Documents: Africans Acting Alone

DOCUMENT 48f. "To All Leaders of the African People." Statement by J.T. Gumede, President, ANC, September 7, 1927 (Published in The National Gazette)

Sirs,
In June last I was elected National President of the African National Congress at Bloemfontein. The task before me is great, and I feel I cannot perform it successfully without the cooperation of, and active support of, all leaders of the race. I know some of you are not members of the Executive Council of this National Association, but whether or not you are members you can by using your influence with the people, make it easy for the Officers of the Congress to organise the people and bring them within the fold of this National Association.

It is my earnest desire to create mutual understanding among all the leaders of our race, and to secure their cooperative support particularly at this hour of the destiny of the race. Gentlemen, this is a critical time in our history; it is a time when we should sink our differences, when we should sacrifice our personal ambitions for the greater ambitions of the race. It is the time for cooperative action.

I know, there are two wings to Bantu movement for political and economic emancipation from the tyranny of European rule, the conservative and the radical. These wings are absolutely necessary for our progress. They are the right and left wings of a great movement. Just as a bird must have both wings for successful flight, so must any movement have the conservative and radical wings. That is to say, we may differ in our views but this should not necessarily mean divisions and bickerings. We can differ (and there is plenty of room for that within this national organisation) and yet work together harmoniously for the good of our oppressed people.

I shall esteem it a great favour if you will give us your unselfish support in carrying out the task that lies before us.

God Bless Africa,

Yours respectfully, J. T. Gumede National President.

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