--- so when they decide to pay a visit to Africoonia, their American citizenship can be revoked while they're abroad and they won't EVER be able to come back... --------------------------------------------------------------------------- - Africans mull citizenship for slave kin
By DULUE MBACHU Associated Press Writer Thu Jul 20, 6:20 PM ET
ABUJA, Nigeria - African and black American leaders meeting this week debated an unusual proposal to spur investment and interest in the continent - securing African citizenship for American descendants of Africans taken away as slaves.
The idea came out of a summit bringing African governments and the U.S. private sector together in search of partnerships to end Africa's poverty. Presidents from 12 African countries attended the four-day conference, along with former U.S. President Bill Clinton and World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz.
"Just as the people of different races in America have a place they call home, I believe we should have a place we call our ancestral home," said Hope Masters, daughter of the U.S. civil rights campaigner for whom the Leon Sullivan Summit is named.
Anthony Archer, a Santa Monica, Calif.-based lawyer, is heading a committee to consider how citizenship could be awarded.
"Dual citizenship will start the process of mutual and spiritual reconciliation of differences between the two continents that came as a result of slavery," he said. "If we can feel like we really belong, we'll feel more joyful about participating."
Key challenges include determining the ancestral homelands of black Americans, Masters said. The upheaval of the slave trade left many without knowledge of their place of origin.
One possibility is granting continent-wide citizenship to slave descendants through the African Union, Archer said. Another is to work for citizenship of blocs of countries through regional organizations. It was unclear what rights would be granted under those scenarios.
A third proposal would have countries grant citizenship independently to those who seek it.
Masters said the proposal will be further developed before the next summit in 2008. She said African leaders support the concept, noting that Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has urged black Americans "to see Africa as your home."
Among the Americans attending the Sullivan meeting in Abuja were executives from companies including Chevron Corp., Coca-Cola Co., General Motors Corp., and DaimlerChrysler AG.
On Mon, 24 Jul 2006 15:31:41 GMT, "Byker" <byker@do~rag.net> wrote: >--- so when they decide to pay a visit to Africoonia, their American >citizenship can be revoked while they're abroad and they won't EVER be able >to come back...
I would gladly pay triple taxes for the next ten years if all of them would just go the fuck back. Reparations and an airline ticket would be a small price to pay.
>ABUJA, Nigeria - African and black American leaders meeting this week >debated an unusual proposal to spur investment and interest in the >continent - securing African citizenship for American descendants of >Africans taken away as slaves.
>The idea came out of a summit bringing African governments and the U.S. >private sector together in search of partnerships to end Africa's poverty. >Presidents from 12 African countries attended the four-day conference, along >with former U.S. President Bill Clinton and World Bank President Paul >Wolfowitz.
>"Just as the people of different races in America have a place they call >home, I believe we should have a place we call our ancestral home," said >Hope Masters, daughter of the U.S. civil rights campaigner for whom the Leon >Sullivan Summit is named.
>Anthony Archer, a Santa Monica, Calif.-based lawyer, is heading a committee >to consider how citizenship could be awarded.
>"Dual citizenship will start the process of mutual and spiritual >reconciliation of differences between the two continents that came as a >result of slavery," he said. "If we can feel like we really belong, we'll >feel more joyful about participating."
>Key challenges include determining the ancestral homelands of black >Americans, Masters said. The upheaval of the slave trade left many without >knowledge of their place of origin.
>One possibility is granting continent-wide citizenship to slave descendants >through the African Union, Archer said. Another is to work for citizenship >of blocs of countries through regional organizations. It was unclear what >rights would be granted under those scenarios.
>A third proposal would have countries grant citizenship independently to >those who seek it.
>Masters said the proposal will be further developed before the next summit >in 2008. She said African leaders support the concept, noting that Nigerian >President Olusegun Obasanjo has urged black Americans "to see Africa as your >home."
>Among the Americans attending the Sullivan meeting in Abuja were executives >from companies including Chevron Corp., Coca-Cola Co., General Motors Corp., >and DaimlerChrysler AG.
So I sit and write and ponder, while the house is deaf and dumb. Seeing visions over yonder of the war I know must come. In the corner-not a vision-but a sign of coming days, stands a box of ammunition, and a rifle in green baize. And in this, the living present, let the word go through the land. Every tradesman, clerk and peasant, should have these two things at hand. No, no ranting song is needed, and no meeting, flag or fuss-In the future, still unheeded, shall the Spirit come to us. Without feathers, drum or riot, on the day that is to be. We shall march down very quiet, to our stations by the sea. While the bitter parties stifle every voice that warns of war. Every man should have a rifle. And cartridges in store. (Henry Lawson)
Byker wrote: > --- so when they decide to pay a visit to Africoonia, their American > citizenship can be revoked while they're abroad and they won't EVER be able > to come back...
While it was once possible to revoke a person's citizenship because of remaining in a foreign country for an extended period, that's no longer possible. Citizenship can be revoked for crimes such as treason and advocating the overthrow of the US government, but not for merely living abroad.
> ABUJA, Nigeria - African and black American leaders meeting this week > debated an unusual proposal to spur investment and interest in the > continent - securing African citizenship for American descendants of > Africans taken away as slaves.
This idea might attract entrepreneurial types who would succeed anywhere, but people who have been on welfare for generations would be worse off in Africa than they are in the projects.
African countries who want investment capital wouldn't want African Americans with no money.
> Key challenges include determining the ancestral homelands of black > Americans, Masters said. The upheaval of the slave trade left many without > knowledge of their place of origin.
People's original ancestral homelands could be determined by DNA testing, but it really wouldn't matter where an African American entrepreneur wanted to live, money is welcome anywhere.
> Byker wrote: >> --- so when they decide to pay a visit to Africoonia, their American >> citizenship can be revoked while they're abroad and they won't EVER be >> able >> to come back...
> While it was once possible to revoke a person's citizenship because of > remaining in a foreign country for an extended period, that's no longer > possible. Citizenship can be revoked for crimes such as treason
The definition of which is wide open to interpretation.
> and advocating the overthrow of the US government
Which is essentially what the so-called "black leadership" wants...
>> ABUJA, Nigeria - African and black American leaders meeting this week >> debated an unusual proposal to spur investment and interest in the >> continent - securing African citizenship for American descendants of >> Africans taken away as slaves.
> This idea might attract entrepreneurial types who would succeed > anywhere, but > people who have been on welfare for generations would be worse off in > Africa than they are in the projects.
> African countries who want investment capital wouldn't want African > Americans with no money.
>> Key challenges include determining the ancestral homelands of black >> Americans, Masters said. The upheaval of the slave trade left many >> without >> knowledge of their place of origin.
> People's original ancestral homelands could be determined by DNA > testing, but it really wouldn't matter where an African American > entrepreneur wanted to live, money is welcome anywhere.
