Statement by US Secretary of State on inaugural International Day for People of African Descent

The United States joins others around the world in commemorating the first International Day for People of African Descent.  This day was created to promote the extraordinary contributions of Africans and members of the African diaspora around the world and is an opportunity to focus on eliminating all forms of discrimination against people of African descent.  The United States continues to support the International Decade for People of African Descent through shared goals of recognition, justice, and development.

This Administration has elevated racial justice and equity as an immediate priority, promoting it across federal government agencies, policies, and programs, including our engagement at the United Nations.  The United States strongly supports the creation of the UN Permanent Forum for People of African Descent.  We must get at the root of the challenges and address structural racism while acknowledging the intersections of gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, ethnicity, religion, and national origin.

As we celebrate the contributions of people of African descent across the world and in the United States, we also take solemn note of the International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition on August 23.  It is only by facing the painful truth of our past, and not shrinking from our current responsibilities to address systemic racism, that we will forge a better future.  Today, the Department of State honors the dignity, equality, and contributions of all people of African descent in the United States and in communities around the world.

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3 Comments

  1. Toto
    September 3, 2021

    It saddens me that we feel we must celebrate African descent when all I ever wanted was to be the same as everyone else in the world. I do not see any reason to celebrate division like that. Imagine the outcry if there was such a day for people of European descent. They would be called racists, separatists, nazis or worse. Africans are not special or different from any other members of the human race.

    • Just asking
      September 3, 2021

      @Clueless/toto, in case you’ve been sleeping under a small rock somewhere in space don’t belittle people of European descent. They/We all know it’s a given that every day has been a day for people of European descent for over 400years now, where have u been, do you expect anyone be that redundant or stupid to tell u that every day?
      Why do u think they invaded, conquered and enjoying the fruits of their conquest to dominate the world, particularly that continent? Please tell us.

  2. Parallels
    September 2, 2021

    As much as I wish they didn’t feel obliged to say anything it’s a huge improvement on what the Republicans would utter on addressing structural racism, hence they had to tie it in with …intersections of gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation as long as it has anything to do with improving on their treatment of Africans. We’ve always had to have dinner with alligators just to get piece of the pie WE helped create.

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