Tackling Resurgent Racism through Identity Consciousness

Chiemelie Ezeobi writes that the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation recently held a symposium to discuss resurgent racism and the struggles of identity consciousness in the face of overwhelming globalisation

Over the years, racism against the black people has been a reoccurring decimal in spite of all the achievements the black, Africans and peoples of African descent have recorded and attained in all facets of life.

It was as part of efforts to tackle this that the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC), recently held a symposium on “Black and African Peoples: Resurgent Racism and the Challenges of Development in the 21st Century: Globalisation and the Upsurge in Identity Consciousness”.

Held at the Testimony Place, Oniru, Lekki, Lagos, the discourse delved into reasons why Africans must be connected with their roots in the face of deep-rooted racism.

Moderated by Stephanie George, the panelists were Dr. Femi Owagbemi, Mr. Steve Harrison, Mrs. Debola Deji-Kurunmi, Mr. Christian Kolawole Love and Mrs. Olufisayo Bakare.

The speakers also proffered solutions to the teeming guests, as well as students from three secondary schools who were invited, a move deemed by many as most appropriate given that they are the future.

Racism against Black and African People

For decades, Africa, which is touted as the cradle of human civilisation, has suffered and continue to suffer racism. This is why no serious discourse on the historical development of Global Africa would be complete without a critical analysis of the subject matter of race and racism because of the grave consequences on its capacity for self-realisation.

While the dominant narrative is that racism is a phenomenon from which all races also suffer, for Africa and the Blacks, it’s quite different and still lingers decades after.

This is because racism is a denial of human dignity because it directly impacts on an individual’s human rights, and in particular the right to equality. Racism often manifests in the form of hate, abuse and violence and often times result in the unfortunate loss of lives.

Furthermore, arising from the disappointing performance of independent African countries and the multilayered development challenges they continue to grapple with, the image of the Global African has suffered protracted misrepresentations and prejudices, segregation discrimination and criminalisation, as well as the variegated abuses associated with these; with the consequence that the African is afflicted with self-contempt, self-doubt and lack of self-esteem.

Some of the questions asked and solutions proffered were on why the global African is always the victim of malevolent racism and why identity consciousness helps in tackling this.

However, for all the guest speakers, one solution was sacrosanct, Africans must arise and tackle racism in order to foster peace, unity, progress and development in the continent and the world at large.

Role of CBAAC

It was against this backdrop that CBAAC, as a Pan-African cultural organisation, decided to lend her voice against racism.

In her welcome address, the Director General of CBAAC, Hon. Oluwabunmi Ayobami Amao (FITP) said the choice of the theme was informed by the recent upsurge in the cases of racism, adding that the issue of racism still remains a monster that must be fought.

She said” “The choice of this theme by our organisation is informed by the recent upsurge in the cases of racism and racial inequality across the globe, especially against Blacks and people of African descent.

“Racism is a denial of human dignity because it directly impacts on the full enjoyment of an individual’s human rights, and in particular the right to equality. Racism and racial inequality are pervasive actions that manifest in the form of hate, abuse and violence.

” The recent Black Lives Matter campaign across the world sprang up and gained momentum as result of the ill treatment being meted against black people, which often times result in the unfortunate loss of lives. We must all rise up and speak against the twin evil of racism and racial inequality.

” It is against this backdrop that CBAAC as a Pan-African cultural organisation is lending her voice against the vices of Racism and Racial Inequality against Black people in the world.

“The issues of racism and racial inequality still remain a monster that must be fought. We must continue to fight against racism and discrimination by teaching respect and tolerance, by sharing the common history of all humanity.

“Human rights extends to everyone, and we must work constantly to let everybody know that they have an obligation to work towards eliminating racism and racial inequality.

“Be that as it may, it must be mentioned that despite the racial discrimination against Blacks in America and the Western World, Black progress over the past half-century has been impressive with many of them rising above any form of prejudices to become great achievers.

“As a people, what is needed of us is to continue to be committed towards making the world a better place for all.

” Let me state that the centre would continue to collaborate with allied institution to promote the interest of Black people all over the globe.”

this platform and opportunity to condemn in the strongest terms, recent surge in racism against Blacks and People of African descent across the globe, that tends to suggest the superiority of one race over another,” she added.

In a clarion call, Amao and the panelists charged all to stand and work against all forms of racism, prejudice, racial discrimination and to affirm the universal principles of human dignity, freedom, and equality.