Black History

George Washington Williams: Turning Experience into History

It was during a trip to Europe that Williams met Leopold, a German prince who became the first king of the Belgians. Leopold spoke highly of the Congo, sparking Williams to visit several times. While there, he wrote two explosive articles about the treatment of Africans under Belgian rule: “An Open Letter to His Serene Majesty Leopold II, King of the Belgians and Sovereign of the Independent State of Congo” and “A Report Upon the Congo-State and Country to the President of the Republic of the United States.”

Published

4 years ago

January 9, 2022

Oakland Post

George Washington Williams was a preacher and historian.

By Tamara Shiloh

Best known as the man who exposed King Leopold’s “benevolent enterprise” in the Congo as brutal imperialism, George Washington Williams (1849–1891) was also an American historian, clergyman, politician, lawyer, lecturer, and soldier.

He was the first person to write an objective, researched history of Blacks in America. His first book, “History of the Negro Race in America” (1882), is one of the most important contributions any American has made to the field of history.

Williams had little academic education as a youth. He was, however, in the church “learning about Jesus,” he later wrote. His father, a laborer and troubled alcoholic, was often absent. His mother then worked outside of the home. These circumstances pushed young Williams into rebellion. His parents placed him in a refuge house for undisciplined and unruly children, where he could learn a trade.

It is said that Williams became a barber, but no evidence of that has been found. What is known is that he was desperate to leave the home, to seek freedom and independence.

When Williams learned that the door for African Americans to enlist in the Union Army had opened in 1862, he joined and fought in the Civil War. At the time, he was 14 years old and knew he didn’t meet the age requirements. Determined to leave the home, however, he used false names, likely William, or Charles Steward, according to historians.

When the Civil War ended in 1865, Williams enlisted in the Mexican army to help fight the French colonists.

He later enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1867 but only served one year. His military experiences would later prove to be influential in creating such works as “The Ethics of War, A History of the Negro Troops in the War of the Rebellion,” and “The Constitutional Results of the War of the Rebellion.”

Upon separation from the military, Williams returned to what he knew: “learning about Jesus.” He enrolled in the Newton Theological Institution where he prepared for the ministry and was ordained in 1874. He served as pastor of different churches while editing and publishing several journals. He also served in the Ohio House of Representatives (1879–1881) and would soon become a world traveler.

Leopold was devastated by the exposure of his harsh policies, mutilations, and brutal reign and tried to discredit Williams who continued to speak appeal to an international audience. Eventually, the Belgian government took over the Congo Free State. Williams traveled to other African colonies controlled by Great Britain, Portugal, and Egypt.

When the trip ended, Williams fell ill and died in England. He was 42.

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Oakland Post: Week of May 6 – 12, 2026

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of may 6 – 12, 2026

Published

4 days ago

May 10, 2026

Oakland Post

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Activism

On the Frontlines of Hate: NAACP Links Victims to Critical Support

The NAACP CA/HI has a long and well-established record of supporting victims of discrimination and hate crimes — providing critical referrals and, when necessary, direct assistance through legal advocacy and other forms of support. Beyond responding to incidents, the organization continues to advocate on broader civil rights issues, including voting rights and legal protections. It has also worked to counter efforts at the state and federal levels that could weaken the voting power of communities of color.

Published

2 weeks ago

May 1, 2026

Oakland Post

NAACP members at a recent advocacy day in Sacramento urging lawmakers to protect voting rights. Photo courtesy of California Black Media.

By Joe Kocurek
California Black Media

The California/Hawaii State Conference of the NAACP (CA/HI NAACP) has expanded its efforts to respond to rising hate incidents and civil rights complaints across California, supported in part by funding from California’s Stop the Hate Program

Through that grant, NAACP CA/HI has strengthened its ability to connect individuals experiencing hate or discrimination with critical resources. This includes referring those who file complaints to the CA vs Hate hotline, a statewide, non-emergency hate crime and incident reporting hotline and online portal created to help counter a more than 50% increase in reported hate crimes in California between 2020 and 2024. The system helps ensure incidents are documented, and victims are guided toward appropriate support.

LaJuana Bivens says the work of NAACP is as urgent as ever. Photo by Regina Wilson, California Black Media.

LaJuana Bivens, who has served in a number of roles within the NAACP, said California has seen an increase in civil rights violations and hate-related incidents.

“We have 52 branches, and they are constantly receiving complaints,” she said. “So, without the Stop the Hate, we would not be able to refer those cases up to attorneys at the state level. A lot of the people would not have had an opportunity to be heard.”

Carmen-Nicole Cox helps survivors of hate with their legal options. Photo courtesy of Carmen-Nicole Cox.

Carmen-Nicole Cox, an attorney who works with NAACP CA/HI – as a part of California’s Stop the Hate Program – provides legal consultation to victims of hate incidents and discrimination through her legal practice, the Cox Firm for Law and Policy.

She said the complaints she receives span a wide range of issues.

“People are having home builders and landlords refusing to provide repairs, a student was denied promotion in an academic program, and targeted scrutiny at work,” she said. “It’s typically employment; it’s housing; it’s education.

“We’ll meet and they’ll share their experiences,” she said. “And then I make assessments about possible legal claims.”

According to the California Civil Rights Department (CRD), nearly 1,200 reports of hate against minority groups were submitted in 2024 through the CA vs Hate hotline and online portal for non-emergency incidents.

While the California/Hawaii State Conference of the NAACP, which has tens of thousands of members, does not directly investigate hate incidents or crimes, it plays a key role in connecting victims to the state’s reporting systems and support services.

Beyond responding to incidents, the organization continues to advocate on broader civil rights issues, including voting rights and legal protections. It has also worked to counter efforts at the state and federal levels that could weaken the voting power of communities of color.

Bivens recently traveled to Sacramento to speak with state lawmakers about voting rights during an advocacy day event hosted by the organization.

“It’s just so hard for communities of color to be up to date because of all of the confusing information coming from the federal level,” she said. “I love our great state of California because here it is possible to vote by mail and to vote early.

“And I’m seeing that trying to be eroded. So, I’m here to urge continued support for vote by mail and early voting.”

When Texas moved to redraw congressional districts in ways critics said would dilute minority voting strength, NAACP CA/HI supported the passage of Proposition 50 in California. The organization also intervened in United States v. Shirley Weber, where federal officials sought access to unredacted California voter records, including Social Security numbers, raising concerns about misuse and voter intimidation.

Cultivating the advocacy and leaderships of young people is central to NAACP’s mission to fight racism and dismantle inequality. Photo courtesy of California Black Media.

A federal district court dismissed that case in January 2026.

The organization’s current work builds on a long history of civil rights advocacy. Today, Bivens says, the organization’s mission remains as urgent as ever.

“We are the oldest, boldest, most feared Civil Rights organization,” Bivens said. “What we do every day is fight for better housing, education, economic development and political inclusion. We take it on because there are just so many people who need that support.

“You would be amazed that our phones ring every single day.”

Get Support After Hate:

California vs Hate is a non-emergency, multilingual hotline and online portal offering confidential support for hate crimes and incidents. Victims and witnesses can get help anonymously by calling 833-8-NO-HATE (833-866-4283), Monday to Friday, 9 a.m.–6 p.m. PT, or online at any time. Anonymous. Confidential. No Police. No ICE.

This story was produced in partnership with CA vs Hate. Join them for the first-ever CA Civil Rights Summit on May 11. More information at www.cavshate.org/summit.

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