John Africa facts for kids

John Africa (born Vincent Leaphart on July 26, 1931 – died May 13, 1985) was the person who started an organization called MOVE. This group was based in Philadelphia and was active from the early 1970s. John Africa and some of his followers died in a fire at their home. This happened after a difficult situation with the Philadelphia Police Department.

Early Life and Changes

Vincent Leaphart was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on July 26, 1931. His father, Frederick, was a handyman, and his mother, Lennie Mae, stayed home to care for their ten children. Vincent had a tough time in school and left when he was 16.

Serving in the Army

During the Korean War, Vincent joined the US Army. He served for over a year in a fighting unit. He later remembered how different the beautiful sunrise over the Korean mountains was from the loud sounds of war.

Starting a Family

After returning home, Vincent met Dorothy Clark. They got married when he was 29 years old. Friends described him as a calm and reliable person. Dorothy helped him with his reading and writing skills.

A New Name and Home

In 1971, Vincent moved his family to Powelton, a diverse neighborhood in West Philadelphia. They joined a group called Community Housing Inc. This group helped people buy homes together. In 1972, Vincent Leaphart changed his name to John Africa. He chose this name to represent the continent where he believed life began.

The MOVE Organization

John Africa started to attract people in Philadelphia who believed in his ideas. He met Donald Glassey, a social worker. Glassey was very interested in Africa's teachings. He offered to write down Africa's thoughts in a book, as Africa could not read or write well. These notes became a document called "The Guidelines."

Founding MOVE

With Glassey, John Africa moved his new group to a house on Pearl Street in West Philadelphia. After a while, Glassey and Africa went their separate ways because they had different ideas. Africa then made "The Guidelines" the main source for his teachings. He founded MOVE in 1972.

MOVE's Beliefs

"The Guidelines" taught important ideas. They included eating only vegetables and raw foods. They also taught that all living things have great value. MOVE welcomed people from all backgrounds. The group taught about problems like unfairness, racism, and the importance of being an individual.

Protests and Conflicts

MOVE often protested against things they saw as wrong. This included animal cruelty, the education system, and police actions. Because of these protests, the police watched MOVE members very closely. Between 1972 and 1978, there were many arrests and court cases involving MOVE members.

The 1978 Standoff

On August 8, 1978, the Philadelphia police tried to remove MOVE from their home on Pearl Street. This led to a serious conflict where a police officer died. Nine MOVE members were arrested, and their home was torn down.

The 1985 Incident

After the Pearl Street events, John Africa and MOVE moved to a new house on Osage Avenue in West Philadelphia. Neighbors complained about the group. On May 13, 1985, police tried to remove MOVE members and serve arrest warrants. This led to another armed standoff and a fire.

Eleven MOVE members, including John Africa, died in the fire. Only two people, Ramona and Birdie Africa, survived, but they were badly burned. A special investigation found that the Philadelphia Police and Fire Departments were careless. However, no one faced criminal charges for the deaths.

John Africa's Teachings

John Africa's ideas focused on the importance of all life. He believed that things like money-focused systems, wars, and racism went against this idea. He encouraged people to eat only vegetables and raw foods. He also promoted living together as a community.

According to MOVE's website, John Africa believed in and loved life. He taught MOVE members to understand that all living beings, including people, animals, water, soil, and air, are equally important and need protection.

Influence on Others

Mumia Abu-Jamal, a well-known activist from Philadelphia, followed John Africa's teachings. He supported the MOVE organization. During Abu-Jamal's trial in 1982, he asked for John Africa to represent him. However, the judge said no because Africa was not a licensed lawyer.

See also

• Black nationalism
• Development criticism