Ending discrimination, racism, Islamophobia is everyone’s business!
About
Everyone’s Business is a new organization founded by TED Talk speaker Wale Elegbede to end discrimination, islamophobia and racism.
Elegbede grew up witnessing the appalling effects of prejudice and bias under autocratic rule. Born in Nigeria, he observed military rule, and while living in Togo, he experienced life under the domineering regime of a President who ruled Togo for 38 years until his death.
A strategist, change maker and social justice leader, Wale Elegbede believes in the power of human connections to improve our world and to end discrimination, systemic racism and islamophobia.
Everyone’s Business!
I believe that discrimination plagues us because we have not made it our collective business. I believe that in order to rid of discrimination which includes racism, Islamophobia, and hate crimes, we need to go from a state of “not my business” to “everyone's business”. My belief is that this will help cultivate a shift in perspective, and result in a changed mindset that will build and sustain connection, empathy and elevate opportunities for everyone.
Historically speaking, anytime certain groups are targeted or scapegoated, we also see apathy. The holocaust, apartheid, genocide, internment camps, are examples where some members of society were targeted while others simply wanted to go about their daily lives, did not feel they could make a difference and in some cases, did not care how the targeting of others impacted them.
“Not my business” means you’re too busy worrying about your own stuff and not speaking or taking action to address society’s ill. It has nothing to do with what you feel inside, where your heart is or whether you’re sad. When I say “everyone’s business”, I am not referring to social policing where folks are policing interactions of others or vigilantism. “Everyone’s business” means letting people in your community know how these issues affect everyone in a constructive and positive way. It means we are in this together. We are our brothers and sisters keeper. We are one community together.
Wale Elegbede