Instructor: Mba Mbulu Course Outline
Copyright 1999, 2020 ASET, M. Mbulu All rights to everything on this web site are reserved.
Title of Course: International Law 101 [Audio Version]
Class # 2: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, agreed to in 1948, is one of the most powerful and progressive resolutions ever passed by a political body. Click Here to find the Articles and Sections most relevant to Black People. Click Here to find Explanatory Notes as to its relevance to the struggle of Black People for self-government. Read all of the available information and be able to expound on the following questions and issues.
(1) What does the Universal Declaration of Human Rights concern itself with?
(2) Do Black People in the United States have a duty to remain citizens of the United States?
(3) Do Black People owe allegiance to the United States of America?
(4) What is the relevance of the phrase "will of the people" to Black People in the United States?
[InternationalLaw101][BuyBooks][TheBlackEye][Top]
1. Everyone has the right to a nationality.
2. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality.
Article 19
Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.
Article 21
The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government
Article 28
Everyone is entitled to a social and international order in which the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration can be fully realized.
Article 29
1. Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible.
2. In the exercise of his rights and freedoms, everyone shall be subject only to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order and the general welfare in a democratic society.
[InternationalLaw101][BuyBooks][TheBlackEye][Top]
Article 15 not only states that everyone has the right to a nationality, but that no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his nationality nor denied the right to change his nationality. The United States has deprived Black People on both counts. The United States has arbitrarily deprived Us of Our nationality two times; first by kidnapping Us and forcing Us away from Our homeland, and secondly by refusing to inform Us that We had the right to establish an independent nation of Our own where We were (in the United States) after We had freed Ourselves during the Civil War. Knowing that We would choose to establish Our own nation and govern Ourselves if We knew We had that right, the United States refused to make Us aware of that and instead made Us citizens of the United States. We were given no say-so in the matter, and are therefore not bound by it.
It is important to note that people have the right to change their nationality. Thus, no country can force persons to be its citizens. Therefore, Black People in the United States have the right to change their citizenship if they choose to do so, and there is nothing the United States can legally do to stop them.
Article 21 states that the will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government. The will of Black People was not taken into account when the United States government made Us citizens of the United States. The United States government did not concern itself with the will of Black People. Instead, it imposed its will onto Us and denied Us the opportunity to govern Ourselves.
Article 29 states that everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible. It is clear that a person who is in a community that does not promote his/her free and full development is not obligated to owe allegiance to that community or compelled to support it. Needless to say, the United States has not concerned itself with the development of Black People. Quite to the contrary, the United States government has hindered Our development. The United States has hindered Us socially, politically, economically, spiritually and psychologically, and has mis-educated Us to the point where We find it unusually difficult to garner the resolve and will power needed to do what is best for Our people. Thus, the United States has committed a crime against Black People that can not be materially measured.
If there is one thing each of these articles supports, it would be the right of Us, Black People in North America, to form an independent nation and govern Ourselves.
Please review this information and give it some additional thought.