International Day for People of African Descent

“The Black skin is not a badge of shame, but rather a glorious symbol of national greatness.”- Marcus Garvey. Whether we admit to this fact or not we are all descendants of Africans. Our fore parents were forcibly taken from their homes in Africa and transported across the Atlantic Ocean to plantations in the Caribbean and the Americas. We are the legacies of the TransAtlantic Slave Trade. Undoubtedly, the transatlantic slave trade was the largest forced migration in history and is undeniably one of if not the most inhumane acts against any set of people. The widespread exodus of more than 15 million African men, women and children from the motherland was conducted over 400 hundred years. The African Holocaust or Maafa involved numerous European powers such as Spain, Britain, Denmark, and The Netherlands who were all responsible for the trafficking of our ancestors. The Slave Voyages Database produced by David Eltis and his colleagues estimate that between 1626 and 1808, some 3,429 voyages were made to Jamaica, transporting an estimated 1.21 million Africans to work on sugar estates, coffee plantations, wharves, domestic households and livestock farms on the island. In his message to observe the inaugural International Day for People of African Descent, Antonio Guterres, the Secretary General of the United Nations said, it is a long overdue recognition of the profound injustices and systemic discrimination that people of African descent have endured for centuries, and continue to confront today; it is an urgent call to action for everyone, everywhere, to commit to rooting out the evil of racism. Twenty years after the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, and more than halfway into the International Decade for People of African Descent, we are experiencing unprecedented momentum towards ending the global scourge of racism. We must not squander this opportunity. The United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) Slave Route Project calls upon us to speak openly and honestly about the horror and greed of slavery. United Nations Fund for Population Activities’ (UNFPA) initiative towards investing in young people of African descent focuses on expanding opportunities. Additionally, the Agenda towards Transformative Change for Racial Justice and Equality launched by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights seeks to dismantle systemic racism, ensure accountability, and deliver reparatory justice. The Permanent Forum on People of African Descent, initiated by the General Assembly, and the new independent mechanism to advance racial justice and equality in law enforcement, established by the Human Rights Council, are important examples of Member States’ commitment to act. The Secretary General added that by acknowledging the entrenched legacy of enslavement, redressing the wrongs of history, and shattering the evil lie of supremacy, demands persistence and action every day, at every level, in every society. Contributions of People of African Descent The contributions of people of African Descent to human civilization have been both innumerable and immemorial. From the magnificent pyramids of Egypt to the development of the COVID-19 vaccines people of African descent have stood shoulders above the rest. From activists to entertainers to record-breaking athletes, the civil rights movement, aviation, education, journalism, science and technology, our contributions have made this world a better place to live and raise families. The creativity and ingenuity of the black mind has spanned centuries in crafting and inventing devices from the traffic light to the ironing board .There is no field of endeavour which has not benefitted from the hard work of people of African Descent. The United Nations aims to promote the extraordinary contributions of the African Diaspora around the world and to eliminate all forms of discrimination against people of African descent. The UN adds, any doctrine of racial superiority is scientifically false, morally condemnable, socially unjust, and dangerous and must be rejected, together with theories that attempt to determine the existence of separate human races. The United Nations strongly condemns the continuing violent practices and excessive use of force by law enforcement agencies against Africans and people of African descent and condemns structural racism in criminal justice systems around the world. The United Nations further acknowledges the Transatlantic Slave Trade as one of the darkest chapters in our human history and upholds human dignity and equality for the victims of slavery, the slave trade and colonialism, in particular people of African descent in the African Diaspora. The United Nations has earmarked 2015-2024 as the International Decade for People of African Descent. The International Decade aims to celebrate the important contributions of people of African descent worldwide, advance social justice and inclusion policies, eradicate racism and intolerance, promote human rights, and assist in creating better, more prosperous communities, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals spearheaded by the United Nations. Despite the fact that Jamaica is a predominantly black society, we still continue to grapple with issues grounded in colourism. There is groundswell belief which lingers in the society and in all families which elevate the brown child/children. Unfortunately, many of us have bought into this indoctrination and enslavement of our minds. Our confidence and perception of ourselves is oftentimes clouded,muted perhaps through the years of colonialism and enslavement which collectively we have endured through our DNA. The United Nations declares that while some progress has been made at legislative, policy and institutional levels, people of African descent continue to suffer intersectional and compounded forms of racial discrimination, marginalization, and exclusion. The year 2020 also marked a turning point in the way these issues are being addressed at international and national levels. The murder of George Floyd followed galvanized people to protest racism and racial discrimination and prompted important global discussions on racial justice. We have seen the emergence and advocacy of the Black Lives Matter Movement which has provided avenues for discussion surrounding race, racism and equal rights and justice. We must speak with a united voice to build more equitable and inclusive societies. Advocacy and Activism It is a day for us promote culture, diversity and African heritage. We must join the global movement in ending all forms of discrimination against people of African Descent. We must use our voices to interrogate cultures and institutions which divide us; indeed we must transform divisive cultures to human rights and equal rights and justice for all. We must become catalyst of change and assist in making this world a more equitable one. As we continue on the path of modernity we must ensure that hatred and intolerance have no place in a modern society. In the words of Peter Tosh, I need equal rights and justice. Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues. waykam@yahoo.com @WayneCamo #AfricanDescent #racism #equalrights #InternationalDayforPeopleofAfricanDescent #colourism #EndRacism ©