New Directions

Volume 4 | Issue 2 Article 14

1-1-1977

Let Us March on Until VictoryWilliam R. Tolbert

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Recommended CitationTolbert, William R. (1977) "Let Us March on Until Victory," New Directions: Vol. 4: Iss. 2, Article 14.Available at: http://dh.howard.edu/newdirections/vol4/iss2/14

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The following is excerpted from theConvocation address of Dr. William R.Tolbert Jr., President of the Republic ofLiberia. During the ceremony inCramton Auditorium on September 24,1976, the speaker was awarded thehonorary degree of Doctor of Laws. Asmall group of students staged anorderly protest outside the auditoriumdenouncing the Liberian leader and hisadministration. Ed.

'Let Us March onUntil Victory'By William R. TolbertPresident, the Republic of Liberia

From this distinguished sanctuary oflearning in the capital city of America, Iextend warm and sincere greetings toall the people of America, and, indeed,to all members of academic communitiesacross this nation. Our visit to thisproductive institution is a special andhistoric event.

It is historic because 98 years ago theleaders of Howard University were ableto seNe in forging diplomatic linksbetween the United States and Liberia.

It is historic because of Howard'spioneering alignment with Pan African-ism, because of its dogged defense ofdisadvantaged and dispossessedpeoples, particularly in Africa.

It is particularly special and historicbecause since 1873 a large number ofLiberians have passed through thesesacred portals, and are today makingconstructive contributions towards thegreater destiny of Africa and our oneworld.

Howard's humane concern has longbeen manifested in Liberia through thecontributions of alumni HildrusPoindexter and Flemmie Kittrell intropical medicine and nutrition. Morerecently, through the fruitful efforts of Dr.Marion Mann, Dr. Ulrich Henschke, andDr. Lasalle Leffall, a new kind of

institutional cooperation has alreadybegun between the Howard UniversityMedical College and the John F. KennedyMedical Center in Monrovia, by whichHoward has donated a Cobalt-60Radio-Therapy Unit for cancer control inLiberia and the West African area.

This renowned institution of learning hasventured nobly beyond its originalmandate which was to educate theyouth and the disadvantaged of America.It has contributed impressively tomanpower development for Africa andthe world. There are few countries inAfrica where Howard Universitygraduates cannot be found.

Only two decades of history separatethe founding of the oldest Republic ofAfrica and this cosmopolitan center oflearning for Black America.

We share a commonality of origin andoutlook.

Launched alike upon the foundation ofinherent pride and profound faith, bothHoward and Liberia can symbolizetoday after more than a century, thesoul's desire for unmitigated liberty,freedom and dignity, and for unlimitedopportunity and achievement.

The world can appreciate today thethrobbing vibrancy of this great land ofblended peoples. It can appreciateAmerica's diversity and its continuingsolidarity. It must appreciate its anchorpoints and its paths of adventure. It mustappreciate its enterprise and its maturity,its leadership and its legacy.

America stands at the pinnacle ofindustrial and economic power in theworld. Superior technological advance-ment converges with the practicalimpulse, and educational excellence isconstructed upon a solid fulcrum ofmoral purpose and commitment.

There is balance, and there is movementin America. And countless millions ofthe world's peoples are yearning tomove in the direction of America, in thedirection of a better quality of life.

Mankind's majority has grown wearywith the old structures of rift and strifein our one world. Ever since the oil crisisof 1973, that majority has entered into theforay of the world with increasingdemands for a more equitable system ofhuman and economic exchange, a moreresponsive order of social justice, andbroader horizons of real opportunity.

In a world of great abundance, peoples

of Third World nations, covering two-thirds of the citizens of this planet, arefrustrated by crises of malnutrition,hunger, and grinding poverty.

In a world of bouyant economies, themajority of nations are facing crises ofjoblessness, of vice and of crime.

In a world of democratic traditions,peoples are being repressed by minorule, oppressed by racist brutalities,depressed by international lawlessneThree-tenths of the world's peoplereceive seven-tenths of the worldincome, earning between $75 and $2OCper year ..

Primary producing nations- nations ofthe majority-must accept decliningprices for their products, yet they mustbuy at rising prices their needs forexistence and development. Theirexports are borne by foreign ships, the'imports arrive in simi lar manner. In thefinal analysis, they receive only a smallfraction of the processed value of theirproducts.

Dr. William R. Tolbert

Fifty per cent of the world's populationproduces only seven per cent of themanufactures of the world.

Transfer and adaptation of the world'sgrowing technology to the needs ofprocessing and economic diversificationremain on the periphery of developingcountries, serving mainly the graftedmultinational corporations.

Subsistence labor and sub-standardliving prevail.

Rural emptiness contrasts with urbancrowdedness. Seven hundred mi Ilion of·the world's people live on fragmentedfarms under conditions of acute destitu-tion. Two hundred million live in absolutepoverty, suffering from malnutrition inurban areas, where water and othersupplies are frequently absent and wherehousing needs are unmet. 1

Tolbert: Let Us March on Until Victory

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-,;sease, illiteracy, high infant mortality=:;xj low life expectancy comprise the

lance of bleakest prospects.

