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Gina Thesee University of Quebec in Montreal (UQAM), Montreal (Canada) thesee.gina@uqam.ca & Paul R. Carr La

African Desires or the African Desired ? 2011 - The International Year for People of African Descent AERA Annual Meeting SIG- Caribean and African Studies in Education New Orleans , Louisiana , April 8-12, 2011. Gina Thesee

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Gina Thesee University of Quebec in Montreal (UQAM), Montreal (Canada) thesee.gina@uqam.ca & Paul R. Carr La

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  1. AfricanDesires or the AfricanDesired?2011 - The International Year for People of AfricanDescentAERA Annual MeetingSIG-Caribean and AfricanStudies in EducationNew Orleans, Louisiana, April 8-12, 2011 Gina Thesee University of Quebec in Montreal (UQAM), Montreal (Canada) thesee.gina@uqam.ca & Paul R. Carr LakeheadUniversity (Canada) prcarr@lakeheadu.ca

  2. The Official Logo of the Year Thesee and Carr, AERA 2011, New Orleans

  3. Context • An evolving research project on the socio-educational impacts of the UN declaration related to the 2011 International Year for People of African Descent • A first glance: reception of this declaration by different levels of social actors • A critical analysis: silence/indifference • A proposal to understand some educational challenges re: people of African descent in Africa and diasporas • A modest contribution to the 2011 IYPAD Thesee &Carr, AERA 2011, New Orleans

  4. From Marcus Garvey “This propaganda of dis-associating Western Negroes from Africa is not a new one. For many years white propagandists have been printing tons of literature to impress scattered Ethiopia, especially that portion within their civilization, with the idea that Africa is a despised place, inhabited by savages, and cannibals, where no civilized human being should go, especially black civilized human beings. This propaganda is promulgated for the cause that is being realized today. That cause is colonial expansion for the white nations of the world.“ (Marcus Garvey, 1923, quoted in The Philosophy and opinions of Marcus Garvey: Or Africa for the Africans) Thesee and Carr, AERA 2011, New Orleans

  5. Overview • A) UN declaration and context • B) Examples of formal responses by Governments, institutions, media and associations/individuals • C) Critique of the situation: Silence or indifference or banalisation? (are we so color-blind that we can’t see this Year?) • D) Issues and challenges for Peoples of African descent Thesee and Carr, AERA 2011, New Orleans

  6. UN General Assembly’s Declaration by Resolution A/RES/64/169, adopted without a vote, on December 18 2009 64/169. International Year for People of African Descent The General Assembly, • Reaffirming the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which proclaims that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights and that everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth therein, without distinction of any kind, • Recallingthe International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families, the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and other relevant international human rights instruments, • Recallingalso the relevant provisions of the outcomes of all major United Nations conferences and summits, in particular the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action and the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action • , Thesee and Carr, AERA 2011, New Orleans

  7. UN Resolution (con’t) • Recallingfurther its resolutions 62/122 of 17 December 2007, 63/5 of 20 October 2008 and 64/15 of 16 November 2009 on the permanent memorial to and remembrance of the victims of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade, • 1. Proclaims the year beginning on 1 January 2011the International Year for People of African Descent, with a view to strengthening national actions and regional and international cooperation for the benefit of people of African descent in relation to their full enjoyment of economic, cultural, social, civil and political rights, their participation and integration in all political, economic, social and cultural aspects of society, and the promotion of a greater knowledge of and respect for their diverse heritage and culture; • 2. EncouragesMember States, the specialized agencies of the United Nations system, within their respective mandates and existing resources, and civil society to make preparations for and identify possible initiatives that can contribute to the success of the Year; • 3. Requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its sixty-fifth session a report containing a draft programme of activities for the Year, taking into account the views and recommendations of Member States, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent of the Human Rights Council and other relevant United Nations agencies, funds and programmes, as appropriate. Thesee and Carr, AERA 2011, New Orleans

  8. What if there had been a vote...? • Vote on Practices Fuelling Racism The draft resolution on the inadmissibility of certain practices that fuel racism (document A/64/437) was adopted by a recorded vote of 127 in favour to 1 against, with 54 abstentions,  Against:  United States. • Vote on Global Efforts to Eliminate Racism The draft resolution on global efforts to the total elimination of racism and implementation of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (document A/64/437) was adopted by a recorded vote of 128 in favour to 13 against, with 43 abstentions Against:  Australia, Canada, CzechRepublic, Denmark, Germany, Israel, Italy, Marshall Islands, Netherlands, Palau, Poland, Romania, United States. • Vote on Durban Review Conference The draft decision on adoption of the outcome document of the Durban Review Conference (document A/64/437) was adopted by a recorded vote of 166 in favour to 7 against, with 9 abstentions Against:  Australia, Canada, Israel, Marshall Islands, Netherlands, Palau, United States. Thesee and Carr, AERA 2011, New Orleans

