Lessons, Liberation, and Legacy at Lunch: Why Black Children Should Know about The Republic of New Afrika

There's a certain kind of magic that happens when good food meets deep conversation. Such was the case last Saturday at Ivy City Smokehouse, a favorite haunt of my daughter Makena and me. As we sat across from each other, digging into a round of juicy smash burgers, a string of perfectly smoked wings, and ending with a shared banana split, we were joined by Simone, Makena's friend and fellow junior at School Without Walls High School.

As we enjoyed our feast, Makena mentioned her interest in Temple University, inspired by their dual campuses in Japan. A sense of pride washed over me as I reflected on my own journey at Temple, where I earned my Ph.D. The legacy continued with my father, who started his career on the faculty there, and my stepfather, Imari Obadele, who remarkably earned his Ph.D. from Temple while incarcerated in a Federal Prison.

The Suppression of the RNA and The Unseen Support from Rosa Parks

Simone widened her eyes when she heard about my stepfather's imprisonment. As I delved into Dr. Obadele's history, the clatter of the restaurant faded into the background. Dr. Obadele was a revolutionary, the president of the Republic of New Afrika (RNA), an organization fighting for an independent Black nation within the U.S.

His bold vision made the RNA a target of COINTELPRO, an FBI program designed to disrupt and dismantle domestic political organizations. This conflict erupted into a violent confrontation between RNA members and the local police in Jackson, MS. Despite his absence from the scene, Dr. Obadele found himself incarcerated as a political prisoner.

His time in prison was illuminated by the persistent care of Rosa Parks, who frequently checked on him, ensuring the prison staff knew she would not tolerate any violation of his civil rights. After seven years, he walked free, but the movement he had spearheaded was effectively suppressed, its leadership immobilized.

Imagining the Republic of New Afrika - A Lost Dream

I watched as Makena and Simone, their young eyes wide with intrigue, began to picture what a Republic of New Afrika would look like today. Their imaginations, untamed and vibrant, began to paint a picture of a nation built on the principles of justice, equity, and freedom. Simone spoke about how fascinating it would be to visit such a place.

Her aspiration to visit prompted me to opine on the inner-visions of Black children if they learned about the RNA in schools - a vision of bustling cities, verdant landscapes, and a society rooted in the richness of its cultural heritage - a land where Black history, art, literature, and scientific contributions stand tall, unshadowed by narratives of oppression and marginalization - a nation where Black children could grow, not just reciting tales of their ancestors' struggles, but also celebrating stories of their triumphs.

Their dreams, however, were soon clouded by a sobering reality. The Republic of New Afrika, a symbol of Black self-determination and resilience, remains a lost dream, a mystery to Black students. This is not due to a lack of curiosity or imagination. It is the glaring absence of its history from our education system that has rendered this significant part of our nation's narrative invisible.

The Republic of New Afrika, a beacon of Black liberation and self-governance, should not remain a lost dream, a forgotten chapter consigned to the shadows. Instead, it should be a vibrant part of our collective consciousness, a story told and retold, a dream kept alive in the heart of every Black child.

Anti-Critical Race Theory Laws: An Amplifier of Suppression

Our schools, instead of teaching about Black radicals fighting for liberation, narrate tales of White people rebelling against the U.S. government to maintain their privilege to enslave others. The dream of a nation-state on lands where their ancestors labored without reward is withheld from Black American high school students. Instead, Black and White students are given a sanitized account of why the South seceded.

This skewed narrative is further amplified by Anti-Critical Race Theory Laws. These laws, under the guise of protecting students from divisive concepts, are effectively silencing the teaching of systemic racism and the true history of racial injustice in the United States. The impact of these laws is far-reaching. They not only distort the historical narrative but also deny students the opportunity to engage in critical thinking about race and power. They prevent students from understanding the systemic nature of racism and its enduring impact on our society. They rob students of the chance to learn about the resilience and resistance of Black people in the face of oppression.

Anti-Critical Race Theory Laws are a stark reminder of the anti-literacy laws of the past, which sought to keep Black people in ignorance and servitude. Just as those laws were a tool of oppression, these modern laws serve a similar purpose: to maintain the status quo and suppress the voices of those who challenge it.

A Call to Action - The Need for Inclusive Education

As we savored the last spoonfuls of our banana split, I realized the urgency of a call to action. We must push back against the erasure of Black revolutionaries from our education. The fight against these anti-CRT laws is a fight for truth, justice, and the right of every student to learn the full history of their nation. It is a fight to ensure that the dream of the Republic of New Afrika and the stories of countless other Black revolutionaries are not lost but are remembered, honored, and passed on to future generations.

Our children deserve to learn the full history of their nation, inclusive of those fighting for liberation and equality. Let's ensure the stories of revolutionaries like Dr. Imari Obadele aren't hidden in the shadows but celebrated as part of our collective past. Only then can we hope for a future where every student can dream freely and walk proudly, their path illuminated by the full spectrum of their history.