“Those who don’t know history’s mistakes are doomed to repeat them; SDG 4 - quality education for all is key to reducing racism and discrimination in North America. It is necessary to encourage cultural diversity, empower the younger generation, hold societies accountable, speak up and take action. Race as a social construct has been institutionalised; and COVID-19 has exacerbated deep-rooted legacies of racism that are still inflicting wounds”.
                                                                                                                                                                                                          George Papagiannis, UNESCO

Extracts from Keynote Speech
UNESCO looks to the people who know, and you (the panellists and experts) know. COVID-19 highlights terrible vulnerabilities above the fact we have this terrible virus (to contend with). Historically vulnerable populations are less well prepared to deal with this. UNESCO must do that now to underscore the duty it has had since it was created and look at an asymmetric axis to opportunities and peace where racism and lack of opportunities exist.  “Equal Opportunities for All Is As Important Now as Ever”
                                                                                                                          Gabriela Ramos, Assistant Director-General for Social and Human Sciences at UNESCO

 
“COVID-19 pandemic has impacted communities of colour disproportionately globally as well as in the USA, in particular1st Nations populations around the World. Healthcare systems and racism create barriers that “other” populations have to deal with in a different way.  Leadership in the USA did not acknowledge the crisis as the reality occurred. One has to acknowledge the reality of the problem i.e. it exists, in order to address it.

Dr Martin Luther King II (his father) was assassinated on April 4, 1968. He would be disappointed that “poverty, racism, and militarism (violence)” have not been eliminated from our societies.; systemic racism permeates the entirety of American society, and Black people globally feel the same thing. We need to break down these barriers.

Young people must be involved in the creation and execution of new policies i.e. civic leadership such as school boards, mayors, etc. Moreover, because history is taught from a Western perspective that excludes so many, we need more diverse curriculum to adapt to how the World is changing. We are at a critical juncture in the juncture in the World, where we are called upon to make monumental change in a small period of time. We don’t have the luxury of standing still; voting is the first step but we also have to act and be engaged”.
                                                                                                                                                                                                         Martin Luther King III, USA
 

Similarly, in Canada Black populations are disproportionately impacted; e.g. they represent 21% of all COVID-19 cases in Toronto who are only 9% of the city’s population, and 22% of Black Canadians are infected whist they are only 3% of the country’s population. Comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes and cancer also make this group vulnerable. The Black body is taking the brunt of COVID-19 in Canada, the pandemic occurred at a time of protest against police brutality, police murders and youth incarceration. The Province of Nova Scotia was once known as the Alabama of the North with segregated schools to the extent Black parents often had to send their children to school in New England, and some of those structures are still in place today.
There are 1.3 million Black people in Canada the majority of whom are women. There is a gender dimension to COVID-19 impact on Black Canadians in jobs with contact, e.g. care workers, nurses, retail and men driving trucks; Black Canadians are generally in positions of subservience and jobs that expose them to higher risk of COVID-19. Discrimination comes from multiple sources, women suffer disproportionately, and immigration status is also flagged up as a case of intersectionality, whether documented status or not. For example, despite the good reputation of the Canadian healthcare system, non-documented persons will not access healthcare.
From 1867-1967 Black migrants were excluded from Canada, and in 1911 were explicitly told they were not welcome in Canada. In the 1930s, attempts were made to bring Black women from Guadeloupe to work as domestics in the homes of White Canadians. In 1955, Black women from other countries were also allowed into the country to work as domestics. Later Black men were brought in to work as farm labourers. Today there is one Black man to every 10 Black women, but clearly Black women have been in a subservient position in Canada from the get-go.
                                                                                                                                                                     Professor Nia Afua Dadesen Cooper (Nova Scotia, Canada)
 

We don’t understand the impact slavery has on the modern world. In 1609, the first enslaved African arrived in Quebec (a young male from Madagascar). The Black presence in Canada for a long time must be understood as such, that the only way to escape slavery in Canada was to run away, through flight rather than fight, which sometimes occurred in other territories such as the USA and Caribbean. Although no portraits or pictures of enslaved Africans exist, we know what they look like from descriptions placed in ads for runaways published by their enslavers.
People don’t listen to knowledge that comes from outside the Eurocentric movement. (However) it is not enough to have sympathetic people; we must have racialised people in positions of power such as civic leadership.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Webster (Quebec, Canada)
 

