Pan-Africanism or Perish: Now Is the Time

In this moment of global uncertainty, one truth resounds louder than ever: Pan-Africanism is not a luxury; it is a necessity. The policies emerging from Washington, including Trump’s so-called “Big Beautiful Bill,” a nationalist economic agenda designed to prioritize American corporations, threaten to sideline African American businesses unless we embrace the power of global solidarity.

Economic nationalism may promise prosperity for some, but history teaches us that marginalized communities are rarely the beneficiaries. For African American entrepreneurs, the danger is clear: isolation from international markets, diminished access to capital, and increased competition from corporate giants. Without a strategy rooted in Pan-African unity, our businesses risk being swallowed whole.

Kwame Nkrumah warned us decades ago: “Africa must unite or perish.” His words echo today, not only for the continent but for the diaspora. Pan-Africanism is more than cultural pride; it is an economic lifeline. By building bridges between African American companies and African markets, we create supply chains that are less susceptible to disruption, investment networks that resist exclusion, and communities of resilience that thrive beyond the reach of nationalist policies.

Marcus Garvey reminded us: “A people without knowledge of their past history, origin, and culture is like a tree without roots.” To survive in this new era, African American businesses must root themselves in the soil of Pan-African solidarity. This means forging partnerships with African innovators, investing in diaspora-owned enterprises, and demanding trade policies that reflect our collective interests.

Malcolm X declared: “You can’t hate the roots of a tree and not hate the tree.” If African American companies ignore their global roots, they risk cutting themselves off from the very lifeblood of their survival. Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” may beautify the balance sheets of multinational corporations, but it will not beautify the prospects of Black-owned businesses unless we act decisively.

Amílcar Cabral urged us: “Hide nothing from the masses of our people. Tell no lies. Expose lies whenever they are told.”The lie we must expose today is that African American businesses can thrive in isolation. The truth is that our strength lies in unity within Pan-Africanism, serving as both a shield and a sword.

The stakes are high. Without Pan-Africanism, African American companies risk being marginalized by policies that prioritize corporate monopolies over community empowerment. With Pan-Africanism, we unlock new markets, amplify our voices, and ensure that our businesses are not only surviving but leading. Pan-Africanism or perish. The time is now.

                                              References

• Cabral, A. (1979). Unity and struggle: Speeches and writings. Monthly Review Press. Available at Archive.org

• Garvey, M. (1986). Philosophy and opinions of Marcus Garvey (A. J. Garvey, Ed.). The Majority Press. (Original work published 1921) Available at Archive.org

• Malcolm X. (1992). Malcolm X speaks: Selected speeches and statements (G. Breitman, Ed.). Grove Press. (Original work published 1965) Available at Archive.org

• Nkrumah, K. (1963). Africa must unite. International Publishers. Available at Archive.org