Sham Deserves

16 Thursday, July 16, 2020 The Last Word Use privilege to fight racism, Qatar-based NYT bestselling author urges white people AILYN AGONIA her life has been shaped by white su- should be the responsibility of people conversation about race and be able DOHA premacy. who have white privilege to say ‘this to plant seed into young children to She said, “I grew up in a culture matters to us, and it’s our duty not to help them grow to have an anti-racist LAYLA F. Saad, author of the New that is not the culture of my parents. let things return to normal’. It won’t outlook and practice and a clear un- York Times bestseller book ‘Me and English was my first language but I be easy, but when has it ever been derstanding on the influence of white White Supremacy’, has urged white grew up going to schools that were easy to fight for human rights?” supremacy in their lives. people to “pick up the baton” and primarily white and that were also Saad opined that avoiding taking Commenting on the book, Dr take responsibility to end a global primarily Roman Catholic. I was action for change out of fear of stoking Malki described it as an “eye-opener system of privilege that feeds racism always the only black and Muslim division will only retain the status quo. on so many levels” and lauded the and discrimination. child in my class. I grew up often The online event titled ‘Race and Identity in the 21st Century’ was moderated by She said, “Talking about how we author for delving directly into the Saad shared her views on racism feeling different, not really under- Dr Amal Mohammed Al Malki, founding dean of the College of Humanities and are all ‘one’ just keeps those with heart of the ‘problem’. and the current issues on racial prej- standing my identity and the ways Social Sciences at Hamad Bin Khalifa University. white privilege comfortable. The di- She said, “Racism is an en- udice that has sparked widespread which white supremacy has been in- vide has always been there, and clos- trenched practice that stems from, protests and calls for action during fluencing me. When you grow up and privilege and cultural appropriation the wave of protests sparked by the ing our eyes and just talking about and is still fueled by, white supremacy. the latest edition of Qatar Founda- you are the only one and everything and how they were personally in- death of George Floyd in the US, an unity and oneness does not create Layla pinpoints white supremacy as tion’s Education City Speaker Series around you doesn’t look like you, you volved in it. opportunity for change may be lost change. What creates change is nam- the issue, contextualises it and dem- streamed live on Wednesday. grow up believing that there is some- The journal she made with ran- unless white people take responsibil- ing things for what they are – the onstrates how it is manifested among The online event titled ‘Race and thing wrong with you, you are differ- dom people through a 28-day chal- ity for ensuring it is acted on. harm caused, the systems of oppres- individuals who enjoy white privilege Identity in the 21st Century’ was ent, you are not what is central. lenge she initiated via Instagram She said, “What is unique now is sion – and saying ‘this is what we are and interact with people of colour. moderated by Dr Amal Mohammed “That was my upbringing. When became the blueprint for her first that we are in a time where people are going to do about it’. That is the real This is exactly Layla’s original contri- Al Malki, founding dean of the Col- I moved to Qatar, it was very differ- book described as an anti-racism no longer ignoring these conversa- path of healing. bution to this important dialogue on lege of Humanities and Social Sci- ent. There was so many cultures, so workbook. tions about race, while they felt very “People who have white privilege racism and white supremacy. ences at Hamad Bin Khalifa Univer- many nationalities. But that’s not to Her book has challenged its comfortable ignoring them before. need to see it as part of their duty “Layla’s story is similar to our sity. say we were free of the influence of readers to recognise how they may They realise they have to say some- to say ‘we have this privilege, so it’s own. It would be difficult to find any- Saad described white supremacy whiteness and the influence of white – even unconsciously – inflict harm thing. But one of my hesitations and our responsibility not to let things one whose identity does not oscil- as “the belief or ideology that people supremacy from the media to schools on Black and indigenous people and fears is that people see this move- go back to how they were’. As black late between at least two competing who are white, look white or who to the workplace, everything is per- people of colour, and to change their ment as a moment that is happening people and people of colour, we don’t or complementary facets. And it is identify as white are superior to peo- meated with this idea of whiteness mindsets and behaviours by under- right now, and when the steam runs have the power to dismantle some- only when these facets interact can ple of other races and therefore they being superior to all other races.” standing their own white privilege out of it, people will want to go back thing we didn’t create and don’t ben- our identity and principles be com- deserve to dominate over people of Saad said the conversations she and committing to combating rac- to the way things were before. efit from.” pletely understood, seen on the one other races”. had online with people inspired her ism. “It shouldn’t be down to black Saad added that the project is hand through our own eyes, and, on Born in the UK to both parents to look at different aspects and dig During the talk, she also told an people and people of colour to keep very close to her heart as she consid- the other, through the lens of socio- from African countries, Saad said deep on what they learn about white international audience that, despite it going by saying ‘our lives matter’; it ers it a privilege to be able to have the cultural stereotypes and attitudes.” Qatar hails women’s 800,000 Syrians to benefit from QC sacrifices in the fight against coronavirus ‘Sham Deserves’ drive in 2nd phase QNA The relief aid consists of shelter kits, food baskets, personal hygiene kits, water trucks and fuel for water stations GENEVA The COVID-19 is considered one of the greatest challeng- TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK ter reservoirs and distribute 20,500 QATAR has praised the sig- es that countries are facing DOHA shelter kits and 600 tents. nificant role being played by in decades. Its economic, Besides, it will deliver 100 school women and their sacrifices in QATAR Charity (QC) continues imple- caravans along with school supplies the fight against the coronavi- political and social conse- menting the second phase of the ‘Sham for the benefit of 2,500 students and rus (COVID-19) pandemic. quences were exacerbated Deserves’ campaign launched in coop- make water and sanitation facilities This came in a statement by the measures taken by eration with Qatar Media Corporation available for 600 families, in addi- of the State of Qatar deliv- countries to contain the (QMC). The second phase, which con- tion to providing clean water tank ered by Third Secretary at spread of the virus sists of six multi-sector projects valued trucks sufficient for 13,500 displaced Qatar’s Permanent Mission at QR50 million, is expected to benefit families. to the United Nations Office of all members of society, in- more than 800,000 displaced people in Some 31,500 food parcels will be in Geneva Talal Abdulaziz Al cluding women, he said. northern Syria. distributed to 10,500 internally dis- Naama at the annual discus- Qatar’s efforts to combat QC managed to deliver 88 relief placed families in northern Syria and sion on women’s rights, which and contain the outbreak of trucks to northern Syria in June 2020 bakeries will be operated to benefit focused on the COVID-19 pan- COVID-19 depend on a com- and will continue to do so on a daily 28,750 families. demic and women’s rights, at prehensive approach and basis for three months. The relief aid QC will also provide medical aid, the Human Rights Council. coordinated efforts according consists of 3,000 shelter kits, 10,600 including equipment and consuma- “The COVID-19 pandemic to a national response plan food baskets, 5,500 personal hygiene bles for medical laboratories and or- is considered one of the great- designed to protect all com- kits, 150 drinking water tank trucks IDPs and identify their needs through with them are prepared accordingly. thopaedics operations to benefit ap- est challenges that countries munity members, and this and 150,000 litres of fuel for water the reports released by the United Na- During the current phase, the pro- proximately 438,200 patients. are facing in decades. Its eco- includes women’s needs in stations. Some 340 relief trucks are tions Office for the Coordination of Hu- jects are under the implementation in During the first phase of the nomic, political and social Qatar, he said.

Load more