Global Representation and the United Nations

United Nations Headquarters

      In 2020, following the release of our award-winning Samuel L. Jackson Enslaved: The Lost History of the Transatlantic Slave Trade docuseries that I had the honor to be a part of, I became connected to the United Nations. From March through August 2021, the Outreach Programme on the Transatlantic Slave Trade and Slavery, together with the International Decade for People of African Descent, and with the support of Fremantle/and Associated Producers Ltd./Cornelia Street Productions, hosted screenings and in-person/virtual discussions of the docuseries. Participating in these programs became an opportunity for me to add on globally and learn more about the inner workings of the United Nations. 

United Nations Panel Discussion

     What began as participation in programs centered around our Enslaved docuseries, led to more in-person visits to the United Nations Headquarters in New York City. It was through my in-person engagement that I eventually received a personal invitation from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to participate in the United Nations Second session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent. It was here at the United Nations Headquarters that I became a member of the International Civil Society Working Group (ICSWG) for the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent (PFPAD). Two months later on August 31st, the United Nations featured me for International Day for People of African Descent and to honor the contributions of the African diaspora. You can view it HERE. This involvement with the United Nations, especially as a Five Percent pioneer, further expanded the global visibility of my work and its digital footprint. 

What is a digital footprint? 

  A digital footprint is the trail of data that we leave on the internet such as the information/content that we publish online and our online activities. While my YouTube Channel activity is one part of my digital footprint, my footprint primarily consists of hundreds of articles published in print/online, two dozen books, albums/singles, animation programs, online classes, and numerous podcasts, radio shows, interviews, presentations, news stories, national and international youth/community projects, programs, and initiatives. Keep in mind that this is without considering the countless reshares or repurposing of that content which adds to that digital footprint. As I mentioned before, I don’t take this lightly, or for granted, and I strive to make sure that I represent the best of what we are, as a people and as a Five Percenter.

What is the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent (PFPAD)?

     The Permanent Forum on People of African Descent (PFPAD) is a consultant mechanism established by the United Nations General Assembly for people of African descent and other relevant stakeholders as a platform for improving the safety and quality of life and livelihoods of people of African descent and as an advisory body to the United Nations Human Rights Council. You can read its mandate here: PFPAD Mandate. In short, the PFPAD is a ten-member board that advises the main intergovernmental body within the United Nations [Human Rights Council] on issues specifically related to people of African Descent around the globe. One of the groups that advise this ten-member board is our International Civil Society Working Group (ICSWG). 

What is the International Civil Society Working Group (ICSWG)?

     Our ICSWG is a formation of civil society individuals and organizations from around the world working toward the establishment of a strong and effective Permanent Forum of People of African Descent (PFPAD). Since the United Nations General Assembly resolution to establish the Permanent Forum was established in 2021, our working group has mobilized civil society, hosted events to spread knowledge and awareness of the Permanent Forum, and worked closely with partners, groups, and communities to advocate for the Permanent Forum to be well-resourced, supported, well-attended, and impactful. We utilize several mechanisms to carry out that mission including monthly general meetings, seven subcommittees that carry out our working group’s objectives, and developing mechanisms to promote transparent and democratic processes for the PFPAD to engage civil society and set the agenda for the Permanent Forum sessions and providing feedback both on substance, content, and logistics of the Permanent Forum. In short, we are a global network working in every imaginable space related to people of African Descent. From the food insecurity of our people in Haiti to Reparations here in the United States. From anti-Blackness in Columbia to institutional discrimination against Afro-Brazilians and Afro-Mexicans. 

Speaking at the United Nations 

     It has been an honor to be a part of such an important global body to build upon strategies and direct resources that improve the safety, quality of life, and livelihoods of our people across the diaspora. This has allowed me to connect with an expansive global network of our people and see the different challenges that we are facing in various countries. As a Five Percenter pioneer in this space, this is especially important for our younger generation to see, learn from, and be empowered to take further than me. I literally show up in the name of Saladin Allah and I am proud to be an instrumental part of creating a path for others to think deeper about being universal, teaching civilizations to others, and the possibilities of global citizenry. 

 

Peace,

Saladin