The work is not over. But an important step towards justice has been made and I celebrate the work of Nneka, Mide, and Múthoní for their continued labour. I wish you rest.
“Our journey for an unbridled apology has taken almost four years. It came not as a result of self-reflection within AFP Global and the movement in general, but by a brave few who stood with us and grew to pressure AFP. The rising movement for racial justice, accountability, and transparency echoes the essence of belonging, community and togetherness. Attributes which we have sought from the very beginning of our protest.”
The work of these activists has incited a movement and reckoning within our sector. To Nneka, Mide, and Múthoní, I honour your commitment to justice. I honour your courage to share your testimonies to a world saturated with white supremacy and anti-Black racism. But most of all, I honour your love for this sector and the people in it. Thank you for modelling your values so clearly and spearheading a necessary dialogue about what must change for us to all truly belong.
Nneka Allen, CFRE, COC, PCCNneka Allen, CFRE, COC, PCC• 1st• 1stRelationship Builder/Stone-Catcher/Freedom Fighter/Writer/CoachRelationship Builder/Stone-Catcher/Freedom Fighter/Writer/Coach
“After taking this grueling journey of dirt road antiracism, humanity can come upon the clearing of a potential future: an antiracist world in all its imperfect beauty. It can become real if we focus on power instead of people, if we focus on changing policy instead of groups of people. It’s possible if we overcome our cynicism about the permanence of racism. We know how to be racist. We know how to pretend to be not racist. Now let’s know how to be an antiracist.”
~ Ibram X. Kendi, How To Be An Anti-Racist
Birgit Smith Burton, Mide Akerewusi, B.Sc., M.Sc. (Econ), CSR-P, CDEP., Múthoní Karíukí HBSc, MPNL, CFRE, Nicole Salmon, Camila Pereira, PhD, Stephen Hinds, MA, CPHR, CHRL, ACC, COC, Esther Saehyun Lee, MA, Rickesh Lakhani, Cathy Barrick (she/her/hers), Julie Berthoud-Jury, Mazarine Treyz, Nicole Jamrozinski, Elizabeth LeClair, Scott Russell
