Global Student Conference
Eleventh Annual Global Student Conference
Tenth Annual Global Student Conference
Eighth Annual Global Student Conference
Global Student Video Conference on "Victory Over Slavery: Haiti and Beyond." Photo credit: 缅北禁地Photo/JC McIlwaine
11th Annual Global Student Conference
Global Student Videoconference brings together students from Africa and the Americas to discuss role of art in remembering slavery and promoting justice
“Remember Slavery: The Power of the Arts for Justice” was the theme of the eleventh annual United Nations Remember Slavery Global Student Videoconference, held on 10 May 2019 at United Nations Headquarters in New York. The event was organized by the United Nations Remember Slavery Programme, which is managed by the Department of Global Communications’ Education Outreach Section, in collaboration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Associated Schools Network, and Links, Inc., a youth branch affiliated with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). It brought together around 500 students from the New York metropolitan area, Kenya and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
Opening the Conference was H.E. Mr. Mauro Vieira, the Permanent Representative of Brazil to the United Nations, who spoke about Brazil’s history as an axis of the triangular slave trade. Approximately 6,000 enslaved Africans were brought to Brazil, and today, there are more than 100 million people of African descent living in Brazil.
“Culture was as important as politics or academia in mainstreaming the need to promote racial equality in Brazil”, said Ambassador Vieira. “Music such as Samba originated in Africa and today is part of the Brazilian musical DNA”.
Mr. Rodney Leon, the designer of the Permanent Memorial to Honour the Victims of the Transatlantic Slave Trade at the United Nations, spoke about the process of creating the memorial. In addition to incorporating three elements – acknowledge the tragedy, consider the legacy, lest we forget – Mr. Leon designed the memorial to be educational, symbolic and a place where people could reflect on the significance of the millions of deaths of Africans and people of African descent.
“People pass through the Ark of Return in commemoration of those who passed away”, Mr. Leon explained. “It is a process of healing, returning and taking back what was lost historically.” He referred to the memorial as “The Ark of Return”, a project name that has been adopted for the memorial, because it stands in contrast to “The Door of No Return” from where enslaved Africans departed Senegal’s Gorée Island.
Ms. Essence Gant, Beauty Director at the popular media company BuzzFeed, delivered the keynote address, entitled “Black Representation in the Arts and its Impact on Justice”. She engaged students with her opening line: “Free lipstick is great, but representation is greater.” Her remarks focused on the impact of black representation in movies, commercials, magazines, billboards and other forms of media.
“People of African descent are overwhelmingly portrayed as coming from families living in poverty compared to white families”, said Ms. Gant. “In addition, black families are overrepresented in criminality”. However, those portrayals do not match up with real statistics, she added. Ms. Gant said she used her position to normalize representation of black people in the media by using images of black people in her stories. When the industry gets representation wrong, she calls them out on it.
The Conference ended with a trivia session led by H.E. Ms. I. Rhonda King, the Permanent Representative of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to the United Nations. Ambassador King explained how the transatlantic slave trade played out differently in her country. The indigenous Kalinago people offered refuge to enslaved Africans who were shipwrecked off the coast of the Saint Vincent and later to people who escaped slavery. “But in 1764, the British instituted organized slavery and a sugar economy”, she said. “Resistance to slavery hastened its demise and slavery ended 75 years later in 1838”.
Students from New York, Kenya and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines presented research projects on: Barbara Jones-Hogu, an American civil rights artist who co-founded the artists’ collective AfriCOBRA; Aaron Douglas, an American painter and major figure in the Harlem Renaissance; Kenyan-Mexican actor Lupita Nyong’o; and Vincentian dramatist David Williams.
The videoconference was moderated by Ms. Kimberly Mann, Chief of the Education Outreach Section.
