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Nkrumah was educated first in Ghana and then in the United States and the United Kingdom. How did this education shape his views?
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Nkrumah’s Time in the United States
Nkrumah’s time in the United States was a formative experience for him that would shape his political ideology and practice. While at Lincoln University, Nkrumah was first exposed to the teachings of Marcus Garvey and the Garvey movement. This would have a profound impact on Nkrumah’s own political thought and practice.
Nkrumah’s studies at Lincoln University
Nkrumah was not originally planning on attending college in the United States, but he was persuaded to do so by his friend Frimpong-Manso. He applied and was accepted to Lincoln University in Pennsylvania in 1935. Nkrumah was one of only a handful of foreign students at Lincoln at the time. Nkrumah been greatly influenced by his teacher George Padmore, who had himself been educated in the United States.
Lincoln University had a long tradition of being a Historically Black College and University (HBCU). At the time, it was one of only a few colleges in the country that were open to African-American students. The school’s president, Dr. Mordecai Johnson, was a strong advocate for civil rights and social justice. He believed that education could be used as a tool to help oppressed people gain equality and fight for their rights.
Nkrumah found inspiration in Johnson’s vision for education. He also developed close relationships with other students from Africa who were attending Lincoln at the time. These relationships would prove to be very important later on, when Nkrumah became involved in the independence movement back home in Ghana.
Nkrumah’s work with the African American community
Nkrumah became well-connected with the African American community in the United States and was greatly influenced by their work for Civil Rights. He was even invited to speak at an event organized by Civil Rights leader Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1957. Nkrumah’s time in the United States allowed him to see firsthand the discrimination that African Americans faced and he drew comparisons to the situation in Ghana. He believed that both Ghana and the United States needed to do more to support their black citizens. Nkrumah’s experience in the United States no doubt influenced his later work as a leader of Ghana and a champion of Pan-Africanism.
Nkrumah’s Time in the United Kingdom
Kwame Nkrumah was born in the Gold Coast in 1909. In 1935, he left the Gold Coast to study in the United Kingdom where he spent a total of nine years. While in the UK, Nkrumah was influenced by a number of people and things. In this article, we will explore how Nkrumah’s time in the UK affected him.
Nkrumah’s studies at the London School of Economics
Nkrumah’s time studying at the London School of Economics was highly influential in his later political views and actions. He was exposed to new ideas and different ways of thinking, which helped him to develop his own political philosophy. He also met people from all over the world, which broadened his perspective.
Nkrumah’s work with the British Communist Party
In the United Kingdom, Nkrumah worked closely with the British Communist Party. He was inspired by Marxism and the work of Vladimir Lenin. He also joined the League of Coloured Peoples, an organization founded by West Indian writer and civil rights activist George Padmore. Nkrumah became friends with Padmore, and the two men would later work together to promote decolonization in Africa.
Nkrumah’s Time in the Gold Coast
Nkrumah’s time in the Gold Coast was cut short by the outbreak of World War II, but he was able to complete his primary and secondary education. Nkrumah’s time in the Gold Coast was a formative experience for him, and it exposed him to new ideas and people.
Nkrumah’s work with the United Gold Coast Convention
Nkrumah’s work with the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) was critical in the formation of Ghana as an independent nation. Nkrumah was first exposed to the concept of independence while studying abroad in the United States and England. He became increasingly convinced that independence was the only way to achieve true freedom for Ghanaians.
When he returned to the Gold Coast, Nkrumah immediately joined the UGCC, which was working towards independence from British colonial rule. Nkrumah quickly rose through the ranks of the organization, and by 1947 he was its General Secretary.
Nkrumah’s time with the UGCC was characterized by a growing rift between those who wanted to achieve independence peacefully and those who advocated for more aggressive tactics. Nkrumah eventually broke away from the UGCC to form his own party, the Ghana Congress Party (GCP), which advocated for immediate independence.
The GCP’s agitation led to widespread unrest and violence, which eventually culminated in Ghana’s independence in 1957. It is clear that Nkrumah’s time with the UGCC helped shaped his views on independence and his vision for Ghana as an independent nation.
Nkrumah’s work with the Ghana Congress Party
In the Gold Coast, Nkrumah became increasingly involved with the struggle for independence from British colonial rule. He joined the Ghana Congress Party (GCP), which was founded in 1949. The GCP was led by educated elites who were committed to non-violent change and who were influenced by the ideas of pan-Africanism, which called for the unity of all African peoples.
Nkrumah quickly rose to become the general secretary of the GCP. Under his leadership, the party began to attract more support from working-class and peasant groups. Nkrumah also helped to organize a number of mass protests against British colonial rule. In 1950, he was arrested and jailed for his role in the protests. While in prison, Nkrumah wrote a number of important works, including his autobiography, Ghana: The Autobiography of Kwame Nkrumah.
After his release from prison in 1951, Nkrumah travelled to London to continue his studies. He earned a degree in economics from the London School of Economics and then returned to the Gold Coast to continue his work for independence. In 1952, he was elected to the Legislative Assembly. In 1954, he became leader of government business and shortly thereafter became prime minister when the GCP won a majority in elections.
Nkrumah’s Time in Prison
Nkrumah’s time in prison was a pivotal moment in his life. It was during this time that he was able to reflect on his educational experiences and how they had shaped him. Nkrumah’s time in prison also allowed him to read extensively and develop his own political philosophy.
Nkrumah’s work on the Ghanaian independence movement
Nkrumah’s work on the Ghanaian independence movement whilst in prison in the Gold Coast could be seen as one of his most important political achievements. Nkrumah was able to agitate for change and helped to raise awareness of the conditions in prison, which led to significant improvements for prisoners. He also gained a following among other political prisoners, which helped to lay the foundations for his future political career.
Nkrumah’s work on his autobiography
While in prison, Nkrumah worked on his autobiography, which was later published as I Speak of Freedom. In the book, Nkrumah recounted his childhood and outlined his political philosophy. He also detailed the cocoa farmers’ strike in 1947 that he had helped to lead. Nkrumah’s insights into the political situation in Ghana at the time were significant, and his book is still considered an important work of Ghanaian history.
