Sacred Imagination and the Vision of a New UN Permanent Forum of People of African Descent
By Rev. Dr. Angelique Walker-Smith
In his 1967 book Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. envisioned a “World House.” In the book, he called us to take the following actions: 1) to transcend tribe, race, class, nation, and religion to embrace this vision; 2) to eradicate the triple evils of racism, poverty, and militarism, at home and globally; 3) to curb excessive materialism and shift from a thing-oriented to a people-oriented society; and 4) to resist social injustice and to resolve conflicts in the spirit of love embodied in the philosophy and methods of nonviolence. Dr. King also advocated for a Marshall Plan to advance a collective agenda of eradicating global poverty and hunger. He proposed a living wage and a guaranteed minimum annual income for every American family. And he urged the United Nations to experiment with the use of nonviolent direct action in international conflicts.
Through his sacred imagination, Dr. King redressed the traumatic social, economic, and political conditions of people of African descent and resisted colonial and neocolonial structures. He exercised resilience, self-determination, and agency regarding our rightful place and presence in the global space—acknowledging the grave challenges that have hindered us since the transatlantic journey of enslavement from Africa 400 years ago.
Today, the 1.3 billion African descendants outside of Africa continue to fight alongside Africans living on the continent for a World House with and for all people. Last month, a historic and potentially transformative global decision advanced this vision. The UN General Assembly adopted a resolution that supports a Permanent Forum on People of African Descent. This was an outcome of the UN International Decade for People of African Descent 2015-2024 and the 2001 World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia, and Related Intolerance held in Durban, South Africa.
The Forum, set to launch in 2022, has the potential to create a more visible global space—by and with people of African descent—that is nonviolent and engages diplomatic approaches. The Forum will act as an advisory body to the UN and will partner with civil societies and grassroots organizations around the world to address issues related to anti-Black racism and human rights. These issues include the climate crisis, health, hunger, poverty, and the legacies of colonialism and the transatlantic slave trade. In so doing, it will be a space that gives increased direct access to the UN and its international networks. In sum, it will help the Black diaspora and our African kindred connect, unite, and strategize around issues that we face in our respective regions and provide methods to make sure that our recommendations are implemented.
Read more about the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent.
Angelique Walker-Smith is senior associate for Pan African and Orthodox Church Engagement at Bread for the World.
Tools
from our Resource Library
For Education
FAQ: Hunger Crisis in Afghanistan
Afghanistan would be considered likely to have high rates of hunger because at least two of the major causes of global hunger affect it—armed conflict and fragile governmental institutions.
Global Malnutrition Fact Sheet 2021
Malnutrition is responsible for nearly half of all preventable deaths among children under 5. Every year, the world loses hundreds of thousands of young children and babies to hunger-related causes.
MEMO ON THE HIGH RETURNS OF INVESTING IN A 1,000 DAYS INFRASTRUCTURE
Bread for the World is calling on the Biden-Harris administration and Congress to build a better 1,000-Days infrastructure in the United States.
For Faith
Finding Hope, Ending Hunger on Both Sides of the Border: A Bilingual Latino Devotional
Devotional writers challenge us to feel the Spirit of God within us and to hear God’s urgent call to demand justice so all can put food on the table.The Bible on Health as a Hunger Issue
“As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him and established in faith.” These words from Colossians 2:6 remind us of the faith that is active in love for our neighbors.
The Bible on...
Faith Leaders' Unity Declaration on Racism and Poverty
A diverse body of Christian leaders calls on the churches and Congress to focus on the integral connection.
For Advocacy
Fact Sheet: Coronavirus (COVID-19) and SNAP
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is designed to respond to changes in need, making it well suited to respond to crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fact Sheet: Why We Need $200 Million for Global Nutrition Programs
Bread for the World and its partners are asking Congress to provide $200 million for global nutrition.
Fact Sheet: Hunger by the Numbers
In 2017, 11.8 percent of households in the U.S.—40 million people—were food-insecure, meaning that they were unsure at some point during the year about how they would provide for their next meal.