Ghana’s independence: West Africa 1957

1. The following are a mixture of famous quotes about using violence or nonviolence to make change OR other decolonization movements that used violence or non violence. SCROLL THROUGH AND ADD 1-2 TO YOUR NOTES AND CONNECT BACK TO YOUR LEADER.

2. Ghana’s independence: West Africa 1957 Ghana became the first African colony to achieve independence after WWII. Kwame Nkrumah led a largely nonviolent movement by organizing strikes and boycotts and was often imprisoned by the British Government. Nkrumah became Ghana’s 1st prime minister and pushed through new roads, schools and expanded health facilities. These programs showed good intentions, however the expense of these programs made the economy suffer. Nkrumah also spent a lot of energy on Pan-Africanism: the attempt to create a united Africa – this effort failed.

3. Algeria’s independence from France After WWII , French colonists refused to share power with native Algerians. In 1954 the Algerian Liberation Army (FLN) announced its intention to fight for independence. The war for independence involved many atrocities and France has since apologized to Algeria for atrocities committed. Algeria had another Civil War in 1991 which lasted until 2002.

4. “It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees.” Emiliano Zapata During Mexico’s revolution of 1910, Emiliano Zapata represented peasants from Southern Mexico in fighting the repressive dictator Porfirio Diaz

5. “One has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws.” ― Martin Luther King Jr. “We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence.” ― Martin Luther King Jr. Nonviolence is a powerful and just weapon, which cuts without wounding and ennobles the man who wields it. It is a sword that heals. Martin Luther King, Jr.

6. Nelson Mandela- Spent 27 years in jail then helped end apartheid in South Africa in partnership with white president FW de Klerk. As part of the ANC (African National Congress) he helped stage boycotts and strikes in resistant to racist policies. Went on to be 1st black president of South Africa. • No problem is so deep that it cannot be overcome, given the will of all parties, through discussion and negotiation rather than force and violence. • Nelson Mandela

7. Ken Saro-Wiwa Activist of the Ogoni people in Nigeria against the oil companies causing pollution on their land. Executed by the Nigerian government in 1995. “It is also very important that we have chosen the path of non-violent struggle. Our opponents are given to violence and we cannot meet them on their turf, even if we wanted to. Non-violent struggle offers weak people the strength which they otherwise would not have. The spirit becomes important and no gun can silence that. I am aware , though that non-violent struggle occasions more death than armed struggle. And that remains a cause for worry at all times. Whether the Ogoni people will be able to withstand the rigors of the struggle is yet to be seen. Again their ability to do so will point the way to peaceful struggle to other peoples on the African continent.”

8. “Concerning non-violence: it is criminal to teach a man not to defend himself when he is the constant victim of brutal attacks.” ― Malcolm X American Civil Rights Activist

9. “We do not need guns and bombs to bring peace, we need love and compassion.” ― Mother Teresa, Nobel Peace Prize winner

10. “The king must die so that the country can live.” Maximilien Robespierre “Terror without virtue is merely terrible. Virtue without terror is powerless.” Robespierre