Humanism and Negritude

Extract

The rise of numerous African states to independence and participation in international organizations is only a moment—undoubtedly a very powerful moment—in the extraordinary process of historical acceleration which our epoch has both the misfortune and privilege of witnessing. Future historians will very likely determine that the true revolution of the 20th century was not the Russian revolution or the nuclear revolution. Infinitely more important for the destiny of mankind and civilization is the fact that, for the first time since the beginnings of the human race, the great majority of men have the right and possibility to intervene actively in the consideration of world affairs. This sudden evolutionary leap can only be compared with what happened when our Germanic ancestors, fifteen centuries ago, seized from the Roman empire its hitherto uncontested supremacy. One must go back to the 5th century of our era to find an occurrence equally capable of exercising on the future of the human race and the evolution of civilization, consequences as wide and as deep as those which the events we are witnessing today will undoubtedly have. For these new-risen peoples, if only by force of numbers, are inevitably summoned to take not only their own destiny into their hands, but also—and perhaps sooner than is imagined—the destiny of the globe.