Lobbying for Africa

Lobbying is a form of advocacy with the intention of influencing decisions made by legislators and officials in the government by individuals, other legislators, constituents, or advocacy groups.

Lobbyists exist for diverse interest groups: individuals with disabilities, specific industries, nations, and institutions, and so forth.

Jewish lobby for instance have a strong presence in the US capital and play a significant role in shaping policies affecting business, international finance, the media, academia, and popular culture.

Hispanic groups are well represented by Hispanic politicians who vigorously take on the specific issues affecting Hispanic people. Hispanic politicians never hide, never run away and never apologize when it comes to issues affecting Hispanics.

Last summer, after Arizona passed its tough immigration law, Hispanic politicians reacted with fervor. Some compared the decision to apartheid while others embark on peaceful demonstration and hunger strikes. They articulated that if the law affects one Hispanic, it affects all Hispanics.

It has always baffled me why African American leaders shy away from speaking out on Africa and the issues affecting the nearly one billion people on the African continent. African American politicians and leaders in general speak narrowly, though very well, about issues touching the ‘African American’ in the US. Unlike their Latino counterparts who speak for Mexico, for example, as though they are Mexicans, African American leaders address African American problems and that is enough for them.

Many African countries have made significant progress in creating a more business-friendly environment as well as impressive progress towards political stability. In spite of these, trade policies in most western economies are not designed to make these markets accessible to African goods and services. In fact, some of them are calculated to accomplish the exact opposite.

What is needed is an advocate who will stand up in the Congress, Senate or Parliament and fight for a more afro-centric trade, immigration and environmental policies. The African-American politicians can play a leading role in this.

It is my hope that African Americans leaders, students, musicians, and pastors will realize one day that our destinies are together. The African American will not be accorded the respect and dignity he or she deserves in this country or elsewhere, until the current perception of Africa in the mind of the Westerner is expunged. And this requires work, not only by the African leaders and people but also by their African American brothers and sisters.