Power in the Pandemic

How is the COVID-19 pandemic affecting the people we don't usually hear from? What solutions and leadership are emerging from the crisis? In each episode, we get a glimpse into the world that’s being created in the cracks of this crisis. We will hear from a range of individuals and social leaders, from migrant labourers to trans youth mobilizing in their communities, to humanitarian workers. Join us as we hear the experiences and responses of those living through this pandemic who are already facing inequalities and injustices daily.Follow Power Shifts on Instagram and check out the blogs: https://www.instagram.com/powershiftsproject | https://oxfamblogs.org/fp2p/category/power-shifts/

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Power in the Pandemic

Featured voice: Robtel Neajai Pailey on racism in development

June 12, 2020 • Oxfam

Let’s talk about racism and development.

Dr Robtel Neajai Pailey is a Liberian academic, activist and author.In this conversation, Maria and Robtel talk about development as a racist construct. They discuss the 'decolonial turn', systems of power and decision-making that uphold racism, and Robtel asks us: how complicit are we all in upholding the notion that whiteness (often geographically equalled to 'northerness') is our only reference of progress?

Recorded last year at the Development Studies Association Conference, where Robtel gave her keynote Speech on Decentering the 'White Gaze' of Development. This discussion is as relevant as ever in the current climate of Black Lives Matter and the anti-racism protests seen all over the world. However, racism in development is not a new issue, so why has it been overlooked?

In this blog you can read some key take-aways from the episode: Does development have a problem with racism?

Other links:
Robtel's website
Robtel's article: Decentering the 'White Gaze' of Development
Keynote speech from the Development Studies Association Annual Conference 2019