  9. Welcoming the UN Declaration This is a Pan-African commemoration, memorialization and an opportunity to do some serious education (learning and teaching) about African culture and amazing opportunity to tell our stories. As Peter Tosh sang in his popular 1977 released song African (from the album Equal Rights): “Don’t care where you come from as long as you’re a black man, you’re an African.” We also know that the beginning of human existence, scientifically proven, is from the African continent.  (Berbiciangriot Website, January 10, 2011)(African Association) Thesee and Carr, AERA 2011, New Orleans

  10. Expressing doubt about the declaration “If the UN is serious about this declaration, it must be seen to rapidly mobilise the oft-cited international community to end the causes of poverty, disease, record capital flight, discrimination, exclusion and marginalisation of all forms against Africa and Global Africans” (Dr Koku Adomdza, President of the Council for Afrika International, April 2011) Thesee and Carr, AERA 2011, New Orleans

  11. Origin of the debate: Durban Declaration and action programme (South-Africa, 2001) The Durban Declaration (para. 34) recognizes that people of African descent have for centuries been victims of racism, racial discrimination and enslavement and of the denial by history of many oftheir rights. It further asserts that people of African descent should be treated with fairnessand respectfor their dignity and should not suffer discrimination of any kind. However, people of African descent continue to be discriminated as a result of these historical imbalances and injustices especially in the areas of education, health, employment and housing. (Githu MUIGA, Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, March 2011) Thesee and Carr, AERA 2011, New Orleans

  12. Some consequences of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (2001) • Recognition of slave trade and enslavement of Africans as a crime againsthumanity • Discussion upon reparations for the unpaid labour of enslaved Africans that enriched Europeans and Europe  • Intention to propose a decade (2010-2020) for people of African descent (N.B. USA voted against the resolution in 2009) • Recognition of PAD as a specific and more vulnerable group who continues to suffer racial discrimination (Berbiciangriot Website, January, 2011) Thesee and Carr, AERA 2011, New Orleans

  13. Concepts of  People of African Descent Thesee and Carr, AERA 2011, New Orleans

  14. Some expectations from 2011 IYPDA • To accomplish such a move there is a need for a concentration of activities that we expect will happen during the year 2011 through the active participation and support of the international community, countries, institutions, non-governmental organizations and individuals. And it must not end there (Mirjana Najcevska, Chair of the Working Group of Experts on People of African Descent, 2010) • I would like to emphasize the importance of history classes in teaching the history of people of African descent, their culture and positive contributions, as well as the grave human rights violations they suffer from in the past, including transatlantic slave trade (Githu MUIGAI, Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance , 2011). • The International Year must become a milestone in the on-going campaign to advance the rights of people of African descent. It deserves to be accompanied by activities that fire the imagination, enhance our understanding of the situation of people of African descent and are a catalyst for real and positive change in the daily lives of the millions of Afro-descendants around the world.” (Navi Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, 2010) • The international community can no longer accept that whole communities are marginalized because of the colour of their skin. If we are to do justice to the uncompromising assertion contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights, then we must eradicateracism once and for all. We will take one more step towards this goal this year(Ban Ki-moon, UN secretary,-general 2010) Thesee and Carr, AERA 2011, New Orleans

  15. B) Guyana Thesee and Carr, AERA 2011, New Orleans

  16. USA Thesee and Carr, AERA 2011, New Orleans

  17. Jamaica Thesee and Carr, AERA 2011, New Orleans

  18. Africa/Diasporas Thesee and Carr, AERA 2011, New Orleans

  19. Cuba Thesee and Carr, AERA 2011, New Orleans

  20. Organization of American States (OAS) Thesee and Carr, AERA 2011, New Orleans

  21. Canada Thesee and Carr, AERA 2011, New Orleans

  22. C) Critique of the situation • Council for Afrika International has studied the UN Programme for Declaring 2011 as the International Year for People of African Descent and establish that there is nothing creative, innovative or radical that indicates and commands serious response to the severity of afflictions that blight people of African Descent (Dr Koku Adomdza, President of the Council for Afrika International, april 2011) • Confusion between « 2011, The International Year for People of African Descent » and « February, Black History Month », and «March 21st, The Day for Elimination of Racial Discrimination » • Lack or absence of media attention, interest or engagement • Critique of the Durban Conference in 2001 (not including antisemitism) transfered to the Resolution A/RES/64/169 in 2009 Thesee and Carr, AERA 2011, New Orleans

