CalEvents:Dec/Dec 4

Notable events for December 4

Date

Event

Significance

December 4, 1783

George Washington bids farewell to his officers in New York

While not directly related to Pan-African history, Washington's leadership during the American Revolution laid the groundwork for the abolitionist movement in the U.S., inspiring later African-American struggles for freedom.

December 4, 1906

Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity is founded at Cornell University

Alpha Phi Alpha became the first intercollegiate Greek-letter fraternity for African Americans, playing a significant role in the Civil Rights Movement and shaping African-American leadership and activism.

December 4, 1961

Death of Tanzanian independence leader Julius Nyerere's father

Mwalimu Julius Nyerere's father passed away. Nyerere later became one of the most influential African leaders, spearheading Tanzania’s independence and shaping post-colonial African socialism.

December 4, 1969

Black Panther leaders Fred Hampton and Mark Clark are killed in Chicago

The assassination of Fred Hampton, a rising leader of the Black Panther Party, by police highlighted government repression of Black revolutionary movements during the Civil Rights Era, energizing resistance against systemic racism in America.

December 4, 1980

Zimbabwe joins the United Nations

Zimbabwe’s admission to the UN solidified its position as a newly independent African state after gaining independence from British colonial rule earlier that year, reinforcing its presence in international diplomacy.

December 4, 1991

Pan-African Congress holds session in Kampala, Uganda

The Pan-African Congress meeting in Kampala reinforced unity among African nations, focusing on strategies for development, liberation movements, and the fight against neocolonialism.

December 4, 2013

Nelson Mandela dies

Nelson Mandela, South Africa’s first Black president and global symbol of the anti-apartheid movement, passed away. His death marked the end of an era of revolutionary African leadership and the global struggle for racial equality.

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