A conversation exploring the basics of what reparations means for descendants of Africans enslaved, the historical and contemporary issues behind the justifications.

Elazar Barkan, Professor of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University, Director of SIPA's Human Rights and Humanitarian Policy Concentration, and Director of Columbia's Institute for the Study of Human Rights. Professor Barkan is also founding Director of the Institute for Historical Justice and Reconciliation (IHJR) in The Hague. His research interests focus on human rights and on the role of history in contemporary society and politics and the response to gross historical crimes and injustices. He is the author of The Guilt Of Nations: Restitution And Negotiating Historical Injustices and Reparation: A Moral And Political Dilemma.

Also in this conversation, we talk with Jessica Ann Mitchell Aiwuyor, a cultural communications expert, author, and publisher based in the Washington, DC area. Aiwuyor is the founder of the National Black Cultural Information Trust. In addition to her work with national organizations and firms, J.A.M. Aiwuyor serves as the Communications Chair for the Pan African Congress, North American Delegation. As an author and cultural storyteller, her writings about African American cultural heritage and ethnicity have been published and cited across a wide range of publications including Huffington Post, the Business Insider, MSNBC, LA Progressive, and TV One’s “News One Now.” She publishes books celebrating Black life and culture with her publishing company, Our Legaci Press.

Omari Ashby is a Rapso artist and music producer with over 29 years of experience as a performer. As one half of the duo Kindred, Omari stormed on the scene with the hit single “Dis Trini Could Flow” in 1992. In the years that followed Kindred racked up several hits and Omari then took his talent to music production arena.
The past decade has seen Omari establish an elementary programme for training and development of young talent and musical enthusiasts from primary through to the
professional level. His programme covers a number of areas inclusive of composition and lyrical development as well as melodic approaches and rhythm patterns. Additionally, Mr. Ashby was instrumental in the design and authoring of a digital sound engineering course for beginners. The course was initiated through his Studio 161 and Jaliman entertainment limited and adapted by YTEPP for their academic agenda. Omari Ashby holds a BA Frist Class Honours in Carnival Studies, an MA in Creative Design Entrepreneurship, and is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Cultural Studies at the UWI. Omari Ashby is also one of the foundation members and tutors of the Breaking New Ground training course promoted by the Network Community Organisation and NALIS for young artists and practitioners of the oral tradition. Currently, Omari is an adjunct lecturer at the Department of Creative and Festival Arts, UWI in the Carnival Studies Unit.

See more of the festival at https://theblackconsciousnessfestival.com/reparations-2021