the late 1800s as a response to European imperialism in Africa.
Various initiatives were inspired by Pan-African ideology, including a series of Pan-African Congresses that brought together activists and leaders from across the African diaspora to collectively strategize for liberation and equality.
The Pan-African Congress
Delegates at the Second Pan-African Congress in Brussels, Belgium, 1921
The Pan-African Conference in 1900 focused on political and intellectual leadership in the African diaspora. This gathering led to additional Pan-African Congresses throughout the 20th century that focused on uniting Africans and people of African descent. Additional conferences addressed issues of colonialism, racial discrimination, and economic exploitation.
Kimbanguism
Anticolonial Religious Movement
Unfinished Conversations participant Rémy Muke, 2022
Simon Kimbangu was a spiritual leader in the Belgian Congo (present-day Democratic Republic of Congo) during the early 20th century. He drew large crowds as he shared spiritual visions and performed healings.
Belgian colonial officials were threatened by Kimbangu’s ministry, which blended Kongo beliefs, Christian doctrine, and Garvey-inspired pan-African ideologies. While authorities attempted to suppress the movement, its anticolonial and liberatory message spread through other parts of Africa. The Kimbanguist faith is still practiced today in churches across the diaspora.
As a part of the Unfinished Conversations oral history initiative, members of the Kimbanguist church shared stories, songs, and memories.
Simon Kimbangu’s struggle—I call it his revolution—was peaceful, because he didn’t use a weapon. His weapon was only the word; his weapon was only the Gospel, his weapon was only the Bible; he was going to use his weapon, which was the word of God. . . . He fought colonialism. He wanted freedom for the Black man.
Rémy Muke, Unfinished Conversations participant, 2023
Black Roots Button
Black freedom movements of the 20th century challenged inequality, fostered solidarity, and forged international networks.
This pinback button reflects the global nature of Black freedom movements. From the expressions of Négritude to the demands of Black Power, these movements continue to shape contemporary visions of Black liberation.
Endam Bilali
Portrait of Aïssata Sy, Endam Bilali member and Unfinished Conversations participant
Unfinished Conversations participant Mamadou Demba Guissé, with khalam, 2020
In Senegal, descendants of formerly enslaved individuals experience social stigmas. Their status is marked by lower societal positions, lack of representation in leadership roles, and unequal interactions with the families of former enslavers.
Today, an association called Endam Bilali is working to end these prejudices. The organization advocates for access to jobs, education, and land, as well as increased political power and religious leadership. Its members are macube, descendants of enslaved Halpulaar speakers from across West Africa.
It’s true to say that Endam Bilali has strengthened solidarity between us. When one village organizes a meeting, two months later another does the same, and so on. We meet, discuss and agree. We thank God and his prophet for this. So we’re happy with the fraternal relations maintained thanks to Endam Bilali.
Aïssata Sy, Unfinished Conversations participant, 2023
African Party for the Independence of Guinea and Cape Verde
A group of fighters from the PAIGC
Partido Africano para la Independência da Guiné e Cabo Verde (PAIGC) was a political party formed by Amílcar Cabral and Henri Labéry in 1954. By the 1960s, the group turned to guerilla warfare against the Portuguese in Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, Angola, and Mozambique. When Guinea-Bissau achieved independence in 1974, PAIGC was the first political party in Guinea-Bissau and Cape Verde.
Portrait Textiles
European traders introduced factory-printed cloth to African markets in the 1800s. These cloths were adapted by African consumers to reflect local tastes and aesthetics. In the mid-1900s, with advancements in photographic reproduction, manufacturers began to print portraits directly onto cloth.
In the era of independence, people eager to celebrate and define liberation on their own terms wore clothing with the faces of African leaders such as Léopold Senghor and Patrice Lumumba. Portrait-printed fabrics are still used today to express political identity and commemorate important events.
Songs of Freedom
Music has always been the heartbeat of Black freedom. Whether through the rhythm of drums, the melodies of the guitar, or the power of the voice, music has echoed experiences of frustration and soundtracks of joy. From the anthems of the Civil Rights Movement to the sounds of samba, music has been a unifying force that transcends language, borders, and time. Freedom songs beckon all who support Black liberation to join the dance.
Mahalia Jackson, “We Shall Overcome,” 1951
Boukman Eksperyans, "Wet Chen," 1991
Grand Kallé, “Indépendance Cha Cha,” 1960
Cité Zaïre, “Nini To Sali Té,” 2021
Kendrick Lamar, “Alright,” 2015
Keur Gui, “France à fric,” 2012
Jorja Smith, “By Any Means,” 2020
Miriam Makeba, “A Luta Continua,” 1987
Bob Marley, “Redemption Song,” 1980
Gilberto Gil, “Ilê Ayê,” 1977
Global Protest
Protesters around the world have taken to the streets to confront police brutality, argue for environmental protections, and demand redress for the impacts of slavery and colonialism.
Their actions are part of a longer tradition of Black protest that can be traced back to the very first acts of resistance against the slave trade.