The article discusses the 1945 Manchester Pan-African Congress, which took place in Chorlton-on-Medlock town hall, a building now owned by Manchester Metropolitan University. The congress was organized by T Ras Makonnen, a central pan-Africanist in Manchester, and brought together delegates from various African countries and British-based Black communities.
The article highlights the significance of the congress, which was seen as a major event in the history of pan-Africanism. It notes that the congress was not only an important moment for the movement but also a testament to the resilience and determination of Black people in Manchester during a time of great social change.
The article also mentions various events and exhibitions held around Manchester to celebrate the anniversary of the 1945 congress, including literary readings, debates, concerts, and exhibitions. These events aimed to promote pan-Africanism and highlight its relevance today.
Some key quotes from the article include:
* "A lot of [the delegates' concerns] around being anti-racist and thinking about freedom of the press, thinking about all the rights of women – all of those things are really relevant to where we're at today." - Ntombizodwa "Zodwa" Nyoni, writer and lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University
* "The central pan-Africanist in Manchester was T Ras Makonnen, who was the real force behind the congress taking place in Manchester. Makonnen set up a whole range of restaurants, bookshops and even a tea shop around the Oxford Road that were able to attract a huge audience because they did not operate a colour bar and welcomed Black GIs and other racialised communities." - Historian
* "It is hard, from these media reports, to get a sense of the exhilaration and sense of freedom that Black people must have felt meeting and organising in Manchester. Walking into the town hall for the congress, with the flags of Black nations on display, there must have been a feeling of pride and determination to continue the struggle." - Historian
Overall, the article aims to highlight the significance of the 1945 Manchester Pan-African Congress and its ongoing relevance today. It emphasizes the importance of pan-Africanism as a movement that promotes unity and solidarity among Black people around the world, and encourages readers to learn more about this important chapter in history.
The article highlights the significance of the congress, which was seen as a major event in the history of pan-Africanism. It notes that the congress was not only an important moment for the movement but also a testament to the resilience and determination of Black people in Manchester during a time of great social change.
The article also mentions various events and exhibitions held around Manchester to celebrate the anniversary of the 1945 congress, including literary readings, debates, concerts, and exhibitions. These events aimed to promote pan-Africanism and highlight its relevance today.
Some key quotes from the article include:
* "A lot of [the delegates' concerns] around being anti-racist and thinking about freedom of the press, thinking about all the rights of women – all of those things are really relevant to where we're at today." - Ntombizodwa "Zodwa" Nyoni, writer and lecturer at Manchester Metropolitan University
* "The central pan-Africanist in Manchester was T Ras Makonnen, who was the real force behind the congress taking place in Manchester. Makonnen set up a whole range of restaurants, bookshops and even a tea shop around the Oxford Road that were able to attract a huge audience because they did not operate a colour bar and welcomed Black GIs and other racialised communities." - Historian
* "It is hard, from these media reports, to get a sense of the exhilaration and sense of freedom that Black people must have felt meeting and organising in Manchester. Walking into the town hall for the congress, with the flags of Black nations on display, there must have been a feeling of pride and determination to continue the struggle." - Historian
Overall, the article aims to highlight the significance of the 1945 Manchester Pan-African Congress and its ongoing relevance today. It emphasizes the importance of pan-Africanism as a movement that promotes unity and solidarity among Black people around the world, and encourages readers to learn more about this important chapter in history.
The fact that we're celebrating this 1945 Manchester Pan-African Congress is actually a great opportunity for us to debate how far we've come in terms of racial equality 
. I mean, think about it - back then, they were fighting for basic human rights like freedom of the press and women's rights 
. And now, we're still trying to navigate these same issues 
. It's time to ask ourselves, what more can we do to bridge that gap? Should we be looking at more systemic changes or just continuing with incremental progress? 
Meanwhile, I think it's awesome that Manchester is embracing its African heritage 
, but we need to make sure that this history isn't just left in the past, but is actively being used to shape our future 
.
The fact that they had a whole range of restaurants, bookshops and even a tea shop on Oxford Road that welcomed Black GIs and other racialised communities is just amazing 
I mean can u imagine walking into a place where u were truly accepted and valued for who u are? 
It's so inspiring to see how far we've come (or at least how much we've struggled to get there lol) but it's clear that this congress was such an important moment in history. And I love how Ntombizodwa "Zodwa" Nyoni is saying that all these concerns about freedom of the press and women's rights are still super relevant today 
let's keep pushing for a more equal world, guys! 
. And it's so cool how they're still doing events and exhibitions today to keep the spirit alive 
. I think what really gets me, though, is how relevant this stuff is now 
. I mean, we still have so many of the same issues that those people were fighting against back then – racism, inequality, etc. So it's awesome to see how pan-Africanism can still be a powerful tool for bringing us together and making things better 
.
. i think its super important that they held events like literary readings and concerts to celebrate the congress and promote pan-africanism - it shows how serious they were about creating a sense of community and solidarity among Black people worldwide 
.
. It's crazy to think about how much has changed since then, but at the same time, it's amazing to see how the struggle for equality and justice is still so relevant today 
. I mean, these Black GIs were treated like second-class citizens back in the day just because of their skin color, and now we're still fighting for the same rights 
. From T Ras Makonnen's restaurants to Ntombizodwa "Zodwa" Nyoni's words, it's clear that there's still so much work to be done 
.
1945 manchester pan-african congress was probly 1 of d most importants eventz 4 black peeps in britain n africa 
its wild 2 think bout how many yrs ppl hv b8n fightin 4 ther rights & freedom 
. Like, I get it, the 1945 Manchester Pan-African Congress was a big deal back then, but what's the point of revisiting it now? Can't we just move on to something new and exciting for once? 
And don't even get me started on the "exhilaration and sense of freedom" that everyone's talking about 
. I mean, I'm pretty sure most people who attended were just trying to survive in a world that was already pretty messed up, you know? 
. Where's the real deal? The gritty truth? I want to see some raw, unfiltered history, not this watered-down version that's only meant to appeal to people who don't really care about the issues anymore 
. Can't we just build on what we've learned so far instead of just rehashing old events? 