Author Description
This study of Edward Blyden spotlights West African and African American history in the second half of the 19th century. Blyden became the intellectual focus of the English-speaking West Africa of his time. The "African personality", "Pan-Africanism" and "Negritude" are all concepts which developed under the stimulus of his thinking. Blyden, a West Indian by birth and a Liberian by adoption, knew America, Europe and West Africa. He was well traveled and became Liberia's first ambassador in London. The discrimination against African Americans which he saw in the United States offended him and led to a life-long advocacy of repatriation to Africa.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This study investigates the intellectual contributions and political influence of Edward Wilmot Blyden in shaping 19th-century Pan-Africanist thought. Hollis R. Lynch, a historian specializing in African studies, utilizes primary source documents and historical records to analyze Blyden's role as a diplomat and philosopher. The text argues that Blyden's experiences in the Caribbean, the United States, and Liberia provided the foundation for his advocacy of African repatriation and the development of the 'African personality' concept.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Analysis of 19th-century West African and African American political history
- Examination of the origins of Pan-Africanism and Negritude
- Documentation of Blyden's diplomatic career as Liberia's ambassador to London
- Evaluation of the impact of racial discrimination in the United States on Blyden's ideology
Scope Limits
- The text focuses primarily on Blyden's intellectual and political life rather than a comprehensive personal biography
- The scope is limited to the second half of the 19th century and early 20th century
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Scholars recognize this work as a foundational text for understanding the intellectual history of Pan-Africanism. Readers frequently note the academic rigor and the clarity with which Lynch contextualizes Blyden's complex political theories within the broader historical landscape of the era.
Page Count:
272
Publication Date:
1967-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0192154273
ISBN-13:
9780192154279
History
Biography
19th Century
Engineering
African history
Pan-africanism
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