ABOUT US

The Center for Pan-African Studies (CPAS)

The Center for Pan-African Studies (CPAS) is an independent, nonpartisan, research think tank committed to strengthening the social, cultural, political, and economic positions of people of African descent on the continent of Africa and throughout the Black Diaspora. In 2008 the works and perspectives of two great Pan-African scholars, Dr. John Henrik Clarke and Dr. Ronald Walters combined to inspire Dennis S. Boatwright II to establish CPAS. Since that year Mr. Boatwright has served as the founding director with unceasing enthusiasm.

Since the demise of the celebrated TransAfrica Forum there has been essentially no space for significant Black-led African-centered research and discussion. This void compel truth-seeking educators, academics, activists, and politicians to rely upon the analysis of mainstream think tanks that are controlled by their status quo donors. These think tanks promote ideas and policies that are incompatible with the interests of people of African descent.   Hence, CPAS provides a platform to research, discuss and share. What distinguishes CPAS from many other organizations is that we are not a country club. Sometimes we mobilize to solve urgent problems. For example, in the summer of 2023 CPAS organized scholars and activists to correct the Anti-African misinformation spread by Dr. Zahi Hawass during his twenty-three city lecture tour in the United States.  In addition,  CPAS is planning a "Uniting the Base for an African Renaissance" conferences in the Fall of 2024. This conference will bring together willing scholars, activists, and elected officials in order to consolidate our efforts.  It is hoped that the efforts of CPAS will help improve the quality of life of people of African descent and to protect them against disasters, both natural and manmade.

(After George Floyd's murder Mr. Boatwright and his family drove over 140,000 miles in just eleven months to understand and show solidarity with Black communities that have been victims of law enforcement. His travels has taken him as far as Elizabeth City, North Carolina on the east coast and San Francisco on the west coast.)