George Houser - African Independence Movements

African Independence Movements

Houser left the FOR in the 1950s, when he turned his attention to African liberation struggles. He led the American Committee on Africa for many years, spending decades on the continent to promote freedom from colonial rule and segregation.

In 1952 he helped found "Americans for South African Resistance" (AFSAR) to organize support in the U.S. for the ANC-led Defiance Campaign against apartheid in South Africa. He was a founder in 1953 of the American Committee on Africa (ACOA), which grew out of AFSAR. In 1954 he took his first trip to Africa, visiting West Africa and South Africa. In 1960, as president of ACOA, Houser sent a telegram to Dwight Eisenhower urging him to officially condemn the treatment of Africans by South Africa. Because of his continuing activities for independence and against apartheid, it was the only time he was admitted into that country until 1991.

From 1955-1981, House served as Executive Director of the ACOA; he also was Executive Director of The Africa Fund from 1966-1981. At ACOA he spearheaded numerous campaigns supporting African struggles for liberation and independence, from Algeria to Zimbabwe. Since 1954 he has made over 30 trips to Africa. His support of liberation movements led him to develop close ties with many African leaders, including Amilcar Cabral, Julius Nyerere, Eduardo Mondlane, Kwame Nkrumah, and Oliver Tambo.

He currently serves on the Advisory Committee of the African Activist Archive Project.