The International Day for People of African Descent will be celebrated for the first time on 31 August 2021. Through this Observance the United Nations aims to promote the extraordinary contributions of the African diaspora around the world and to eliminate all forms of discrimination against people of African descent.

International days reflect the values that society shares. All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights and have the potential to contribute constructively to the development and well-being of their societies. Any doctrine of racial superiority is scientifically false, morally condemnable, socially unjust, and dangerous and must be rejected, together with theories that attempt to determine the existence of separate human races.

The United Nations strongly condemns the continuing violent practices and excessive use of force by law enforcement agencies against Africans and people of African descent and condemns structural racism in criminal justice systems around the world. The Organization further acknowledges the Transatlantic Slave Trade as one of the darkest chapters in our human history and upholds human dignity and equality for the victims of slavery, the slave trade and colonialism, in particular people of African descent in the African diaspora.

Dreams & Defiance: Centering Cultural Expressions of People of African Descent

In celebration of the International Day of People of African Descent, UN Human Rights celebrates the important contributions of people of African descent worldwide. This dynamic pre-recorded event provides an opportunity to learn more about diverse cultures through film, dance, music and some the magnificent artwork on display at United Nations Headquarters. Segments in the film share how individuals and communities celebrate their diverse stories while recognizing the cultural, artistic, scientific, and political contributions of people of African descent. Many of the arts shared highlight the interconnectedness of past to present, including the legacy of the transatlantic trade in enslaved Africans, colonialism, mass incarceration, and systemic racism. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic has illuminated inequality in access to quality health care and treatment, leading to increased mortality and morbidity for people of African descent. The cultural expressions presented in the film center collective dreams of freedom while the arts embody organized defiance against the effects of racism.

Presented by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, this event was made possible with the help by the Permanent Mission of the Dominican Republic to the United Nations, Consulate General of the Dominican Republic in New York City, Marija Abney, founder of The Soapbox Presents, Jose Ortiz (Dr. Drum), BombaYo, and Danielle Lima, Associate Director of Curriculum & Professional Development at Dancing Classrooms.

The artwork featured in the film, displayed at United Nations Headquarters, are: Nimba, donor: Guinea, Guro Sculpture, donor country: Côte d'Ivoire, Steel Pan(s), donor: Caribbean Community, and The Ark of Return.