VV the Americas began to develop a "Pan- Bishop Turner's View of Africa The failure of Reconstruction (see Chapter 25) -hile the "scramble for Africa" was taking place, some people of African descent in to bring true liberty to black Americans left Turner bitter. As lynching and legalized segre- gation became the norm, he argued that it was foolish to suppose that blacks would ever be al- lowed to prosper in the United States, and he be- came a strong advocate for emigration to Africa. His first interest was Liberia, an independent nation founded by freed African Americans. He then became aware of South Africa, where black Christians were interested in affiliating them- selves with the AME Church to escape the control of white missionaries. In the 1890s he traveled to both countries and ordained a number of South African" perspective that stressed the common cir- cumstances and aspirations of black people around the world. One strand of Pan-Africanism focused on the possible emigration of American blacks back to Africa. Here a major figure was Henry MdNeal Turner (1834–1915). Born free but poor in South Carolina, Tumer learned to read and write while working as a janitor at a law firm. After becoming a preacher, in 1857 he joined the African Method- ist Episcopal Church (AME), an entirely black-run denomination, and during the American Civil War served as the first black chaplain in the U.S. Army. After the war he was elected to the Georgia as- sembly but was prevented from taking his seat on racial grounds. That he was of mixed race and fair African bishops. Source: From Edwin S. Redkey, Respect Black: The Writings and Speeches of Henry McNeal Turner (New York: Arno Press). Copyright © 1971, pp. 42-44, 52-55, 83, 143-144. skinned made no difference. 1883 There is no more doubt in my mind that we have ultimately to return to Africa than there is of the existence of a God; and the sooner we begin to recognize that fact and prepare for it, the better it will be for us as a people. We have there a country unsurpassed in produc- tive and mineral resources, and we have some government and nationality of our own can alone cure the evils under which we now la- bor, and are likely yet the more to suffer in this country. It may be asked, where can we buld up a respectable government? Certainly not in the United States....I am sure there is no reglon so full of promise and where the probabilitles of success are so great as the land of our an- cestors. The continent appears to be kept by Providence in reserve for the Negro. There ev- erything seems ready to raise him to deserved distinction, comfort and wealth.... And the time is near when the American people of color will... erect the UNITED STATES OF AFRICA. The murders and outrages perpetrated upon our people,... since 1867 [are]... an orgy of blood and death. ... I know we are Americans to all intents and purposes. We were born here, raised here, fought, bled and died here, and have a thousand times more right here than hundreds of thousands of those who help to snub, proscribe and perse- cute us, and that is one of the reasons I almost despise the land of my birth.... two hundred millions of our kindred there in moral and spiritual blindness. The four millions of us in this country are at school, learning the doctrines of Christlanity and the elements of clvil government. As soon as we are educated sufficlently to assume control of our vast ancestral domain, we will hear the volce of a mysterious Providence, saying, "Re- turn to the land of your fathers...." Nothing less than nationality will bring large prosperity and acknowledged manhood to us as a people. How can we do this? Not by constantly complaining of bad treatment; by holding conventions and passing resolu- tions; by voting for white men for office; by serving as caterers and barbers, and by having our wives and daughters continue as wash- erwomen and servants to the whites. No-a 1891 You can ridicule it if you like, but Africa will elevation of the Negro in this and all other countries is indissolubly connected with the enlightenment of Africa.... be the thermometer that will determine the status of the Negro the world over.... The 1893 These black [Muslim] priests around here with so much dignity, majesty and consciousness of their worth are driv- Ing me into respect for them. Some come from hundreds of miles from the country- out of the bush-better scholars than any in America. What fools we are to suppose these Africans are fools! ... Since I reached here, I see native Africans running engines, man- ning oar and steamboats, and... two black ocean pilots and another black man measur- Ing the depth of the ocean and guiding the ship amid the dangerous points. Poor black man, how the world tells lies about you!... I have found out another thing since I have come to Africa, gone scores of miles through the Interlor and noted the tact, taste, gentus and manly bearing of the higher grade of the natives.... Those who think the reced- ing forehead, the flat nose, the proboscidated walking mouth and the big flat-bottom foot are nat- ural to the African are mistaken. There are heads here by the millions, as vertical or per- pendicular as any white man's head God ever made.... I have long ago learned that the rich Negro, the ignorant Negro... and the would- be white Negro care nothing for African re- demption, or the honor and dignity of the race....I have never advocated all the col- ored people golng to Africa, for I am well aware that the bulk of them are lacking in common sense and are too fond of worship- ing white gods. ... [E]very man who has a drop of African blood in his veins should be interested in the civilization, if not the salva- tion, of her millions, and how any black man can speak in contemptuous language of that great continent and her millions, when they gave him existence... is a mystery to me.