Afro-American Women Activists as True Negotiators in the International Arena (1893-1945)

Abstract

This article demonstrates Afro-American women’s pivotal role in promoting transnationalism in the world of politics. It invites us to follow them on their journey to international congresses from the mid-19th century to the founding of the United Nations. By looking at some personal trajectories of some Afro-American international activists, like Mary Church Terrell, Mary McLeod Bethune and Amy Jacques Garvey, and analyzing some of their speeches, we will try to demonstrate to what extent these women gave legitimacy to the unheard claims of colored people and as such paved the way to modern diplomacy.