*On this date in 1957, we celebrate the American Society of African Culture (AMSAC), an organization of African American writers, artists, and scholars.
The society was founded in 1956, following the Congress of Negro Writers and Artists, based on the idea of the French Société Africaine de culture. In the summer of 1957, five African American intellectuals officially founded the American Society of African Culture (AMSAC). During its heyday in the early 1960s, AMSAC had approximately 400 members. One of the organization's primary objectives was to introduce African Americans to their African heritage. This goal was pursued by organizing exhibitions, lectures, music performances, and conferences in the United States (primarily New York) and Africa (occasionally).
In 1961, AMSAC opened an African office in Lagos, Nigeria. The opening was a two-day festival of music performances, dancing, panel discussions, and the art exhibited by Africans and African Americans in December 1961. AMSAC had received federal tax exemption the year prior, and thus, large grants became available to the organization for specific projects from various entities. This financial backing enabled them to organize the large festival in Lagos. The grants were CIA pass-throughs.
After 1967, AMSAC's membership sharply declined following its designation as one of the organizations funded by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
