Dr Yovita Gwekwerere, #IWD2021 Guest Contributor

'I am because we are.' Bringing the African Philosophy of Ubuntu to Academia.

Growing up during the colonial era in Zimbabwe (then Rhodesia), I lived in a small village, surrounded by people who shared the culture of Ubuntu. Ubuntu is a fundamental ontological and epistemological category in African thought among Bantu-speaking people. It is a way of thinking from an African perspective and based on the principles of inclusivity, cultural specificity, critical awareness, commitment, and political awareness. Ubuntu translates as "I am because we are." It is "humanity toward others." Hence, growing up in a community that values every individual as part of a collective shaped my views about people, values, and work.

When I went to school, there was segregation in the education systems, with minimal investment in schools for Black people. I had the privilege to attend one of the few Black schools funded by foreign missionaries to further my studies. I carry the guilt of all the other kids my age who attended the poorly funded rural schools and did not have the opportunity for further studies. Moving to North America helped me realize the similarities in educational inequities between Blacks, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) communities in North America and Black Zimbabwean rural communities. This realization saddens me. I have always felt sad about injustices around me. I feel pained by the experiences of BIPOC students in Canada who do not feel like they belong to the school system. I believe in a socially just education system, where every student feels they belong and where every student has an equal chance to succeed.

My quest for social justice is rooted in the Ubuntu African Philosophy. I value all students regardless of their race, gender, socio-economic status or ability. I intentionally integrate different ways of knowing in my education courses, including Traditional Ecological Knowledge. All teachers must ensure that students see themselves represented in the curriculum regardless of their diverse backgrounds. I teach from a social justice perspective; this means I make all decisions from the least advantaged students' position. As a Black woman, I have carried the burden of internalized racism because of my educational and life experiences. I also hold the guilt of failing to shelter my children from discrimination and racism, and for these reasons, I am motivated to bring Ubuntu to my academic work. Moreover, I am willing to take action to dismantle discrimination and systemic racism on our campus. Being part of the solution gives me hope for BIPOC university faculty, students, and future generations.