Imagine a vibrant canvas, painted with a variety of colours, each brush stroke adding its own unique beauty to the masterpiece. Imagine a song, where each note, from low to high, plays in perfect harmony to create the most breath-taking melodies you’ve ever heard. Imagine a poem: each line deep with meaning, each word bringing its own uniqueness to the art.
Now look around – and just imagine my view from up here. I can only describe it in one word: “beautiful”. And it’s all because of you. Each and every one of you in this room make this pavilion so much more than just a cold, empty room.
But with that being said: now imagine a bland painting, that’s only been painted with one brush, and one colour. Or a piano playing, with only one note. Or a poem that just repeated the same word over and over again in the same monotone voice. I doubt anyone in this room would find that interesting. And that is exactly why I say you are the reason this view is so breath-taking: because everyone in this room has a different story to tell. A different life that they’re living. Different dreams, goals, aspirations.
What makes anything beautiful, is how its differences work together in harmony. And that is exactly what the Diversity Committee is here to do: to celebrate the beauty, of our differences in harmony. This term, our theme has been 3 words: “I Am African”. With the aim to celebrate the different races, religions, cultures, and all the other things that make us such a diverse, proudly African school.
And as a live representation of how beautiful our differences can be, we’ve put together a few performances throughout the week for you. Performances to celebrate what it means to be African, through poetry, song, dance, and food. And when they’re all over, remember:
Diversity isn’t just a performance. It’s not just a poster that we put on our diversity board. And it’s certainly not just a speech.
Diversity is an idea that lives on, within each and every one of us. It’s part of our souls.
So continue to love what makes you different. And what makes everyone else in this room different. Let that burning fire of diversity in your soul BURN uncontrollably. Because the time to appreciate our differences, is now. And that, is what makes us able to say those 3 beautiful words: “I Am African”.
Bilaal Abrahams, Chair of the Diversity Committee (Assembly, 22 May 2023)