Panellists (L-R) – Rodney Leon, Essence Gant, Amb. Mauro Vieira, Kimberly Mann. 缅北禁地Photo/Eskinder Debebe
Students from Wyandanch School District, New York. 缅北禁地Photo/Eskinder Debebe
Students from Girls’ High School in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Photo/Sabrina Kirby
Essence Gant with student participants. Photo/Cathy Smith
Student participants from Nairobi. Photo/UNIC Nairobi
Students and teachers from East Stroudsburg High School. Photo/Cathy Smith
Students visit the Ark of Return. Photo/Cathy Smith
Amb. King of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines with student presenters and Kimberly Mann. Photo/DGC EOS
DPI hosts 10th Annual Global Student Videoconference on Slavery
The Tenth Annual Global Student Videoconference on the Transatlantic Slave Trade at United Nations Headquarters on 27 April, gave students from the United States, Mexico and the United Republic of Tanzania an opportunity to learn about the struggle of people of African descent towards freedom and equality.
It was one of several events organized by the Education Outreach Section to mark the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade.
Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications Alison Smale opened the conference with a video message.
Mahammed Naguib Soomauroo, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Republic of Mauritius to the United Nations, explained the fight for freedom waged by slaves at Le Morne Mountain during the 18th century.
“Le Morne Mountain is a testament to the maroon movement, where the enslaved engaged in a relentless struggle to escape oppression and search for freedom,” said Mr. Soomauroo.
Professor Christian Crouch, Associate Professor of History and Director of American Studies at Bard College in New York, delivered the keynote address, highlighting the contribution of rebel leaders in the struggle for freedom and equality, including Sebastián Lemba in the Dominican Republic, Maroon Leader Queen Nanny in Jamaica, and Toussaint Louverture in Haiti.
Angela Missouri Sherman-Peter, Permanent Observer of CARICOM to the United Nations, led the students in an exercise highlighting the achievements of people of African descent.
Hossam Younes, a project architect at Rodney Leon Architects, took students through the design elements of The Ark of Return, A Permanent Memorial to Honour the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade at the United Nations. The memorial was unveiled at United Nations Headquarters in March 2015.
Students from New York City, along with students teleconferencing in from Mexico and Tanzania, presented their research on individuals and events that were significant in the struggle for freedom and equality. They discussed the responsibility of Governments to ensure justice for all and defend the human rights of every member of society.
Student speakers at the Remember Slavery Global Student Videoconference, 27 April 2018 New York. [L-R: Naeem Harvey, Benjamin Banneker Academy; Mia Schaefer, United Nations International School]
H.E. Mr. Mahammed Naguib Soomauroo, Deputy Permanent Representative of Mauritius to the United Nations presenting at the Remember Slavery Global Student Videoconference
Students attending the Remember Slavery Global Student Videoconference, 27 April 2018 New York
Mr. Hossam Younes, Project Architect, Rodney Leon Architects presenting at the Remember Slavery Global Student Videoconference, 27 April 2018 New York
Musical Performance by Mr. Jesse George and Ms. Alia Pierre at the Remember Slavery Global Student Videoconference, 27 April 2018 New York
Speakers at the Remember Slavery Global Student Videoconference, 27 April 2018 New York [L-R: Ms. A. Missouri Sherman-Peter; Ms. Kimberly Mann; Mr. Mahammed Naguib Soomauroo; Mr. Hossam Younes; Professor Christian Crouch; Mr. Rustam Makhmudov]
2016 Global Student Video Conference
The 8th Annual United Nations 'Remember Slavery' Global Student Video Conference was held at United Nations Headquarters in New York on 13 May 2016 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. The theme was "Celebrating the Heritage and Culture of the African Diaspora and its Roots".
Students had the opportunity to learn about the rich African culture and traditions that have impacted life in countries that were involved in the slave trade and where the African Diaspora continues to make major contributions to all aspects of life. The event promoted a greater knowledge of and respect for the diverse heritage, culture and contribution of people of African descent to the development of societies.
There was an expert presentation on African heritage and culture by Dr. Sheila S. Walker, Executive Director of Afrodiaspora, Inc., as well as an artistic performance by students. Participants learned about the Ark of Return, the Permanent Memorial at United Nations Headquarters to Honour the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, from the architect who designed it, Rodney Leon. H.E. Ms. A. Missouri Sherman-Peter, Permanent Observer of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to the United Nations, led the students in an activity. With the support of the UNESCO Associated Schools Project Network (ASPnet), the event included students from Dakar, Senegal, and Port-of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, who participated via video link. Teachers received a study guide that helped prepare students for the event.