Africa is a continent of vast natural resources and a cultural wealth that through its diaspora has spread throughout the globe. However, the way the African Diaspora has taken place since the 16th century has posed enormous challenges for both the populations of the continent and the populations of African origin in various countries of the world. Thus, the populations of African countries and the significant world population of African descendants, when effectively motivated, can contribute to their mutual growth, development and empowerment.
“African Identity” is global and the African Union has designated the African diaspora as the sixth region of Africa, striving for effective exchange between these elements. In recent years, many initiatives have emerged to support this vision. This includes the partnership process with regional organizations such as the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Union of South American Nations (Unasur), the dialogue with the Black Caucus of the U.S. Congress, and the fledgling Black Parliament of the Americas, established in 2005. Undoubtedly, the whole process of rapprochement was fueled by the intense mobilization for the III Declaration and Program of Action Conference adopted at the III World Conference to Combat Racism, Racial Discrimination, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, held in Durban, South Africa, in 2001.
It should be noted that in the context of this mobilization, significant advances have been made in several countries. Brazil, for example, which has the largest black population outside Africa, has sought to advance in coping with racial inequalities. In 2003, the approval of Law 10639/2003, which establishes the mandatory teaching of African and Afro-Brazilian history and culture, and the Statute of Racial Equality in 2010, were important milestones in the promotion of racial equality. In Colombia, the implementation mechanisms of Ley 70/1993 for the recognition of rural black communities were strengthened. In Ecuador, the Multiannual Plan to Eliminate Racial Discrimination and Ethnic and Cultural Exclusion was adopted – 2009-2012.
In past governments, Brazil has partnered with NEPAD (the African Union’s development arm) by recognizing this agency as essential in defining the broad outlines of the African development agenda.
In this perspective, the common future of Africa and its diaspora is also linked to the elimination of the mechanisms of reproduction of poverty and social exclusion that mark the experience of Afrodescendants in societies that helped to build outside the African continent.
By using the term “Afrodescendant” the tradition and value of black ancestry in the diaspora, understood as heir to the African diaspora, is added to the discourse.
“BLACK LIVES MATTER”
In May 2020, the death of George Floyd, restarted in the United States protests to combat racism that has claimed the black population. This slave heritage present in diasporic countries has revealed that more than 75% of those killed by the police are black.
No less relevant the “structured racism” since the abolition of slavery has subjected the black populations of diaspora countries to the margin of economic development and today make up the majority of the base of the pyramid.
The protests calling for Racial Justice in the United States, and, in much of the world, did not prevent the murder of João Alberto, beaten to death by security guards at the Carrefour Supermarket in Brazil.
These events provoked us to reflect: – To what extent is the confrontation of racism just a struggle of the diasporic black population?; – What is the effective role of African nations in combating this structured barbarism from slave traffic? And how much does racism affect relations for Africa’s social-economic development?
These and other issues will be discussed at the Black Diasporas Forum during the 5th edition of FEAFRO in Florida, USA.
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