Charlotte and Pete O’Neal both grew up in Kansas City, one on the Missouri side and one on the Kansas side. As they grew up, they both became involved in the Black Panther Party. Pete became chairman of the Kansas City chapter of the black nationalist movement and on Oct. 30, 1969 was arrested for transporting a gun across state lines – an arrest Charlotte maintains was politically motivated.
A year after his arrest, Pete and Charlotte, who by this time were married, fled to Algeria and then settled in Tanzania. The O’Neals began in Tanzania by homesteading – raising chickens, pigs, gardens, and starting their own cheese business – but are now continuing with their community activism.
Charlotte O’Neal spoke about the “spirit of volunteerism” and her involvement with the United African Alliance Community Center (UAACC) on Tuesday night in the Lillis Business Complex. Her husband didn’t join her, she said, because he would probably be arrested if he returned to the United States.
The UAACC is located in Imbaseni, a village close to the northern city of Arusha in Tanzania, Africa. The O’Neals founded the community center in 1991. The community center provides free classes for Tanzanian students including English language, computer skills, art, indigenous knowledge, film and music.
“(The students) could be out partying, but they choose to come to the center, because they understand the importance of education,” O’Neal said.
Rationing of electricity is common in East Africa. When it runs, Tanzanian electricity is on a system of 12 hours on and 12 hours off, but the country often suffers from rolling blackouts.
“Solar panels were installed in 85 homes that had never had electricity,” said O’Neal.
Their most recent project is putting together a radio station in conjunction with non-profit independent radio organization Prometheus Radio Project. The station, RASA FM, pulls news from the Internet as well as interviews with elders of the town to create a community-oriented program. The radio station also plays hip-hop and reggae songs.
The center depends on the service of volunteers and runs on a motto that “all of us are teachers and all of us are students.” O’Neal said that everyone can make a difference and that the youth should not be afraid to let their voices be heard. You do not have to be an expert on a subject, but “bring your passions” and try to inspire others through those.
“The UAACC is continuing the legacy of the Black Panther Party” O’Neal said.
O’Neal reiterated through her speech that she was a “product of the ’60s,” an era where people were not afraid to fight for a change. O’Neal is spreading the spirit of volunteerism not only in Tanzania but globally though her speeches and by leading a life of example.
O’Neal encourages university students from all over the world to participate in community service.
“(We) don’t have to have big money to make a difference,” she said.
The UAACC is funded solely by donations made by friends and family in the United States.
Ten different University groups ranging from the African Studies committee, the biology department, and the IE3 Global Internships program, sponsored the trek from Tanzania for O’Neal and two volunteers, Anwary Msechu and Samuel Obae.
Msechu took eight months of computer courses ranging from hardware construction to Web site setup and in 2003 he began to volunteer at the center.
“In order to have a good community, people need knowledge” Msechu said.