Students at conference told they are ‘programmed for greatness’
Beating the odds, a celebration of African heritage
WATERLOO — African people are the roots of civilization. The first known human was a black woman.
“She was the mother of humankind. Every race flowed from her,” Nene Kafele told a room of black students at the annual Beat the Odds conference at Wilfrid Laurier University Friday.
The event was organized by the Association of Black Students on campus.
The first languages were spoken by black people, the first books were written by black people and the first libraries created by black people.
“You look stunned,” he said to the group. “I’m not making this up.”
“We are the foundation of many things we take for granted today,” said Kafele, a community activist, inspirational speaker and teacher at York University.
However, persistent images in society enforce a particular standard and people start to believe it, Kafele told about 120 high school students.
But stop thinking the only thing you’re good at is playing basketball or shaking your butts, he said. Or that your female hips are too broad, your lips too thick, your skin colour too dark and your hair too kinky.
“Announce to the world that you are OK as you are,” Kafele said. “I’m black and I’m proud. I stand strong in who I am and how I look.”
When you look in the mirror, treat that person with respect and dignity because “you carry the ancient genes,” he said.
Kafele said the myth of Africa as a “dark continent with no redeeming qualities” and the notion that white people “brought civilization to us” continues to be perpetuated. “That is a lie,” he said. Kafele told the students that they must delve into history before slavery to understand the legacy of African people. African civilization did not start with slavery, he said.
Kafele said during slavery, blacks were not allowed to read because knowledge was power. Instead, they sang spirituals, which were “messages around defiance, resistance and survival.”
“Erase from your mind that anything good about us started in slavery,” he said.
“Never define yourselves in relation to slavery. Never define yourselves in relation to oppression. Never define yourselves in relation to colonization,” he said.
“Define yourselves in relation to the greatness of African people.”
Kafele reminded students that their minds are powerful and encouraged them to read and be critical thinkers by asking questions.
“You are programmed for greatness,” he said. “Don’t let anyone tell you to the contrary.”
Sarah Seh, a Grade 12 student at St. Mary’s High School in Kitchener, said she was inspired by the talk.
“I see myself as a black woman. It’s not a disadvantage,” said the 17-year-old.
“If you have a positive mind and a willingness to learn, you can achieve anything you want,” she said.
After the guest speaker, the students broke out into smaller sessions. Stephen Amoah of Brampton led a session telling students to think about their education plan and believe in themselves.
“Be self-aware. Yes, there is systematic racism, but you have to overcome it,” he said in an interview.
“You have to have a positive mindset. The answers are out there for you. You have to overcome it and beat the odds,” said the Brock University graduate who works in sales and marketing for a startup in Toronto.
Go to this link to watch a video Kefele presented to the students: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=v0JZHjkpNqE.