Guerrilla History Remembering Anticolonial Algiers: Panthers & Pan-African Revolutionaries w/Elaine Mokhtefi
Oct 13, 2025
Elaine Mokhtefi, an Algerian-American activist and author, shares her experiences in the heart of anti-colonial movements. She describes her journey to postcolonial Algeria, where she helped build a new nation and facilitated international solidarity among liberation groups. Elaine reveals behind-the-scenes moments with revolutionary leaders like Frantz Fanon and her role with the Black Panthers in Algiers. Their global activism, especially regarding Palestine and Vietnam, highlights the interconnectedness of struggles for freedom. This conversation captures the spirit of youthful commitment and ongoing solidarity.
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Postwar Internationalism And Student Radicalism
- United World Federalists drew postwar students into global governance and decolonization campaigns.
- McCarthyism pushed student radicals out and forced them to form a more anti-colonial organization called World.
Colonial Wars And Superpower Support
- France's defeat in Indochina and long wars shaped its Algeria policy and depended heavily on US support.
- Algeria's war proceeded despite French denials and US political and material backing for France.
Working In The Algerian UN Office
- Elaine joined the small Algerian office in New York that pushed UN recognition for Algerian independence.
- The office worked discreetly with Arab delegations and distributed literature at the UN to build support.
