The Open Letter That Exposed Leopold's Congo

Before E.D. Morel and Roger Casement, an African American historian named George Washington Williams became the first to publicly denounce King Leopold II's atrocities in the Congo Free State. In 1890, Williams traveled to the Congo Basin, witnessed forced labor and brutal violence, and wrote an open letter to Leopold accusing him of 'crimes against humanity' — a phrase Williams coined. This episode explores Williams's journey, his findings, and why his warning went largely unheeded for over a decade. We look at the political climate of the Berlin Conference's aftermath, the role of the Congo Free State's early administration, and how Williams's report prefigured the later international scandal. A story of courage, morality, and the slow machinery of justice. #GeorgeWashingtonWilliams #CongoFreeState #LeopoldII #BerlinConference #CrimesAgainstHumanity #OpenLetter #Boma #StanleyPool #CongoRiver #BelgianAtrocities #Antislavery #AfricanAmericanHistory #1880s #1890 #Colonialism #History #FexingoHistory #ScrambleForAfrica Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo