Posts by Deo Mwano
The Founding Fathers of America crafted a set of principles that transcended time and space, inspiring generations to strive for a transformative democracy unlike anything seen before. Yet, in their advocacy, they primarily addressed their own marginalization, inadvertently excluding many others.
The Nick Carey 3v3 Basketball Tournament takes place in what is, without a doubt, the most diverse square mile in the entire state. There are families from dozens of countries, speaking dozens of languages. I know what it’s like to walk in their shoes, because I have. And I know how meaningful it is to have people from your own community create a space and a gathering for no other reason than to be together.Â
My family and I fled the Democratic Republic of Congo in 1998 when I was 8 years old. The country was in the midst of a civil war and there was widespread violence. My father was assassinated and my mother, fearing for her life, escaped with nothing but her four sons. We lived in a refugee camp in the country of Benin, in West Africa, for the next two years. Benin also happens to have been a major hub in the transatlantic slave trade. For many Africans, their last sight of Africa was the Benin shore from the confines of a slave ship. My own journey to America was a miracle. It was a second chance at life for my family.Â
As Americans, we are tied to this conflict, to this atrocity. Companies you buy your electronics from depend on the raw materials extracted from the mines of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is time to rise up and advocate for the lives of those who are caught in this destructive cycle which has been going on for the last 25 years.