HONOURING EMANCIPATION DAY: Blacks are Underrepresented in Power & Overrepresented in Prisons

Today is Emancipation Day, marking the date when the Slavery Abolition Act of 1833 came into effect in former British colonies like Jamaica and Canada.

The word, Emancipation, is the process of freeing someone from slavery, the fact or process of being set free from legal, social, or political restrictions.

And today is the anniversary of when Black slaves were “set free” to enjoy the benefits of the society and nation that other people are maximizing simply because they are not Blacks, but mostly Whites of European ancestry.

Therefore, no matter where you are in the world, let us remember those who fought and died for Emancipation Day, as well as those who have given their lives for the sake of freedom globally.

We remember the souls of about 20 million people who were viciously kidnapped from their families and homeland of Africa and used as slaves and stripped of their dignity to build what we now consider the Western world.

We remember the slaves who built the Bank of England, Buckingham Palace, the White House and landmarks, and places that countries like the US, the US and Canada are so proud of today.

We also remember the millions of slave descendants who, though were told they are now free, continue to face legal, social, or political restrictions which is the essence of emancipation.

We honour those of you reading this right now and already or willing to add your voice and vote to ensure the manifestation of the true meaning of Emancipation Day in your lifetime.

In the words of Nelson Mandela, “For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”

To join our Emancipation Day Dialogue on Wednesday, click here.?

A SPECIAL EMANCIPATION DAY 2022 BROADCAST BY THE PRIME MINISTER OF JAMAICA, HIS EXCELLENCY, ANDREW HOLNESS. A COMPELLING SYNOPSIS OF THE PAST, PRESENT & THE FUTURE.

THE INCONVENIENT TRUTH ABOUT EMANCIPATION DAY PROGRESS

Proportionately to Whites in national statistics, Black people are underrepresented in the corridors of political, corporate, and academic power but overrepresented in the judicial system, including in the penitentiary in Canada, the US and across Europe.

Despite representing only 3% of the population in Canada, Blacks represent about 10% of the incarcerated, according to Statistics Canada, with the number as high as 12.8%.

According to a non-profit clinical research institute that provided a rare glimpse at “substantial” Black overrepresentation in jails, “nearly one out of every 15 young Black men in Ontario experienced jail time, compared to one out of about every 70 young white men”.

There are 70 percent more Black Canadians in federal prison than there were 10 years ago, and that number is increasing faster than COVID-19.?

While Emancipation Day is worth recognizing today, it is obviously not a cause for celebration yet considering the increasing number of incidences like Police shootings of Blacks in the back, the mass shooting of Blacks by White Supremacists and racist remarks from politicians.

If emancipation means to free people from legal, social, or political restrictions, then are Blacks truly free in Canada, America and across Europe?

If Black people cannot jog in a White neighbourhood without the fear of being shot by some White civilians who consider themselves superior as taught to their forefathers for generations through the colonial school system, then are Black people truly free?

If Black people cannot visit high-end and even low-end stores without being embarrassingly followed around and constantly harassed by racist salespeople, then are Black people truly free?

If we can barely go through public places like an airport without being discriminated against or driving a fancy car without being suspected of wrongdoing by the police and in many cases, some ignorant White people who?keep prying on us rudely and disrespectfully, then are we truly free?

To join our Emancipation Day Dialogue on Wednesday, click here

FOUR WAYS TO HONOUR EMANCIPATION DAY

#1 – EDUCATE yourself about the atrocities of the past regularly instead of waiting until February to learn Black History.?In the words of George Santayana,?“Those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it.”

#2 – EQUIP yourself with tips, tools, and techniques to make your voice and vote count, because, in the words of Edmund Burke, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing”.

#3 – EMPOWER Black people in your organizations, communities, institutions, and governments to break through systemic barriers that continue to hinder their personal, professional, and socioeconomic progress.?In the words of Nelson Mandela, “For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others.”

#4 – ENCOURAGE your associates to use their voice and vote to advocate for social justice, to ensure they seize every opportunity and election to support the elimination of racism.?In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., "In the end,?we will remember not?the?words?of?our enemies, but the silence of?our?friends."

To join our weekly Lunch & Learn where we empower people with tips, tools, techniques and training to facilitate the transformation of your organization, community, corporation and institutions, click here.

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