Organisation of African Unity letter

About this item

This letter, dated June 2, 1992, is from Bernie Grant, one of Britain's few Black Members of Parliament at the time, addressed to the Secretary General of the Organisation of African Unity. In it, Grant introduces the Organisation of Africans in Europe (O.A.E.), a new initiative he founded to unite Africans living in Europe and advocate for Africa's interests amid global political and economic changes. He requests to attend the upcoming OAU meeting in Senegal as an observer to foster dialogue and cooperation.

Key points:
– Bernie Grant established the Organisation of Africans in Europe (O.A.E.) to support Africans living in Europe and amplify Africa's voice internationally.
– The letter highlights concerns about Africa's economic future after the Cold War and the establishment of the Single European Market in 1993.
– Grant warns that Africans in Europe may face increased racism and discrimination due to new European economic policies and borders.
– He emphasizes the need for Africans worldwide to collaborate in responding to global political and economic restructuring.
– Grant requests permission to attend the next Organisation of African Unity meeting in Senegal as an observer to begin formal dialogue.

This letter connects to Bernie Grant's broader work advocating for African and Black British rights through political activism and international solidarity. His founding of the O.A.E. reflects efforts to link Black British political struggles with African unity and global anti-racist movements in the early 1990s. The letter also engages with themes of internationalism and challenges posed by European economic integration to African diasporic communities.

Source note: The OCR transcription is generally clear but includes some formatting errors and minor textual inconsistencies, which have been cautiously interpreted to preserve meaning.