Ouma Lesoka’s Post

Celebrating Freedom on Juneteenth! Today, we come together to celebrate Juneteenth, a day that marks a significant milestone in American history. On June 19, 1865, news of the Emancipation Proclamation finally reached Galveston, Texas, declaring freedom for the last enslaved African Americans in the United States. This day, also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day, symbolizes the end of slavery and the beginning of a new chapter of hope, resilience, and progress. As we honor this important day, let us reflect on the profound impact of Juneteenth and recognize the ongoing journey towards equality and justice. It's a time to educate ourselves, to celebrate the rich culture and contributions of African Americans, and to reaffirm our commitment to building a more inclusive and equitable society. Whether you're attending a local celebration, engaging in meaningful conversations, or taking a moment to learn more about this pivotal moment in history, I wish you a reflective and joyous Juneteenth. Let's continue to strive for a future where freedom and justice are truly for all.

I know, somehow, that only when it is dark enough, can you see the stars." - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. #mondaymotivation "Darkness" is the latest issue of Leading-Within. Please read, comment and share with your network https://lnkd.in/gxrz4WwR #deileaders #k12equityofficers #k12education #edleadership #edleaders

🌍Embracing Unity: A Call for Tolerance and Justice In every corner of the globe, across history and continents, the dehumanization of individuals, irrespective of their color or origin, has left scars on humanity. It's a stark reminder that in this shared journey of life, we each have one opportunity to make a lasting impact. Let's collectively reject the shadows of discrimination that have marred our past. Regardless of ethnicity—be it Black, Brown, White, or any “Other”—we must recognize the inherent worth in every soul. Our existence is a chance to uplift one another, fostering a legacy of tolerance, understanding, and justice. As we navigate our unique paths, let empathy guide our actions, breaking the chains and injustice of prejudice. Together, let's sculpt a world where the richness of our diversity is celebrated, and compassion triumphs over division and intolerance. 🤝 #Unity #Tolerance #JusticeForAll #HumanityFirst #leadershipinsights #leadershipexcellence #leadership #LegacyOfLove 💙

This day, July 4th, holds an interesting turning point for my life. My life has taken a 180 degree journey over the past two years, and a post I wrote two years ago today has a lot to do with it. I wrote a post that was critical of the U.S., discussing how it's hard to celebrate freedoms when so many are not free. This prompted a "patriot" to tell me that if I don't like it here, I should leave. This post sparked a few things : I finally stopped aligning myself with people in power. Something so seemingly factual; ✊🏽stating that Black Lives Matter, ✊🏽that the Indigenous people were genocided, ✊🏽that women's rights are being stripped away rather than strengthened; ➡️resulted in inadvertently making tons of corporate people mad and uncomfortable, made me realize how stupid people are, how stupid and oppressive this whole system is. ➡️Which resulted in me losing professional capital that I had built up, And ultimately led to me leaving my corporate career. ➡️And resulted in me creating my own company founded on my core values, not some colonizer's values; In Pursuit Collective What I didn't realize then that I realize today is that the past 2 years were training ground. Training for me to learn how to speak uncomfortable truths to power. Starting with baby steps, and smaller powers, leading to what I talk about today. Learning that criticizing the U.S. was training to learn how to criticize Israel; criticize any oppressive system. Leading to what I ultimately want, not just for myself, but for the world: Collective Liberation. Everyone's path to liberation is different. The advice I can give to those that are still in the early stages is don't ignore the feeling that rises up in you when you know something is wrong. Your life of comfort, complicity, and denial will catch up with you. PS - I'll celebrate when liberation is available to everyone. I'll celebrate when justice isn't selective. I'll celebrate when all means ALL. #IndependenceDay #Liberation #SibilSpeaks

Wonderful post about how language matters. We want to recognize the barriers various groups of people face to create equitable and inclusive communities. By not “seeing” a certain group, you are erasing that experience and those unique barriers. An intersectional approach looks at the full picture of unique experiences and how we can create equitable strategies accordingly.

“Alas! I had not then learned the measure of "man's inhumanity to man," nor to what limitless extent of wickedness he will go for the love of gain.” - Solomon Northup, Twelve Years a Slave • As we commemorate Juneteenth, it is crucial to pause and examine the lingering influences of the slavery mindset in today's world. Acknowledging historical wrongs is essential, but true progress demands active and ongoing efforts to break free from subconscious biases. • In the journey of life, we all tread the same path, yet some encounter smoother travels while others face obstacles and hardship. Despite these differences, we ultimately reach the same destination. This reflection prompts us to question: How different are we truly? The answer, at our very core, is not at all. This is why, today, while we celebrate how far history has come, we must acknowledge how far we still have to go in terms of seeing all people of the world as equal. We’ve come a long way, but it is our duty to every victim of slavery and discrimination to acknowledge how far we still have to go. "Struggle is a never ending process. Freedom is never really won, you earn it and win it in every generation." - Coretta Scott King • Let us use this moment to foster understanding, challenge biases, and strive for a future where equality and empathy guide our interactions. #Juneteenth #Equality #Reflection

If you have said this before, please read.

Can’t say it better than this my friends - Ruby Bridges is still alive (69, younger than my own parents) and the people who screamed, cursed, and spit at her when she was SIX (6!) years old for… going to elementary school are the same folks howling about how anti-racism makes them feel bad. Acting as if “woke” is some sinister ideology and not just… basic empathy for fellow human beings who have been harmed again and again and again by systems that were never designed to protect or support them. Racism didn’t magically end after the civil war when we stopping selling black bodies. Racism didn’t magically end after World War 2 when over a million black Americans fought for a country that wouldn’t even let them vote. Racism didn’t magically end when the Civil Rights Act passed in 1964. There’s still work to do so if you do nothing else today, follow some of the incredible black voices on this platform. Widen your feed. Learn the parts of history your curriculum (intentionally) left out. And be a force for justice, not a quiet beneficiary of broken systems.

“I am not racist because I don’t see colour/race.” (I know, it’s triggering.) Before Black History Month wraps up, we need to leave weaponizing and cherry-picking Martin Luther King Jr.’s (MLK) words to justify inaction or worse — colourblindness behind. ❌ The idea of a colourblind society may be well-intentioned, but it is an illusion of inclusion. It leaves people without the language to discuss race and examine their own biases. Colourblindness relies on the concept that race-based differences don’t exist and ignores the realities of systemic racism. Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech, where he said that he wanted people to see his kids for the content of their character, not the colour of their skin – has resulted in some folks misinterpreting what he meant. They don’t seem to understand that his speech is a call to action for each of us to move from indifference to intentionally creating racial equity. ✔️He meant that you should not JUDGE someone based on the colour of their skin – but you should SEE who they are. Because if you can’t see someone’s lived experiences – how can you see them as a person? Race is such an ingrained social construct. To pretend it doesn’t exist erases the experiences of Black and racialized people and is just logically impossible. 🤦🏾♀️ ❌ Let’s shift our perspectives. Not seeing someone's race is not the goal. It used to be, but not today. 🗣️ Because if you don’t see my race, you don’t see me. ✔️The goal is to see the real experiences of others, understand why their stories are not heard in society, and work to respect our differences. #BlackHistoryMonth2024 #BHM365 #AntiBlackRacism #Diversity #Equity #Inclusion #RealAllyship #Allyship #RacialGaslighting #InclusionFactor