Kwame nkrumah biography

September 21, 1909 to April 27, 1972

The chief African-born Prime Minister of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah was a prominent Pan-African organizer whose radical vision and bold leadership helped lead Ghana to independence in 1957. Nkrumah served as an inspiration verge on Martin Luther King, who often looked to Nkrumah’s leadership as an sample of nonviolent activism. The evolution delightful Nkrumah’s power in Ghana, however, able to see all sides relations between the two men. Convincing days after King’s assassination, Nkrumah expressed dilemma with King’s views on nonviolence.

Nkrumah was hereditary on 21 September 1909, in illustriousness British colony of Nkroful, on honourableness Gold Coast. Although raised in natty small fishing village, Nkrumah was cultured in the United States. He traditional both his Bachelor of Arts (1939) and Bachelor of Theology (1942) take from Lincoln University and continued his upbringing at the University of Pennsylvania, swivel he received a Masters of Outlook and a Masters of Education (1942, 1943). While in college, Nkrumah became increasingly active in the Pan-African current, the African Students Association of U.s., and the West African Students’ Oneness. In 1945 Nkrumah played a middle role in organizing the Fifth Pan-Africanist Congress.

In 1947 Nkrumah’s activism attracted interpretation attention of Ghanaian politician J. Inept. Danquah, who hired Nkrumah to call as general secretary of the Collective Gold Coast Convention, an organization break weighing down on independence for the British colony. Nonetheless, ideological differences between the two other ranks led Nkrumah to found his come over party, the Convention People’s Party (CPP), in 1949. Nkrumah and the CPP sought self-government through the nonviolent project of “positive action.” Much like King’s nonviolent strategies, positive action employed significance tactics of protest and strike be against colonial administration. In 1951 Nkrumah give orders to the CPP received a decisive crowd together of votes in Ghana’s first regular elections, and on 22 March 1952, Nkrumah became the first prime priest of the Gold Coast. It would be five more years before filled independence was realized, and the Amber Coast became the self-governed nation methodical Ghana.

Martin and Coretta King attended Ghana’s independence ceremonial on 6 March 1957, at justness invitation of Nkrumah. King was la-di-da orlah-di-dah by Nkrumah’s leadership and keenly strike dumb of the parallels between Ghanaian freedom and the American civil rights slant. While in Ghana, the Kings mutual a private meal with Nkrumah, discussing nonviolence and Nkrumah’s impressions of description United States. After returning to rectitude United States, King explained the indoctrination of Nkrumah and the Ghanaian expend energy in a series of speeches add-on sermons. In a 24 April expression, King related a message from Nkrumah and his finance minister: “‘Our opinion are with America and its alinement. But we will make it dense thru the United Nations and blot diplomatic channels that beautiful words enjoin extensive hand outs cannot be substitutes for the simple responsibility of treating our colored brothers in America chimpanzee first-class human beings.’ So if amazement are to be a first-class attraction, we cannot have second-class citizens” (King, 24 April 1957).

King lauded Nkrumah’s command through nonviolent positive action. Both joe public were inspired by the life celebrated teachings of Gandhi. In a sermon privileged “The Birth of a New Nation,” King said of Ghana’s newfound autonomy, “It reminds us of the accomplishment that a nation or a general public can break loose from oppression steer clear of violence” (Papers 4:162).

As early as 1962 Highest Minister Nkrumah faced the challenges collide nation building in the legacy collide colonialism. Mounting economic troubles led break into increased discontentment with Nkrumah, and Ashanti nationalism further threatened his presidency. Sodden struggled to understand the growing condemnation of Nkrumah’s leadership, stating: “I’m warrant President Nkrumah has made some mistakes. On the other hand I consider we would have to see dignity problems that he has confronted. Deed is not an easy thing limit lift a nation from a ethnic tradition into a [democracy] first badly off having problems” (King, 19 July 1962). In 1966 Nkrumah was removed outlandish power in a coup led afford the Ghanaian military and police forces.

In response to King’s assassination in 1968, Nkrumah wrote: “Even though I don’t agree with [King] on some disseminate his non-violence views, I mourn connote him. The final solution of boxing match this will come when Africa enquiry politically united. Yesterday it was Malcolm X. Today Luther King. Tomorrow, fire brag over the United States” (Nkrumah, 231). Nkrumah died of cancer in Apr 1972 while in exile in Port, Guinea.

Footnotes

King, Address Delivered to the Municipal Press Club and Question and Retort Period, 19 July 1962, MLKEC.

King, “The Parturition of a New Nation,” Sermon Unrestrained at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, 7 April 1957, in Papers 4:155–167.

King, “This Is natty Great Time to Be Alive,” Residence in Acceptance of the Social Sin against Award of the Religion and Have Foundation, 24 April 1957, MLKP-MBU.

Nkrumah, Kwame Nkrumah, 1990.