Sarah's worthwhile weekend despite frustrations

I didn’t exactly have high expectations for the Human Rights Training Weekend with Africa Unite, I just imagined that my experience would be more enlightening and less frustrating.  From sexism to cultural appropriation, a vast majority of the male South African participants relinquished it all upon the group.  For when we were divided into our “country groups,” a common theme was men talking over the women, completely disregarding our input, body-shaming, and relaying an overall heteronormative agenda.  I will say, however, that I thoroughly enjoyed listening to Mike Alomba, a refugee from the DRC, who had insightful comments and a vast knowledge about human rights (plus he told me the poem I wrote for the group was beautiful and who am I to deny praise?):

We are here to represent the DRC,

Where the people are struggling to be free,

In 1960 the colonial powers supposedly left,

But for natural resources they reign through theft.

There are child soldiers lost in the plains,

Suffocating under the bleeding rains,

576 women are raped per day,

Yet there is no help coming their way.

Violence and murder have become the norm,

Where politics and corruption feed the storm.

It’s the heart of Africa rich with life,

Though it’s citizens know of nothing but strife,

They don’t know the benefits of globalization,

For the world destroys their country with exploitation.

When will the powerful forget the greed,

When will the lost and enslaved be freed,

From the chains of war and white supremacy,

From the chaos and oppression that is their legacy?

If the international community believes in human rights,

For the DRC they must assist and fight,

It is not just for the money that we are here to plead,

But to spread the hope that all of Africa can be freed.

Thus, while the Human Rights weekend wasn’t what I anticipated, I learned a lot about myself and about the differences between the US and South Africa in terms of gender equality.  So, even though I had problems with several of males, I am proud to say that all the females I talked to were wonderful human beings with enriching stories and thoughtful perspectives – they and the magnificent view of the stars (that made me question my entire existence) made the weekend worth it.