Elombe Brath facts for kids

Cecil Elombe Brath (born September 30, 1936 – died May 19, 2014) was an important activist. He was born in New York City and had family from Barbados. He is most famous for starting the Patrice Lumumba Coalition.

Many people saw him as a leader. Stokely Carmichael called him the "Dean of Harlem Nationalists." This meant he was a very respected leader in Harlem. Dudley Thompson called him an "Icon of the Pan-African Movement." This shows he was a hero for people who believed in uniting African people worldwide.

Early Life and Education

Cecil Elombe Brath was born in Brooklyn, New York. His father had moved there from Barbados in the 1920s. Elombe grew up in Harlem and Hunts Point.

He went to the High School of Industrial Art, which is now called Art and Design. Later, he won a scholarship to study at the School of Visual Arts.

Starting the African Jazz-Art Society & Studios

In 1956, Elombe Brath helped create the African Jazz-Art Society & Studios. Their goal was to bring jazz music back to its African roots. They wanted Black artists to control this music.

In 1962, he started working as a graphic artist for ABC Television. He worked there until he retired in 1999.

The "Black is Beautiful" Movement

Elombe Brath worked hard to change how people thought about Black identity. He wanted to stop the use of the term "negro." In 1961, he launched a special campaign called "Black is Beautiful."

As part of this campaign, he organized fashion shows. These shows featured African-American women known as the Grandassa Models. They wore large, natural hairstyles called afros. These shows helped people see the beauty in Black features and culture.

Fighting for African Freedom

In 1975, Brath and Irving Davis started the Patrice Lumumba Coalition. This group supported freedom movements in Africa. They believed people in countries like Angola, South Africa, and Namibia should rule themselves.

In 1976, the Coalition asked people to support the Zimbabwe Liberation Army. They also gained attention in 1977. They called for a boycott of Ipi Tombi, a musical on Broadway. They felt the musical did not show life under apartheid (a system of racial separation) correctly.

Radio and Global Unity

Elombe Brath hosted a radio show in New York City called Afrikaleidoscope. It was on WBAI radio. He often organized events and discussions in the city. These events helped people learn about African politics and current events.

In 2003, Brath helped start the World African Diaspora Union (WADU). This group wanted to unite African people living all over the world. They aimed to connect them politically, culturally, and economically with Africa. WADU officially began its work in 2004.

His Influences

Brath was inspired by many great thinkers. These included Marcus Garvey and Malcolm X. He was also influenced by Carlos A. Cooks and his cousin Clennell Wickham. These people fought for the rights of Black working-class people in colonial Barbados.

Later Life

Elombe Brath passed away in Harlem when he was 77 years old.

Legacy and Recognition

In 2017, a street was named in his honor. It is called Elombe Brath Way. This shows how much he was respected and remembered for his work.