Fostering collaboration among black communities and universities for the purpose of enhancing black community life; BlackCom2021

BY DAVE RANKIN

I was first introduced to The Black Communities Conference through a past guest of mine, Founder of Black Space Winnipeg and Afro Prairie Film Festival Director, Ms. Alexa Potashnik.

At that time, she thought it would be of great benefit to be able to interact with like-minded individuals who are not only about that “talk” when it came to helping our community. She then proceeded to connect Simone, our Chief Reporter, with BlackCom Co-Chairperson Mark Little, who later became Simone’s guest on In The Now. Their connection was clear as it was based on the love of our people and the solutions that could be created through collaboration. It was through this connection that I would find myself sitting in a late morning meeting with Mark, going over a few details of this very same conference.

From the very onset you could see Mark’s love for his community radiate as he was telling me how far the conference has come along since 2018. In 2018 and 2019 the conference was about three days in length and attracted speakers such as: William Darity Jr, who served as Chair of the Department of African & African American Studies at Duke University, and documentary filmmaker Thomas Allen Harris.

Like all things in 2020, the pandemic put a halt to all in person events. But this didn’t stop Mark and his team from hosting a weekly webinar series titled ‘Black Communities and COVID-19. The aim was to discuss ‘How our people were affected’ by COVID-19 by covering topics such as: food security, community development, the arts, and anti-black violence.

In 2021 the conference was ready to be reintroduced to the community at large. First, it expanded from three days to approximately ten. Albeit virtually, this was still a feat as the Black Communities Conference were able to ‘foster collaboration among black communities and universities for the purpose of enhancing black community life’ and this time they were able to attract the global African village. Next, they added roundtables, student discussions, and film and book talks to round out this year’s agenda.

I personally attended the Roundtable on ‘Black Business and Economic Freedom’ with panelists: Julia Collins, Founder/CEO of Planet FWD, Entrepreneur & political economist Wilmont Allen, NC Central University Professor & Director of Entrepreneurship, Henry McKoy Jr., and Climo Junior Professor of Sociology at Case Western Reserve University, Cassi Pittman Claytor.

Mark wasted no time in asking the panelists, “What role can black wealth play in the creation of black businesses and increasing black wealth across the diaspora?” Wilmont Allen was the first to respond when he stated that, “Black wealth cannot be viewed just in terms of financial net worth.” He then added that, “There’s wealth in terms of talent and innovation, and that is translated into monetary value.”

Automatically, my mind went straight to what an African-centered tri-lateral trade with the: Caribbean, North America, and our brothers and sisters on the continent look like. Almost like a resurgence of Marcus Garvey and the UNIA’s purpose of goods and services being exchanged with Africans, by Africans through the Black Star Liner.

Then sister Cassi Pittman Claytor asked “How do we capitalize on that in a way that is mutually beneficial?” Interesting position since the European controlled media outlets are quick to point out that corruption in Africa has done a disservice to its growth, as if to shun this type of mutual investment with the continent.

She also gave an example of Americans of Israeli descent who studied in the states and went back home to build an industry that was once lacking. Again, referencing history, this is exactly what some of our ancestors and foremost scholars did. Kwame Nkrumah for starters, studied in the States only to go back home to become the poster child of Ghana’s independence movement.

Trinidad’s George Padmore did the same thing. Studying and travelling to various countries around the world before setting his sights on Ghana to become Nkrumah’s confidant and comrade. So, we can see when our focus is strictly a Pan African one, the examples of ‘Black Excellence” are boundless.

The one thing that stood out from this roundtable was the topic of technological innovations that will assist with more “Fluidity across all borders.” As Julia Collins put it, “A bilateral payments infrastructure,” so we can cut out places like Western Union. I’m sure the establishment of newly funded African owned companies like Paystack, and Peymynt will be able to create the type of fluidity that would strive here in the 21^st century.

The panel was a great start to kick off Black Communities Conference, which took place from March 15^th-24^th. I definitely urge the community to reach out Mark Little and his team to let them know that we are here for collaboration.

For more information, please visit https://blackcommunities.unc.edu/