  23. D) MACRO LEVEL- Africa and Diasporas - economic, environmental, political and social vulnerabilities • New-Orleans: Katrina; BP • Haïti: cyclones; earthquake • IvoryCoast: politicalinstability • Congo: civil war; refugees; sexual violence • Martinique: pricecrisisdetermined by France • Hunger/foodcrisis • HIV and otherepidemics • Dilapidation of naturalresources • Dictatures/corruption maintained • Unfair international trade and economicrules • Limited access to international mobility • Secondary-class citizens in Occident • Colonialism/Neocolonialism Thesee and Carr, AERA 2011, New Orleans

  24. D) MICRO LEVEL – Experiencingprecarious living conditions • Lack of access to health care • High rate of mortality of infants and mothers • Lack of access to educationat all levels • Exploitation of children (work, prostitution, wars) • Unequaltreatment in the justice system • Glass ceiling • High rate of unemployment/precarity in employment • Women and girls discrimination (race-gender-religion) • Overrepresentation of Black males in prisons • Underreprensentation in promessingfields • Passive or non-participation in public/political life • Poverty • Racial profiling • Violence(s) of all kinds Thesee and Carr, AERA 2011, New Orleans

  25. D) Resulting in the different faces of racial discrimination: • Exploitation • Domination • Oppression • Marginalisation • Exclusion • Disenfranchisement • Erosion of personal and social identities • Dehumanisation Thesee and Carr, AERA 2011, New Orleans

  26. Levels of racism (Scheurich) • The global frame: the iceberg of systemic racism Interactionalracism (Behaviors of the Other) Institutionalracism (Rules) Cultural racism (Values, laws) Civilisationalracism (Knowledge) Thesee and Carr, AERA 2011, New Orleans

  27. Epistemological Resistance-Resiliency • 1) Refuse (The No! of Indignation) • 2) Re-Question (Deconstruction) • 3) Re-Define (Reconstruction) • 4) Re-Affirm (The Yes! of Self-empowerment) Thesee and Carr, AERA 2011, New Orleans

  28. Possible Resistance-Resiliency of PAD in the Academy • 1) Refuse oppressive knowledge and beliefsthatmaintain the justification of discrimination and inequalities • 2) Re-Question the production of knowledgerooted in colonialism/imperialism/sexism/racismthatwelearn, produce and teach • 3) Re-Definealter-nativeepistemologies/knowledges (critical, afrocentrics, feminists, indigenous, spriritualists, etc.) • 4) Re-Affirmcritically the African and African diasporas cultures: history, values, battles, philosophy, challenges, critiques, etc. Thesee and Carr, AERA 2011, New Orleans

  29. Forthcoming… • Council for Afrika International demands formal United NationsrecognitionofAfrophobia to reflect the reality of distinct hatred,fear and discrimination against persons of African Ancestry.” (Adomdza, 2011) • An International Day for people of Africandescentshouldbeproclamedafter intense discussions and large consultation of PDA. The daychosenwillbe an important date in the history of Haïti, in recognition of the contribution of this country in the liberation of people of Africandescentfromslavery. • Sites of remembrance willbedeveloped in all countries in whichAfricans have been enslaved in conjonction with the transatlantique trade Thesee and Carr, AERA 2011, New Orleans

  30. Conclusion • Whatis the utility of this international year for PAD? • Why the silence/indifferencearound the theme of IYPAD? • How canweexplain the silence of PresidentObama, a PAD, on thissubject? Has he been silenced or doesheembrace the silence? • Whatis the signification of the IYPAD for you? • Which actions canyoutake in order to take part and be an actor of social transformation in the life of PAD? Shouldweevenparticipate? • Is there a connection here between the IYPAD and the annual Black History Month? • Why has AERA not commemorated the IYPAD? Thesee and Carr, AERA 2011, New Orleans

  31. Thankyou! • Mèsianpil! (Kreyol) Murakose! (Kinyarwanda) • Gracias! (Espagnol) O Sheun! (Yoruba) Ke Ya Leboha! (Sesotho) • A ni kié! (Bambara) Ngiyabongakhakulu! (Zoulou) • Merci! (Français) Na som! (Douala) Gha-ana! (Dogon) • Matondo! (Kikongo) Matondi! (Lingala) Sobodi! (Kotokoli) • Obrigada! (Portugese) Grémèsi! (Guyane) Djieredieuf! (Wolof) • Asante! Asante sana! (Swahili) Nouari! (Soninké) Chokrane! (Arabe) • Waadmahadsantahay! (Somali) Akiba! (Fang) Akpe! (Éwé) Thesee and Carr, AERA 2011, New Orleans

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