Pan-Africanism is an idea that people of African descent share a common history, culture, and experience and should work together to address issues like slavery, colonialism, and racism. It began in the 19th century and resulted in conferences of influential Black leaders proposing unity, identity, and economic growth for the continent. Kwame Nkrumah helped establish the Organization of African Unity in 1963 to further the goals of Pan-Africanism through greater cooperation between states.