Africans in New Jersey to Senator Cory Booker: Transform Biden’s Angola Visit into Action for Reparative Justice and Refugee Equity

By Dr. Nelson Aluya, Hon. Olamide Davies Talabi, and Mr. Dominic Tamin*

 In December 2024, President Biden will visit Angola, marking a milestone in U.S.-Africa relations as the first sitting U.S. president to visit the nation. This trip holds immense potential to redefine strategic engagement with the $1 billion Lobito Corridor—a railway project linking landlocked resource-rich countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo to global markets via Angola's Atlantic coast—and confront America's complex history with the continent. Angola, the homeland of the first enslaved Africans brought to Hampton, Virginia, in 1619, stands as a powerful symbol of slavery's enduring legacy. 

As the region’s influence grows—with nine of the world’s 20 fastest-growing African economies in 2024—and Angola evolves from a Portuguese colony to a key U.S. security partner, this moment underscores the urgent need for deeper cooperation and reparative justice. Yet, the silence from prominent leaders on these critical issues remains striking.

Senator Cory Booker, Where Are You?

This question is particularly pressing because you have consistently demonstrated bold leadership on African and reparative justice issues. As Mayor of Newark, you fulfilled a campaign promise by establishing one of the nation’s first African Commissions within the Mayor’s Office, prioritizing African representation alongside leaders like the late Ivorian-American advocate, the Honorable Marcy Phillips. This trailblazing effort set a precedent that resonated nationwide.

In the Senate, your leadership spans critical committees that directly intersect with this moment. As Chair of the Africa Subcommittee on Foreign Relations, you are uniquely positioned to shape U.S.-Africa policy. On the Judiciary Committee, which handles both immigration and reparations, your sponsorship of S.40—the Senate counterpart to H.R. 40 co-authored by then-Senator Kamala Harris—underscores your commitment to addressing America’s historical injustices. Your passionate testimony in favor of H.R. 40 emphasized the urgency of confronting the enduring impacts of slavery, segregation, and systemic inequality.

Now, with President Biden’s historic visit to Angola—a nation central to the history of the transatlantic slave trade—your leadership is more critical than ever. This is not a time for silence but a call to action. Your voice can transform this symbolic milestone into a catalyst for bold policies on reparative justice, immigration equity, and global collaboration.

Angola's Historical Significance

Angola's role in the transatlantic slave trade cannot be overstated. The men, women, and children forcibly taken from its shores in 1619 marked the beginning of centuries of systemic oppression that continues to affect African Americans today. President Biden's visit must transcend diplomatic formalities; it should be a catalyst for addressing historical injustices and forging stronger ties between the United States and Africa.

The 5Rs Framework: A Roadmap for Justice

The Cameroon American Council has proposed a comprehensive "5Rs Framework" to maximize the impact of this historic visit. This roadmap aligns perfectly with your commitment to justice and offers tangible steps toward meaningful engagement:

Remembrance: Honor Angola's pivotal role in the transatlantic slave trade by visiting historical sites like Luanda's slave ports. Establish educational initiatives along Angola's Lobito Rail Corridor to foster a global understanding of Africa's resilience and the atrocities endured.

Reparations: Seize this opportunity to call on President Biden to fulfill his 2020 campaign promise by issuing an executive order to establish the H.R. 40 Reparations Commission. Angola, as the origin of the first enslaved Africans in America, provides a profound backdrop for this crucial step toward justice.

Reconnection: Strengthen cultural ties between Angola and African American communities, such as the Gullah-Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor, whose ancestry traces back to Angola. Promoting cultural exchanges is not merely symbolic; it's essential for healing and solidarity.

Refugees: Advocate for expanding Temporary Protected Status to include Angolans and other Central African nations facing instability. Additionally, urge the administration to grant Special Humanitarian Parole to Cameroonians fleeing violence, reflecting the U.S. commitment to human rights and compassionate immigration policy.

Revitalization: Leverage the upcoming 50th anniversary of Lusophone African independence in 2025 to deepen engagement with Portuguese-speaking nations like Angola, Cape Verde, and Mozambique. Implement robust language access programs, cultural exchanges, and commemorative events to celebrate these nations' rich histories.

Three Tangible Actions for Senator Booker

While the 5Rs Framework provides a strategic plan for U.S.-Africa relations, your role, Senator Booker, is pivotal in ensuring these principles translate into action. To this end, we implore you to commit to three specific actions following President Biden's trip:

Host a Post-Trip Roundtable in New Jersey

In 2012, then-Africa Subcommittee Chair Senator Chris Coons hosted the Opportunity: Africa conference, connecting Delaware residents with experts on sustainable development and trade. As Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy and representing one of the most diverse states, you can replicate this in New Jersey. A roundtable could debrief the community on President Biden's trip, explore its impact on U.S.-Africa relations, and engage the African Diaspora in shaping future policies.

Hold a Diaspora Briefing at the UN in New York

With the U.S. presiding over the UN Security Council during President Biden’s Angola visit, this moment is ideal to spotlight Africa’s security, development, and governance. It would be a pivotal moment to readdress the issue of Africa's permanent representation at the UN security Council. Senator Booker, we urge you to convene a Diaspora-focused briefing at the UN to address conflict resolution, migration, and human rights. U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield’s "gumbo diplomacy" approach—embracing diversity and fostering unity—makes this the perfect platform to engage African Diaspora voices in global policy discussions.

With the U.S. presiding over the UN Security Council during President Biden’s Angola visit, this moment is ideal 

Connect the Gullah-Geechee Community and African Migrants in a White House Briefing

The Gullah-Geechee community, with deep ancestral ties to Angola, represents a living bridge to the first enslaved Africans in America. A White House briefing uniting Gullah-Geechee leaders and African migrants could foster dialogue on shared histories and mutual challenges. This event would activate the President’s Advisory Council on African Diaspora Engagement, advancing equity, cultural preservation, and collaboration while amplifying African Diaspora voices. It would also build cultural and economic bridges vital for a unified future.

A Missed Opportunity—But Not Too Late to Act

Senator Booker, your leadership can turn President Biden's visit into more than just a symbolic milestone—it can become a transformative step toward justice and global collaboration. Your active involvement is essential to ensure this moment doesn’t pass unnoticed.

With the African Diaspora community growing in influence, leaders like you are expected to represent their interests and advocate for justice. Organizations like the Nigerian American Public Affairs Committee USA (NAPAC-USA) amplify political voices. As this community looks to leaders for representation and advocacy, your involvement is not just desired—it's expected.

History will remember those who stood up in moments that demanded courage and conviction. We urge you to step forward, amplify these critical issues, and help forge a path toward a more just and collaborative relationship between the United States and Africa.

*Dr. Nelson Aluya is the President of the Nigerian American Public Affairs Committee USA (NAPAC-USA), a physician and community advocate based in New Jersey, dedicated to fostering stronger ties between the United States and Africa.

*Hon. Olamide Davies Talabi is an entrepreneur, author and a former Newark African Commissioner.

*Mr. Dominic Tamin is a Cameroonian-American entrepreneur, President of the African Entertainment Awards USA (AEAUSA.net) and a former New Jersey math teacher.