Nneka Otogbolu Op-ed
United Nations forum of people of African descent
Equity as Our Blueprint for Discovering Truth
By Nneka Otogbolu, (she/her/elle) | Chief Operating Officer, Foundation for Black Communities
During my journey to Geneva for the Permanent Forum of People of African Descent (PFPAD), I engaged in inspiring conversations and received empowering teachings from various leaders across the globe. These influential leaders and representatives were passionately advocating for the importance of championing inclusivity and nixing crucial barriers that affect Black communities globally. The exchanges I encountered during the sessions deepened my understanding of the pivotal issues regarding racial justice, reparative justice, education, culture, systemic racism, and more.
Attending the forum afforded me the opportunity to observe wide-ranging perspectives. Despite our multifarious educational backgrounds, cultural heritages, and nationalities, we spoke in harmony when addressing the challenges plaguing our Black communities. Echoing a collective resonance that underscores the universal issues that we face. This commonality and the need to strive for more support for Black leaders and businesses, reinforces an imperative unified action.
The preliminary crux of the target issue, an economic dilemma, goes without saying, there’s an imbalance in equity structures due to increasingly unequal societies. For leaders to serve as examples for the youth and guide them to navigate the complexities of the world, our efforts to combat systemic racism and advance inclusivity should be rooted in ensuring equitable access to resources, ergo guaranteeing success for all.
During the discussions about race relations, systemic racism, and how we as leaders can continue to drive change, I found myself grappling with the complexities of the intersections of equality and equity. And the recognition that to get to an equal footing, we need to understand equity – its benefits and its clear-cut ways of pointing out the discrepancies caused by social determinism. The Honorable Jean Augustine said, “In our advocacy for equity or equality, we are usually left behind or the door shut in our faces.” As leaders who ally on being the example and implementing policies and plans into action, we empathize with the social and cultural factors determining individual’s livelihood and beliefs as significant societal structures put in place shape the residual effects of actions and choices.
Although I was in awe of what I experienced at the forum and what was expressed in the lectures and the breakout sessions, I knew I was not only there to be in attendance but to take in my own line of questioning – creating my own mental dissertation of it all. There was a discussion of microaggressions, and it was compared to droplets of water trickling. Making the revelation that until we all make the effort to exercise critical thinking and indulge in proper discourse, those droplets of microaggressions will convert into a tsunami.
When fostering critical consciousness, we revert to our innate need to do the right thing. We practice good governance by partaking in discourse that sow seeds for change, skill development, and problem-solving. Moreover, we actively engage in unpacking our own peripheral vantage points and confronting our unchecked biases. Committing to this, we gain understanding of contrasting opinions and experiences. Leading us to pave the way for honest and genuine empathy, inclusivity, and meaningful progression.
There is still a need to tell the stories of the people of the African diaspora from their lenses. Eurocentric narratives of the African continent that have been taught in schools and have later festered in our workplaces, media, and politics, are still being used to deny and degrade us. Capitalizing on the impact of inequality which has heavily caused polarizing politics. As a keen observer, I asked myself some riveting questions: How do we address the root causes of issues faced by people of African descent in Canada? How can we think of reparations and decolonization as complementary processes other than odds? Also, where do I currently stand as a woman, a mother, and of African descent?
I also reflected on a point that was made during our sessions about individual struggles and how the idea of living single-struggle lives is untrue. We’ve recognized the complexity of our experiences and learned to advocate on multiple fronts. This includes addressing issues such as women’s rights, healthcare, education, and the importance of data collection to measure the impact we aim to achieve for economic growth and development. Acknowledging the necessity of studying and implementing solutions before they are universally accessible is a social and human responsibility that falls on everyone. By doing so, we improve our abilities and become better policymakers, lawmakers, researchers, educators, colleagues, allies, and storytellers. Ultimately, we pave the way for personal growth and societal advancement.
At the forum, Sheila Walker emphasized, ‘We are not a blank slate. We come to the fore with knowledge.’ Her words signaled our capacity to achieve more and contribute to Canada’s ongoing progress. Paralleling this sentiment, The Honorable Jean Augustine emphasized the importance of ‘building an equitable space for Black communities.’ Together, their insights highlight the potential for positive change and inclusive growth in our society.
Attending this forum has ignited a deeper sense of purpose within me. The urgent call to drive change in our workplaces, policies, and communities is a clear demand to protect people. With each step forward, fueled by the momentum of collective action, I am hopeful for the next decade, building upon the learnings and wisdom gained from the victories and setbacks faced in the first decade, and hoping that together, we can all create remarkable outcomes for communities of African Descent across Canada and the globe.