The Anglo narrative contributes to historic and contemporary racism we have to deal with, and we should move from textbooks to digitised learning to enable greater access at a lower cost. Juan Garrido is recorded as the first African who arrived in North America, prior to the first enslaved Africans in 1619. New York, Texas, and Florida were amongst the four largest purchasers of enslaved Africans of the USA.  The founders of Los Angeles were Afro-Americans and the southern tier of the USA has a large African diaspora. Everything is being privatised including the prison system which provides inexpensive convict labour for corporate ventures such as Sugar Hill and Angola (corporate run convict labour systems in southern states).
                                                                                                                                                                                                      Professor Jane Landers (Florida, USA)
 
 
RECOMMENDATIONS
Martin Luther King III – Appreciated participating in the webinar with everyone and agrees with all that was said. He applauds UNESCO and advises it “keeps on keeping on.” His recommendation is that diversity and human rights training should start with (school age) children all the way through college.
Professor Cooper – Racial capitalism and white supremacy is an issue. Anti-Black racism (Afriphobia) is everywhere; the struggle is against global anti-Black racism and UNESCO should help in the prevention of this form of racism. Government should apologise for slavery and make reparations; it should also be encouraged to stop racial profiling, improve the criminal justice system, and represent the interest of Black Canadians.
Webster – digitalisation of knowledge and access to different markets is recommended for actions by UNESCO going forward. UNESCO should also put pressure on organisations and Boards to employ ethnic minorities.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CHAT TRANCRIPT
From Shahad Alissa (UNESCO) to Everyone:  03:47 PM
Dear participants,
You may ask them by using the "Q.&A." question box located at the bottom of your screen. The moderator will soon read several of them aloud for the Q&A session.
Chères et chers participant.e.s,
Vous pouvez les poser en utilisant la boîte à questions « Q. et R. » qui se situe en bas de votre écran. Le modérateur en lira bientôt plusieurs à voix haute pour la session de Questions-réponses.
From Shahad Alissa (UNESCO) to Everyone:  04:02 PM
REMINDER: Questions are welcome! You may type yours on the "Q&A" tab.
RAPPEL: Les questions sont les bienvenues ! Vous pouvez nous communiquer les vôtres dans l’onglet « Q. et R. ».
From Shahad Alissa (UNESCO) to Everyone:  04:23 PM
REMINDER: Questions are welcome! You may type yours on the "Q&A" tab.
RAPPEL: Les questions sont les bienvenues ! Vous pouvez nous communiquer les vôtres dans l’onglet « Q. et R. ».
You 04:27 PM
My question to the panellists is how are they influencing state parties and public bodies to implement IDPAD's thematic objectives of recognition, justice, and development in their countries?
How can we ensure IDPAD 2015-2024 impacts achievement of systemic justice and inclusive sustainable development of the African diaspora and other marginalised communities?
From Shahad Alissa (UNESCO) to Everyone:  04:33 PM
“Canada, COVID, and Police Brutality: The Experience of the Black Community” an article written by Professor Naa Afua Dadesen Cooper for the Moore Institute:
 
https://mooreinstitute.ie/2020/06/09/canada-covid-and-police-brutality-the-experience-of-the-black-community/
 
"Canada, COVID, et Brutalités policières : The Experience of the Black Community", un article écrit par le professeur Naa Afua Dadesen Cooper pour l'Institut Moore :
 
https://mooreinstitute.ie/2020/06/09/canada-covid-and-police-brutality-the-experience-of-the-black-community/
 
”L'exposition Fugitifs” Exhibition by Webster, presented at the Musée National des Beaux-Arts du Québec: http://www.websterls.com/new-blog/2020/8/24/lexposition-fugitifsca
From Shahad Alissa (UNESCO) to Everyone:  05:00 PM
Thank you for attending this regional expert consultation, we hope that you enjoyed this second edition.
We invite you to fill out our questionnaire (link below) so as to share your feedback with us and help us improve the next editions. In this survey, please also tell us: what are your recommendations to combat racism and discrimination in North America?

https://forms.gle/cbELGa4J2eYVW3dSA  

You shall receive an invitation to the third edition of this series of consultations in the coming days. It will take place on Tuesday 6 October 2020 and will address racism and discrimination in Europe.

Merci d'avoir participé à cette consultation régionale d’expert.e.s, nous espérons que vous avez apprécié cette deuxième édition.
Nous vous invitons à remplir notre questionnaire (lien ci-dessous) afin de nous faire part de vos commentaires et de nous aider à améliorer les prochaines éditions. Dans cette enquête, dites-nous aussi : quelles sont vos recommandations pour lutter contre le racisme et les discriminations en Amérique du Nord ?

https://forms.gle/cbELGa4J2eYVW3dSA     

Vous recevrez une invitation à la troisième édition de cette série de consultations dans les jours à venir. Elle aura lieu le mardi 6 octobre 2020 et adressera le racisme et les discriminations en Europe.

See UNITED AGAINST RACISM video here 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDKOzFyes5Q