ABSTRACT
The challenge that Africare faced as a charity appealing to African Americans was to entice them to look beyond black philanthropy as local mechanism for survival, mutual assistance, self-help to aiding strangers of their own race an ocean away. Coles and Africare faced a very difficult transition. The question that Mans posed to his Board of Directors—"What do you want Africare to be in twenty-first century"—is applicable not only to this one organization, but to all government agencies and all charities, world-wide, that are providing development assistance to sub-Saharan Africa. Lucas was political master who could call politicians, CEOs, ambassadors, lobbyists, journalists, and just about anyone else in Washington to discuss legislation, advocate policy positions, wrangle more government funding, or get publicity. Aside from private donors to Africare, to Save Africa's Children, several miniscule new organizations and from a handful of black entertainers, actors, and business people, African Americans are not engaged in Africa's dilemma.
