Voices of Youth Against Racism
On March 21st 2021, Anti-Racism Live provided a platform for young changemakers, thinkers and innovators to tell their stories, in order to inform, inspire and engage a global audience to address the most pressing issues of our time and join the journey towards humanity’s survival.
Anti-Racism Live is one of four annual global digital experiences from Peace One Day, alongside Climate Action Live (June 21st), Peace Day Live (September 21st) and Space Transformers Live (December 21st).
The Kofi Annan Foundation is thrilled to partner with Peace One Day for the Anti-Racism Live event, which showcases exceptional young activists from around the world. The Kofi Annan Foundation shares Peace One Days’ conviction that young people have the energy, ideas and vision to transform the world around them. Young people must be given a seat at the decision-making table and the proper platforms to develop and present these ideas. Anti-Racism Live is one of these platforms.
Panel discussion during Peace One Day’s Anti-Racism Live event on March 21st, featuring Dr. Marcia Goddard, Extremely Together leader Arizza Ann Nocum, Extremely Together leader Jonah Obajeun, Micheal Timilehin Omoniyi
Since 1966, March 21 has been recognized by the United Nations as the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. The day honours those who lost their lives in the largest protest against the apartheid – a system of institutionalized racial segregation that existed in South Africa from 1948 until the early 1990s.
Six decades later, the vision of equal and fair justice for all has yet to be achieved. Though generations of human rights activism have led to significant gains, our world is still not free of systemic racism. Discrimination and exclusion continue in our institutions today— from our education, housing, health, employment, and justice systems. While the coronavirus does not discriminate by race, longstanding inequities in health and across other sectors of society have ensured that its impact does. The pandemic has laid bare the structural racism and legacies of colonialism that have, for generations, held black indigenous and people of colour communities from rising. This is detrimental to all. On March 21, we confront ignorance with knowledge, bigotry with tolerance. Racism can, will, and must be defeated.
Voices of Youth Against Racism
Young people are demonstrating an unprecedented mobilization for justice and equity around the world, which shows the massive power they possess to hold decision-makers accountable. Young people are often the most vocal contributors to justice action. They are agents of change, entrepreneurs and innovators. Whether through the community, education, or technology, young people are using their voices and skills to build just societies for all. How young people drive action, influence change, inspire culture, create and imagine for a better tomorrow will determine the extent to which anti-racism is normalized in our society.
On March 21st, two of our Extremely Together leaders, Arizza Nocum and Jonah Obajeun, took part in a panel discussion with Michael Timilehin Omoniyi and Dr Marcia Goddard. They discussed their involvement and will to build just and equal societies, shared tips on how young people can stand up against racism and discrimination.
The recording of the event will be available here.
