Kamau Afrika

Kamau Afrika (born October 2, 1956) is a real-estate investor, community activist and political candidate from the East Thomas neighborhood and Smithfield community in Birmingham.

He was born to Jimmie and Ivory Dawson Walker Sr. in Smithfield. Mr Walker was one of the first to build a home in the Sugar Hill area that became known as Dynamite Hill during the KKK's campaign of terror to enforce segregation. He also fought discriminatory pay practices at ACIPCO. His mother, Mrs. Walker defied Jim Crow laws and was active in pushing for street improvements in their community.

Afrika attended A.H. Parker High School, Selma Lutheran Academy, then graduated from High Point High School, Maryland, in 1972, and from Birmingham-Southern College in 1985, and attended law school at Miles College in 1991. He is a widower with a teen-age daughter, Uche Afrika. He makes his income from rental property and real estate investments.

His chosen name, Kamau, means "quiet warrior" in Kikuyu, the language of the Kinutu tribe of modern Kenya.

Activism

As a community activist, Afrika has helped get Smithfield listed as a Historic District (1985-87) and as an Enterprise Zone (1994). He served on Bernard Kincaid's transition team in 2001. He has proposed municipal amendments aimed at curbing vandalism, filed lawsuits seeking to preserve public ownership of the Birmingham Water Works and to expose the long-term effects of the proposed MAPS tax.

He has been a member of the College Hills Voters League, the Jefferson County Citizens Coalition, Alpha Phi AlphaFranternity Inc., the Alabama Solar Energy Coalition, and the Birmingham Pledge group. He is a founding member and president of the Five Points North/Smithfield Merchants Association.

Political platform

Afrika ran unsuccessful campaigns for the Birmingham City Council in District 5 in 1989 and 1997.

Afrika was a 2006 Democratic candidate for the seat being vacated by George Perdue in the Alabama House of Representatives District 54. In his campaign, he supported stronger vocational and technical education in schools, a new constitutional convention, funding for police, mandatory auto inspections, alternative fuels and public transit, home rule for cities over 100,000, limits on capital punishment, tougher laws against drug suppliers, taxes and fines for businesses hiring illegal aliens, and the use of lottery revenues to fund education and alternative energy research.

After his defeat in the June 6 primary, Afrika endorsed Patricia Todd over Gaynell Hendricks. Todd was eventually certified as the winner of the seat.

References

• Coman, Victoria L. (June 1, 2006) "Afrika sees need for alternative fuels, parental accountability". Birmingham News.
• Responsible Citizens to Elect Kamau Afrika (November 20, 2005). Paid political advertising flyer.
• Stewart, Sherrel Wheeler. (May 22, 1999) "City studying plan to fine parents for child's actions." Birmingham News.
• "Two halt attempt to block vote." (August 1, 1998) Birmingham News.
• "Smithfield Resident, Project LEAP sue to block MAPS vote." (July 25, 1998) Birmingham News.