-:J(the first time in the history of therid, these issues of affluence and

~poverishment, of growth and=xploitation, of resentment and revolt

e been clearly articulated in thencils of the world. Nations have

"3Xlgnized the fact of global interde-- dence among nations and peoples,~ge and small, rich and poor. They

e proposed a new system of eco-ic rights and responsibilities,

orsed an action program forespread development, and are

= ready involved in the intricate process~molding a new, implementable

cture of socio-economic reform.

- ready, a conscience for intemational- nity and development has emerged.

_-alogue between rich and poor,ustrialized and developing economies

=-3 in process. Raw material producers::cz reaching for more equitable terms of-:= e at present levels of production.

- eloping nations realize that the::ogress of their economies will soon- uire a more relevant application ofience and technology to their mode of

uction. Poor countries are contend-that a compensatory linkage be

::2ated between prices of raw materialsprices of manufactures, to balance

-=0 effects of viru lent inflation in theeloped countries.

-_lowing three decades of systematicdvantage, they are encouraged that

eir appeal can be reasonably heardrearrangement of their prohibitivet obligations. And developing

~ntries can take profound hope in the-c=~=that developed countries are

iding and promising to provide=:g[J more funds for agricultural pro-

ction, for food availabilities, for- nological transfer, for rural produc-

-; ,and for housing and health faci litiesthe urban poor.

e other than that of sincere leader--on and moral commitment can confront=cay the imminent threat to interna-- al economic reconciliation and-- rm. That threat is contained in the

ering issue of whether or not--:lOrities or majorities of the world,=:2ck or white, will decisively undo the~ burdens of racism and systematic

an discrimination, and let themessed and repressed of the world

- me free.

It is most regrettable that in SouthernAfrica the peoples of Zimbabwe, Namibiaand South Africa are viciously,flagrantly, and violently denied theirGod-given rights, their inalienable andimprescriptible entitlement to humandignity, liberty, freedom and opportunity.

In the face of international resolutions,bilateral humanitarian dialogue, andinternational court decisions, SouthAfrica will not perrnit free elections inNamibia under United Nationssupervision.

The racist minority regime. of Zimbabwewould rather in defiance and withintransigence perpetuate itself inpower than prevent the intensificationof violence.

In South Africa itself, the heinoussystem of apartheid has brewed brutalspurts of atrocities and has challenged acourageously noble people who lackarms. Yet these proud and heroic sonsof Africa must revolt defenselesslyagainst their permanent separation andpossible annihi lation.

All African states must remain unitedagainst the defiance and intransigenceof Ian Smith and John Vorster.

In this historic Bicentennial year of thefounding of this great Republic, it issignificant that the United States hastaken up the gauntlet for internationalsocial justice and prosperity. What iseven more momentous is the fact thather entrance into the third century ofindependence has again found herunremittingly engaged in the pursuit ofIiberty and d ign ity for other nations andpeoples, particularly upon the AfricanContinent.

The global posture is necessary todefuse the growing momentum forcleavages, alliances and counter-monopolies. This is the reality which isso indispensable to the celebration andcontinuity of liberty in this our one world.

Thus, for the people of the United Statesof America, as part of an indivisiblehuman family of nations, this THIRDCENTURY must be a period of celebra-tion and of reconstruction. They cancelebrate an inescapable inward focusof the American global conscience ofrenewal and reform.

Americans can rejoice with mankindthat the enlightening torch of wisdomat Howard could brighten during acentury and a decade the way fordistinctive Black education and humanupliftment throughout the world.

Americans can rejoice for its spiritualfountains from which spring the vibrantmonuments of George Washington andThomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincolnand John F. Kennedy; of W. E. B. Duboisand Martin Luther King, Jr.; of MarcusGarvey and Malcolm X.

Americans and Third World nations cancertainly rejoice for the immortal soul ofHoward's former and late President, Dr.Mordecai Wyatt Johnson, who for aquarter of a century stood courageouslyin the vanguard, and became theprophet of total African emancipation,championing the age of moral leadershipand responsibility of free world nations.

Let THIRD CENTURY Americans cele-brate the coming of a new age whenco-alliances will replace cleavages,prosperity el iminate unemployment,under-employment and poverty, whengreater security and tender care wi IIembrace the disadvantaged and theless fortunate, when harmonious humaninterrelationships will displace thescourge of rampant racism.

Having fought so selflessly for freedom,Americans then must struggle forfullness-fullness of joy, of motivation,of achievement. Americans can recon-struct the collective bridges of sol idcooperation and greater accomplish-ment. They can regenerate their forcesagainst all forms of exploitation andoppression. And they can sharpen theirproficiency and preparedness for amore positive role in the process oftechnological challenge and change.

Unti I every last outpost and vestige ofmisery and tyranny shall shake off theshackles of indignity and shall respondresoundingly to the throbbing rhythms ofa new triumphant international order tothe ages, let us lift every muscle, bestirevery emotion, mobilize and rearmevery mind.

Let Howard University continuinglypursue her responsibility in this greatcrusade, rejoining in the harmonies ofdignity, fraternity and prosperity.

Let us march on, indeed, 'til earth andheaven shall ring with victory, that mustbe achieved. 0

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New Directions, Vol. 4 [], Iss. 2, Art. 14

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