Think, plan and act to increase accessibility, inclusivity and representation...

As the founder and Executive Director of Black Women in International Affairs, I have always sought to connect the dots between my lived experiences as a Black woman in the United States, foreign policy and human rights. My academic studies at Marquette University and Pennsylvania State University’s School of International Affairs examined the interplay between people, politics and power and how systemic structures can limit and confine marginalized populations. Working directly with asylum seekers, refugees, immigrants, survivors of torture and survivors of trafficking shaped my professional career and dedication to using human rights to redress grievances and promote and protect human dignity. The reality, however, is that I was navigating predominately white institutions where my lived experiences were often not reflected or taught in the curriculum and a career field where my identity as a Black American woman from an urban midwestern city was not well represented. According to DataUSA, in 2017 just 6.17% of International Relations/Affairs graduates were Black or African American. In my graduating class at Marquette, there were approximately five Black women who graduated as Political Science or International Affairs majors and at Penn State, there were three Black women in my cohort (including myself). This lack of representation fueled my desire to create Black Women in International Affairs (BWINTAF) as a collective space for Black women; a space where we can lead and center our Black experiences to benefit others who look like us.

The technical language, obtuse presentation of topics combined with an overall lack of diversity can alienate Black people who might otherwise be very interested in dialoguing and learning about foreign policy, international development, political theories, etc. Sally Engle Merry’s book, Human Rights & Gender Violence, argues that human rights need to be translated down into local communities, and this same principle applies to the field of international affairs. You translate frameworks down, not because people are unable to comprehend jargon, but because such language creates unnecessary superiority over a group that has already experienced a history of marginalization, othering and dehumanizing treatment. It’s about meeting people where they are at and meeting them in a space of abundance, not lack; Black people actually have a lot to say about foreign policy but their conversations, general interest and engagement might not show up in a way that practitioners in the field would traditionally know how to engage with.

BWINTAF, through our mission, vision and programming is committed to bridging gaps so that under-represented groups, especially Black people, have access to knowledge about International Affairs, are aware of the effects that foreign policy have on their lives, and serve as active innovators in solving global issues. For Black people to become active innovators and engaged stakeholders in the international political arena, the field of international affairs must be more accessible to everyone, specifically, people from under-served and under-resourced communities. BWINTAF aims to target youth in these communities to provide trainings and simulations on human rights, the international political economy and peace and conflict resolution, because we believe that pre-college programming is the most effective way to encourage interest in a field that seems inaccessible to diverse populations. To encourage interest from diverse populations, the key is to make international affairs topics relevant to their everyday life and affirm their perspectives on these topics even when they differ from yours.

When prioritizing diversity, it is important to remember that access does not equate to inclusion and equality is not the same as equity. Informed diversity policies are anti-racist, and effective anti-racist policies for international affairs need to address the very real reasons diverse populations from under-served and under-resourced communities do not have greater access to or awareness of international affairs. These policy efforts will look different for each institution, organization and person but it will require everyone to think, plan and act to increase accessibility, inclusivity and representation across academic, professional and social settings. BWINTAF supports standpoint epistemology, which holds that knowledge stems from social position and those from that social position are best suited to address and lead on issues that affect them. Given this, if you seek to build anti-racist structures and policies, then please also be intentional and genuine in your efforts to create space for under-represented groups, support their voices and diversity of experiences and interests, be comfortable with their leadership and do not become a hurdle for their success.

To get involved with BWINTAF, on the website, subscribe to receive monthly updates and our Quarterly Newsletter, follow and engage with us on social media @BWINTAF, become a member of our Facebook group, and if you would like to join our Board of Directors visit our website for information on how to submit application materials.

Ayona Riley is the Founder and Executive Director of Black Women in International Affairs (BWINTAF).